Episode 5: The Barren Grounds
After a glowing review and synopsis of The Barren Grounds, Ainara travels through her attic portal to visit author David A. Robertson under the prairie night sky. He shares his reasons for writing the series and gives us some insight into the Cree folklore that helped shape these magical tales.
More about the book
The Barren Grounds is the first of three books in the Misewa Saga. In this book Morgan 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! Accompanied by Arik and Ochek, Morgan and Eli try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything -- including them.
Learn even more about The Barren Grounds
About David A. Robertson
David is an indigenous author, public speaker, and two-time winner of the Governor General Literary Award. He is also a member of the Norway House Cree Nation and has written many youth and adult novels sharing indigenous stories and points of view.
Learn more about David A. Roberston on his website
More of David’s Work
Back at home after their first adventure in the Barren Grounds, Eli and Morgan each struggle with personal issues: Eli is being bullied at school, and tries to hide it from Morgan, while Morgan has to make an important decision about her birth mother.
A young girl notices things about her grandmother that make her curious. As she asks questions, her grandmother shares her experiences in a residential school, when all of these things were taken away.