A Stranger At Home: A True Story

Category: Book
Illustrated By: Amini-Holmes, Liz
By (author): Jordan-Fenton, Christy
By (author): Pokiak-Fenton, Margaret
Subject:  JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / General
  JUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / Canada / Native Canadian
  JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Science / Customs, Traditions, Anthropology
Publisher: Annick Press
Published: July 2011
Format: Book-hardcover
Pages: 128
Size: 9.00in x 6.25in x 0.50in
Our Price:
$ 21.95
Availability:
In stock

Additional Notes

From The Publisher*

The powerful memoir of an Inuvialuit girl searching for her true self when she returns from residential school.

Traveling to be reunited with her family in the Arctic, 10-year-old Margaret Pokiak can hardly contain her excitement. It's been two years since her parents delivered her to the school run by the dark-cloaked nuns and brothers.

Coming ashore, Margaret spots her family, but her mother barely recognizes her, screaming, "Not my girl." Margaret realizes she is now marked as an outsider.

And Margaret is an outsider: she has forgotten the language and stories of her people, and she can't even stomach the food her mother prepares.

However, Margaret gradually relearns her language and her family's way of living. Along the way, she discovers how important it is to remain true to the ways of her people -- and to herself.

Highlighted by archival photos and striking artwork, this first-person account of a young girl's struggle to find her place will inspire young readers to ask what it means to belong.

From The Publisher*The powerful memoir of an Inuvialuit girl searching for her true self when she returns from residential school.
Review Quote*This is a book everyone should read.
Review Quote*A Stranger at Home will speak to anyone who has experienced displacement or assimilation into a new culture. This fabulous story enhances the Grades 6 to 8 social studies curriculum.
Review Quote*This memoir, detailing a woeful piece of Canadian history and demonstrating Margaret's strength of character, compassion, courage and her willingness to sacrifice herself for her family's sake, gives the reader a lot to ponder. Highly recommended.
Review Quote*Olemaun's spirit and determination shine through this moving memoir.
Review Quote*While it may not have the same drama and tension of the first memoir, this tale provides a compelling and moving story of a girl searching for the strength to find her place in the world.
Review Quote*Without being graphic or overwhelming, the Fentons recreate a tragic moment in Canadian history through the innocent reflections of a child...a must for any classroom library.
Review Quote*This book realistically portrays the impact of residential school life on Aboriginal children.
Review Quote*This tale provides a compelling and moving story of a girl searching for the strength to find her place in the world. The writing is unpretentious and accessible and readers who enjoyed the first book will find this an interesting follow-up. Vivid paintings are a beautiful accompaniment to the storytelling. Photographs from Pokiak Fenton's own collection add important points of reference for readers looking to visualize the characters and the unique setting of the Arctic Circle. A welcome addition to biography collections.