David A. Robertson’s The Misewa Series blends Narnia-like world building with traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations to produce an epic, middle-grade fantasy series, nominated for multiple awards and featured as a “Best Book” by media outlets across the country. The Great Bear is the second book, following the bestselling The Barren Grounds, in which Eli and Morgan journey once more to Misewa to visit their animal friends. In conversation with classrooms, Robertson can speak to the inspiration behind an Indigenous fantasy series, the lessons that his characters learn from others on their journey, and some of the ways we can face challenges in our lifetimes.
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Themes: Fantasy, Indigenous perspectives, time travel, friendship, natural world, and resilience.
Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts 6-9, and Social Studies 5-8. Suitable for Grades 5-8.
Participants and Speakers
David A. Robertson
DAVID A. ROBERTSON is the author of numerous books for young readers including When We Were Alone, which won the 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award. The Barren Grounds received a starred review from Kirkus and was a Kirkus and Quill & Quire best middle-grade book of 2020. A sought-after speaker and educator, as well as recent recipient of the Writers’ Union of Canada’s Freedom to Read Award, Robertson is a member of the Norway House Cree Nation. (MANITOBA)