The Barren Grounds

The Barren Grounds 

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade fantasy
• Originally Published: 2020 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 680L; grades 4-8 
• Structure/Length: 5 parts, 27 chapters, epilogue; approximately 256 pages; approximately 7 hours, 39 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The story follows two Indigenous children, Morgan and Eli, who are foster siblings living in Winnipeg. They discover a portal to another world, Askí, which is suffering from eternal winter due to a greedy creature hoarding the land’s resources. The central conflict revolves around Morgan and Eli’s quest to help the animal inhabitants of Askí and find their way back home. The story explores ideas about belonging, resilience, and environmental stewardship. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Cultural identity; the foster system; physical danger; environmental degradation; elements of Indigenous folklore and spirituality

David Alexander Robertson, Author 

• Bio: Born 1977; member of Norway House Cree Nation; Canadian writer known for his work in graphic novels, children’s books, and novels, often focusing on educating about Indigenous history and contemporary issues; blends traditional Indigenous stories with contemporary themes 
• Other Works: Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story (2011); When We Were Alone (2016); The Great Bear (Book 2 of The Misewa Saga; 2021)
• Awards: Governor General’s Literary Award (finalist; 2020)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Remembering Who You Are
• Caring for the Earth
• Consequences of the White Savior Complex

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an increased understanding of historical and social contexts regarding Cree culture and cultural context regarding environmental stewardship, both of which connect to Morgan and Eli’s conflict.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Remembering Who You Are, Caring for the Earth, and Consequences of the White Savior Complex.
• Plan, develop, and present a portal to another world with parallels to the text, based on textual details.
• Analyze and evaluate plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding the role of nature, the novel’s structure as a quest narrative, and other topics.