{"product_id":"the-barren-grounds-isbn-9780735266124","title":"The Barren Grounds","description":"\u003cb\u003eTwo Indigenous foster children discover a portal to another reality, Aski, where they embark on a dangerous mission to help the starving community there. The exciting first book in this epic Narnia-inspired Indigenous middle-grade fantasy series.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMorgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home -- until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom.  A portal opens to another reality, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything -- including them.\u003cb\u003eA 2021 Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People's Literature Nominee\u003cbr\u003eOne of \u003ci\u003eQuill \u0026amp; Quire\u003c\/i\u003e's Best Books of 2020\u003cbr\u003eA\u003ci\u003e Kirkus Reviews \u003c\/i\u003eBest Book of the 21st Century\u003cbr\u003eRecommended by booksellers on NPR's \u003ci\u003eCode Switch\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eOne of CBC Books' Best Middle-Grade and Young Adult Books of 2020\u003cbr\u003eOne of \u003ci\u003eCanadian Children's Book News\u003c\/i\u003e’ Best Books of 2020\u003cbr\u003eA CBC Books Bestseller\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePRAISE FOR\u003ci\u003e The Barren Grounds\u003c\/i\u003e: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"This middle-grade fantasy deftly and compellingly centers Indigenous culture.\" —\u003cb\u003eSTARRED REVIEW\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e, \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“[T]he treatment of Cree culture resonates, and the engaging characters and folklore ensure readers will look forward to the next installment.” —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This is a book that is rich in its characterization, evocative in its descriptions, and skillful in its weaving together of traditions of the past and life in the present.”\u003cb\u003e —\u003ci\u003eCM Magazine\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“Reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia stories, this fantasy is very much its own tale of ruptured Indigenous culture, of environmental reciprocity and care.” —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eToronto Star\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Barren Grounds\u003c\/i\u003e has a strong message about living with the earth and not taking more than you need.”\u003cb\u003e —\u003ci\u003eToronto Public Library\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"David A. Robertson has written such a fine, beautiful novel. He manages to combine hard truths about our history with a Narnia-like fantasy, sweeping us into the world of the story while opening our hearts as well.\" —Susin Nielsen, author of \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWe Are All Made of Molecules\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNo Fixed Address\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eDAVID A. ROBERTSON\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of numerous books for young readers including Governor General’s Literary Award winners \u003ci\u003eOn the Trapline\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWhen We Were Alone\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003ci\u003eThe Barren Grounds\u003c\/i\u003e, Book 1 of The Misewa Saga series, was a \u003ci\u003eKirkus, \u003c\/i\u003eNPR, and \u003ci\u003eQuill \u0026amp; Quire\u003c\/i\u003e best middle-grade book of 2020, as well as a USBBY and Texas Lone Star selection. The third book in the series, \u003ci\u003eThe Stone Child\u003c\/i\u003e, was a 2023 co-winner of the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award (Older Category).  Winner of the Writers’ Union of Canada’s Freedom to Read Award, as well as the 2021 Globe and Mail Children’s Storyteller of the Year recipient, Dave is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and currently lives in Winnipeg, Canada. For more information, visit his website: www.darobertson.ca and follow him on X: @DaveAlexRoberts.","brand":"Tundra Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301408067813,"sku":"NP9780735266124","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780735266124.jpg?v=1767738266","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-barren-grounds-isbn-9780735266124","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}