When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson and Julie Flett

When We Were Alone
By David A. Robertson and Julie Flett

A young girl is tending a garden with her grandmother when she begins to notice details about her grandmother. She asks her grandmother many questions about herself like why she wears bright colors and why she wears her hair very long. Her grandmother answers her by telling stories of her time at a Residential School away from her family and her home.

The publisher (Portage and Main Press) suggests this book for K-3 grade range, but it could definitely be used with older children. The book deals with the sensitive history of residential schools for American Indians. Robertson and Flett are both Canadian and Native (Norway House Cree and Cree-Metis, respectively), so this book provides an "own voices" perspective on history.

In the following video, Robertson talks with a kindergarten teacher about dealing with sensitive topics, such as residential schools, with young children. The video provides excellent examples of how to help students critically look at the book while being sensitive to their age.

Portage and Main Press also provides a parent and teacher guide to assist in reading this book with children. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that touches on the stories of residential schools. It would be an interesting introduction to Robertson's Sugar Falls, which is a graphic novel for older children that deals with the same subject.