Stolen Words

by Melanie Florence (Author) Gabrielle Grimard (Illustrator)

Stolen Words
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

The story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in his language - Cree - he admits that his language was stolen from him when he was a boy. The little girl then sets out to help her grandfather find his language again.

This sensitive and warmly illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of the residential school system that separated young Indigenous children from their families. The story recognizes the pain of those whose culture and language were taken from them, how that pain is passed down, and how healing can also be shared.

Select format:
Hardcover
$21.95

Kirkus

Starred Review
Florence's tender text soothes the harsh reality of having Native language stolen while attending one of Canada's former residential schools for Indigenous children. Grimard's equally emotive illustrations show the stark realities of the experience in symbolic images... Unforgettable.

Review quotes

 
Melanie Florence
Melanie Florence is an award-winning writer of Cree and Scottish heritage based in Toronto, Ontario. She was close to her grandfather as a child, a relationship that sparked her interest in writing about Indigenous themes and characters. She is the author of several books for young readers and has won awards including the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award.

Hawlii Pichette is a Mushkego Cree (Treaty 9) urban mixed-blood artist and illustrator. Born and raised in the small community of Cochrane, Ontario, she is deeply influenced by her culture, upbringing and the natural world. She lives in London, Ontario.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781772600377
Lexile Measure
530
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Second Story Press
Publication date
September 05, 2017
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV039120 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Prejudice & Racism
JUV011040 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Native American
JUV030090 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Canada - Native Canadian
Library of Congress categories
Grandparent and child
Grandfathers
Indians of North America
Canada
Racism
Cree Indians

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!