Author | David Robertson (writer) |
---|---|
Language | English |
Series | The Misewa Saga |
Genre | Children's literature, Fantasy |
Publisher | Puffin Books |
Publication date | September 8, 2020 |
Publication place | United States |
Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
Followed by | The Great Bear |
The Barren Grounds is a middle-grade children's book by David A. Robertson, published September 8, 2020 by Puffin Books. The publisher has named it a juxtaposition between traditional Indigenous stories and C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia.[1]
In the book, two Indigenous foster children, Morgan and Eli, find a portal in an unfinished attic bedroom that leads them into another reality, Askí. There, they meet friends and foes, and learn traditional Indigenous modes of survival.
The Barren Grounds was a CBC Books number one bestseller for children's books for six nonconsecutive weeks,[2] and remained on the list for over a year following publication.[3]
The book received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews,[4] as well as positive reviews from Toronto Star, Toronto Public Library,[5] CM Magazine,[6] and Publishers Weekly.[7] NPR's Code Switch team named it one of five underappreciated books published in 2020.[8]
Canadian Children's Book News, CBC Books,[9] and Quill & Quire[10] named The Barren Grounds one of the best books for young people in 2020.
Year | Award/Honor | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Governor General's Literary Award for Young People's Literature | Finalist | [11][12] |
USBBY Outstanding International Books List | Selection | [13] | |
2021 | Silver Birch Fiction Award | Finalist | [14] |
Forest of Reading | Nominee | [15] | |
Canadian Children's Book Centre Book Awards | Shortlist | [16][17][18] |
On October 7, 2021, Robertson announced that ABC Signature had bought film rights to the Misewa Saga series.[19]