Dear Canada: These Are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens 
Scholastic Canada Ltd | ISBN 9781443133180 Hardcover
192 Pages | 5.54" x 7.66" | Ages 9 to 12
Scholastic Canada Ltd | ISBN 9781443133197 Ebook
200 Pages | Ages 9 to 12
Acclaimed author Ruby Slipperjack delivers a haunting novel about a 12-year-old girl’s experience at a Residential School in 1966.
Violet Pesheens is struggling to adjust to her new life at Residential School. She misses her Grandma; she has run-ins with Cree girls; at her “white” school, everyone just stares; and everything she brought has been taken from her, including her name—she is now just a number. But worst of all, she has a fear. A fear of forgetting the things she treasures most: her Anishnabe language; the names of those she knew before; and her traditional customs. A fear of forgetting who she was.
Her notebook is the one place she can record all of her worries, and heartbreaks, and memories. And maybe, just maybe there will be hope at the end of the tunnel.
Drawing from her own experiences at Residential School, Ruby Slipperjack creates a brave, yet heartbreaking heroine in Violet, and lets young readers glimpse into an all-too important chapter in our nation’s history.
Raves & reviews:
Praise for Ruby Slipperjack:
“Slipperjack carefully paints a portrait of traditional and non-traditional life incorporating history and culture into a coming of age story.” (Dog Tracks) —CM: Canadian Review of Materials
“Anyone wanting to see an honest reflection of native life as it was and is would do well to start here.” (Honour the Sun)” —CM: Canadian Review of Materials