Starting in the 1800s and continuing into the 20th century, First Nations childr
en were forcibly taken to government-sponsored residential schools to erase thei
r traditional languages and cultures. This moving book tells of one such child,
author Larry Loyie, and his last summer with his Cree tribe. It is a time of lea
rning and adventure. He cares for an abandoned baby owl, watches his grandmother
make winter moccasins, and sees her kill a huge grizzly with one shot. The sens
itive text and Heather Holmlund's expressive illustrations beautifully capture t
he joy and drama of a First Nations family's last summer together.
