A 2021 Governor General's Literary Award for Young People's Literature Nominee
One of Quill & Quire's Best Books of 2020
Recommended by booksellers on NPR's Code Switch
One of CBC Books' Best Middle-Grade and Young Adult Books of 2020
One of Canadian Children's Book News' Best Books of 2020
A CBC Books Bestseller
PRAISE FOR The Barren Grounds "David A. Robertson has written such a fine, beautiful novel. He manages to combine hard truths about our history with a Narnia-like fantasy, sweeping us into the world of the story while opening our hearts as well." –
Susin Nielsen, author of We Are All Made of Molecules and No Fixed Address "This middle-grade fantasy deftly and compellingly centers Indigenous culture." –
STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews "This is a book that is rich in its characterization, evocative in its descriptions, and skillful in its weaving together of traditions of the past and life in the present."
–CM Magazine
"[T]he treatment of Cree culture resonates, and the engaging characters and folklore ensure readers will look forward to the next installment." –
Publishers Weekly "Reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's Narnia stories, this fantasy is very much its own tale of ruptured Indigenous culture, of environmental reciprocity and care." –
Toronto Star
"
The Barren Grounds has a strong message about living with the earth and not taking more than you need."
–Toronto Public Library
