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The Barren Grounds

The Misewa Saga, Book One

Part of The Misewa Saga

Author David A. Robertson On Tour
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Hardcover
$17.99 US
Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books
On sale Sep 08, 2020 | 256 Pages | 9780735266100
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Narnia meets traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations in an epic middle grade fantasy series from award-winning author David Robertson.

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, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything -- including them.
  • FINALIST | 2025
    Mythopoeic Award
  • NOMINEE | 2022
    Surrey Schools Book of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2022
    YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
  • LONGLIST | 2022
    First Nations Communities Read Award
  • NOMINEE | 2022
    Rocky Mountain Book Award
  • HONOR | 2021
    USBBY-CBC Outstanding International Trade Book
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Panda Book Award
  • AWARD | 2021
    Freedom to Read
  • SHORTLIST | 2021
    National Chapter IODE Violet Downey Award
  • SHORTLIST | 2021
    TD Canadian Children's Literature Award
  • SELECTION | 2021
    Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Silver Birch Award for Fiction
  • FINALIST | 2021
    Diamond Willow Award
  • FINALIST | 2020
    Governor General’s Literary Award - Young People’s Literature - Text
© Amber Green
DAVID A. ROBERTSON is the author of numerous books for young readers including Governor General’s Literary Award winners On the Trapline and When We Were Alone. The Barren Grounds, Book 1 of The Misewa Saga series, was a Kirkus, NPR, and Quill & Quire best middle-grade book of 2020, as well as a USBBY and Texas Lone Star selection. Winner of the Writers’ Union of Canada’s Freedom to Read Award, as well as the 2021 Globe and Mail Children’s Storyteller of the Year recipient, Dave is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and currently lives in Winnipeg, Canada. For more information, visit his website: www.darobertson.ca and follow him on X: @DaveAlexRoberts. View titles by David A. Robertson

About

Narnia meets traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations in an epic middle grade fantasy series from award-winning author David Robertson.

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, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything -- including them.

Awards

  • FINALIST | 2025
    Mythopoeic Award
  • NOMINEE | 2022
    Surrey Schools Book of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2022
    YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
  • LONGLIST | 2022
    First Nations Communities Read Award
  • NOMINEE | 2022
    Rocky Mountain Book Award
  • HONOR | 2021
    USBBY-CBC Outstanding International Trade Book
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Panda Book Award
  • AWARD | 2021
    Freedom to Read
  • SHORTLIST | 2021
    National Chapter IODE Violet Downey Award
  • SHORTLIST | 2021
    TD Canadian Children's Literature Award
  • SELECTION | 2021
    Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Silver Birch Award for Fiction
  • FINALIST | 2021
    Diamond Willow Award
  • FINALIST | 2020
    Governor General’s Literary Award - Young People’s Literature - Text

Author

© Amber Green
DAVID A. ROBERTSON is the author of numerous books for young readers including Governor General’s Literary Award winners On the Trapline and When We Were Alone. The Barren Grounds, Book 1 of The Misewa Saga series, was a Kirkus, NPR, and Quill & Quire best middle-grade book of 2020, as well as a USBBY and Texas Lone Star selection. Winner of the Writers’ Union of Canada’s Freedom to Read Award, as well as the 2021 Globe and Mail Children’s Storyteller of the Year recipient, Dave is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and currently lives in Winnipeg, Canada. For more information, visit his website: www.darobertson.ca and follow him on X: @DaveAlexRoberts. View titles by David A. Robertson

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