When We Were Alone
by Robertson, David A.
Description
When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother’s garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully coloured clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away. When We Were Alone is a story about a difficult time in history, and, ultimately, one of empowerment and strength.Also available in a bilingual Swampy Cree/English edition.When We Were Alone won the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award in the Young People's Literature (Illustrated Books) category, and was nominated for the TD Canadian's Children's Literature Award.
More Information
Rights Information
Rights Held: World
Rights Sold: Japanese, French, German, Spanish Language USA, Philippines, Mexico
Endorsements
Wow! Beautiful, painful, and shining with truth and dignity. Bravo!
—Richard Van Camp, Author
When We Were Alone is exquisite and stunning, for the power conveyed by the words Robertson wrote, and for the illustrations that Flett created. I highly recommend it.
—Debbie Reese, AICL
Reviews
Each spread is compelling in its own way, offering remarkable depictions of resilience and the strong emotional ties within this family. An empowering and important story.
—Booklist, a starred review
A quiet story…of love and resistance.… Flett’s collage illustrations, with their simplicity and earthy colors, are soulful and gentle…. All readers will connect with how Nókom lives in celebration of colors, her long hair, her language, and, most of all, her family.
—The Horn Book Magazine, a starred review
Spare, poetic, and moving, this Cree heritage story makes a powerful impression.
—Kirkus Reviews
Author Biography
David A. Robertson is an award-winning writer. His books include When We Were Alone (winner Governor General’s Literary Award), Will I See? (winner Manuela Dias Book Design and Illustration Award Graphic Novel Category), Betty, The Helen Betty Osborne Story (listed In The Margins), and the YA novel Strangers. David educates as well as entertains through his writings about Indigenous Peoples in Canada, reflecting their cultures, histories, communities, as well as illuminating many contemporary issues. David is a member of Norway House Cree Nation. He lives in Winnipeg. Julie Flett is an award-winning Cree-Metis author, illustrator and artist. She has received many awards, including the 2016 American Indian Library Association Award for Best Picture Book for Little You, written by Richard Van Camp (Orca Books), and the Canadian Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Award in 2015 for Dolphins SOS, written by Roy Miki (Tradewind Books) and in 2017 for My Heart Fills with Happiness, written by Monique Gray Smith (Orca Books), and was nominated for the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature for her book Owls See Clearly at Night (Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer): A Michif Alphabet (L’alphabet di Michif). Her own Wild Berries (Simply Read Books) was chosen as Canada's First Nation Communities Read title selection for 2014-2015.
Copyright Information
Copyright 2016 David A. Robertson, Julie Flett
Bibliographic Information
- Publisher HighWater Press
- Publication Date December 2016
- Orginal LanguageEnglish
- ISBN/Identifier 9781553796732
- Publication Country or regionCanada
- Primary Price 19.95 CAD
- Pages25
- ReadershipChildren
- Publish StatusPublished
- Original Language TitleEnglish
- Copyright Year2016
- Dimensions8.5x8 inches
- Illustrationstill images/graphics
HighWater Press has chosen to review this offer before it proceeds.
You will receive an email update that will bring you back to complete the process.
You can also check the status in the My Offers area
Please wait while the payment is being prepared.
Do not close this window.