When We Were Alone
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Author | David Robertson (writer) |
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Illustrators | Julie Flett |
Language | English, Swampy Cree language |
Genre | Children's literature, Historical fiction |
Publication date | December 1, 2016 |
Publication place | United States |
Media type |
When We Were Alone is a children's book written by David Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett and published December 1, 2016 by HighWater Press. The book is published in English, and one edition include text in Swampy Cree syllabics and Roman orthography, translated by Alderick Leask.[1]
The book tells the story of a young girl who asks her grandmother about the grandmother's colorful clothing while they are gardening. From there, the grandmother tells some of her history of living in a residential school as a child, during which times she and others broke the school's rules "when [they] were alone."
Reception
When We Were Alone received starred review from Booklist,[2] as well as positive reviews from American Indians in Children's Literature[3] and Kirkus Reviews.[4]
The book received the following accolades:
- Governor General's Literary Awards: Young People's Literature — Illustrated Books winner (2017)[5]
- Shining Willow Award nominee (2018)[6]
References
- ^ "Ispík Kákí Péyakoyak/When We Were Alone | IndieBound.org". IndieBound. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
- ^ "When We Were Alone". Booklist. March 15, 2017. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
- ^ Reese, Debbie (2016-09-23). "American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL): WHEN WE WERE ALONE by David Alexander Robertson and Julie Flett". American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL). Retrieved 2021-10-13.
- ^ "When We Were Alone". Kirkus Reviews. October 12, 2016. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
- ^ "Past GGBooks winners and finalists". Governor General's Literary Awards. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
- ^ "2018 Shining Willow Finalists". Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
See also
- How David A. Robertson wrote a picture book about the history of Canada's residential schools
- David Alexander Robertson on "When We Were Alone"
- David Alexander Robertson talks about his winning book, When We Were Alone
- Why David A. Robertson wanted When We Were Alone to celebrate the Cree language
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- Kady MacDonald Denton, A Child's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes (1998)
- Gary Clement, The Great Poochini (1999)
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- Jillian Tamaki, This One Summer (2014)
- JonArno Lawson, Sidewalk Flowers (2015)
- Jon-Erik Lappano and Kellen Hatanaka, Tokyo Digs a Garden (2016)
- David Robertson and Julie Flett, When We Were Alone (2017)
- Jillian Tamaki, They Say Blue (2018)
- Sydney Smith, Small in the City (2019)
- The Fan Brothers, The Barnabus Project (2020)
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