The Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga, Book 1
Exciting, emotional quest of foster kids in fantasy world.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Barren Grounds is the first book in Canadian author David A. Robertson's Misewa Saga, featuring two Cree kids in Winnipeg, Canada, who, with a nod to The Chronicles of Narnia, find a portal to another world in the attic of their foster home -- a world steeped in Indigenous traditions and populated by animal beings, notably a fisher (a small carnivore of the northern forest) and a squirrel; a world in which it's always winter and everyone's starving thanks to a greedy (and summer-stealing) villain. In the cosmic struggle that involves lots of weapons and many perils, not all the protagonists emerge alive. One dies heroically and becomes a constellation in the sky. Past atrocities against Canada's First Nations are important to the story, and one character relives traumatic memories of being ripped from her teen mom and being sent into foster care as a toddler. Family, friendship, teamwork, empathy, and remembering who you really are are strong themes. The story comes to a satisfying, heart-filled conclusion while leaving much to be explored and resolved in future installments.
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What's the Story?
Cree kids Morgan, 13, who's been in the Canadian foster care system forever, and Eli, 12, who's just landed there, discover a portal in their attic to THE BARREN GROUNDS -- a world where it's always winter and everyone's starving. After many foster homes, Morgan is angry all the time, which leads to a lot of behavior even she realizes is that of a jerk, but she's protective of Eli, which lands her in the world of Askí when he rushes through the portal ahead of her. They soon meet Ochek, a fisher (a carnivorous woodland animal) and Arik, a squirrel, both of whom walk upright, talk, and wear winter gear. They explain that the unending winter is the work of a villain who's stolen summer for himself and gone far away. Ochek in particular wants to find him and bring back summer before everyone in their world is dead. The kids are happy to help. Unfortunately, the last human that the animal beings dealt with was the villain, so it's complicated.
Is It Any Good?
David A. Robertson's lively fantasy steeped in Indigenous tradition, mythic struggle, and righting wrongs takes two Cree foster kids through a portal to a world where it's always winter. As they navigate The Barren Grounds with forest animal companions, Morgan and Eli form a strong bond and find new strength as they struggle to defeat a villain and restore nature's life-sustaining balance. There's tragedy along the way, and trauma, as characters -- nuanced, imperfect, and mostly doing their best -- recall their past. But the exciting, heart-filled first installment reaches a satisfying conclusion while leaving much to unfold in future books.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how characters from our world find a portal into another world, and go through it in The Barren Grounds. What other stories do you know where this happens? Why do you think this theme has been so popular for so many generations? Do you have any favorite worlds on the other side of the portal?
If some ordinary object in your everyday life was actually a portal to another world, what would it be and how would it work?
In The Barren Grounds, Morgan is very fond of fantasy fiction -- which turns out to give her useful skills as the story unfolds. Have you ever learned ideas or practical skills from fiction that helped you out in your regular life? What happened and how did it turn out?
Book Details
- Author: David A. Robertson
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Courage, Empathy, Humility, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Puffin Canada
- Publication date: September 8, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 17
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 30, 2022
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