True story!

The Secret Pocket by Peggy Janicki, ills. Carrielynn Victor  

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A tale that tugs, confronts and horrifies. The Residential Schools are a byword for all that’s wrong with what happened to First Nations people’s in Canada. (This story is universal in its scope of what happened historically to First Nations people’s throughout the new world)

The lengths the children had to go to to survive is a stain on any nation’s soul.

To my mind the tale has a First Nations storyteller’s lyrical cadence. The illustrations match the voice. 

I was not aware that some children were able to go home. Interesting to note that “home” was always in different colors to those used for the school experience.

The ingenuity of the girls sewing their pockets gave hope to their small community. The fact that they had to go to these lengths speaks louder than words as to the treatment they were receiving.

So many talking points to open up discussions of the past, present and future for First Nations Peoples. I struggle to make an adequate response in the face of so simply yet baldly presented facts. The storyteller’s voice adds weight, simply and straightforwardly spoken. 

The author and illustrator are of First Nations heritage and bring an authoritative tone, and a living knowledge to this work. 

Suitable for young children.

An Orca ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.