*Received by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This book was a beautiful and simple children's story about the hardships suffered by native tribes within Canada.
The illustrations were beautiful, the original language of the people were used and it was lovely, quick and poetic.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2327744821?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

A beautiful story about a little girl’s grandmother. The girl is curious about why her grandmother dresses the way she does, among other things. The grandmother talks about her childhood and the difficulties she had. It shows the importance of learning to be yourself.

“When We Were Alone” is the story of Grandmother Nokom and her granddaughter, Nosisim sharing time in the garden. As they work side by side Nosisim notices aspects about her grandmother that make her special: her vibrant colored clothing, her long hair, how she speaks her native tongue, and keeps her loved ones close. Nokom explains how each of these things was taken away from her as a child when she was forced to attend a residential school. Text alternates color from brown when Nokom is recalling her memories to black for the present day. The author included some Cree language with translations. This is a touching book that can be used as a springboard to conversations about the injustices foisted upon the native people.--Recommended.

Six Stars! Amazing wonderful book! Both the author, David Alexander Robertson, and the illustrator, Julie Flett, have done a top notch job in creating this book. When We Were Alone appears to be a children's book but should be read by people of all ages! Love it! |It is a tale of the experience of a Cree elder in a residential school that never, ever mentions the words “residential school”. Although the elder describes many of her experiences to her young granddaughter there is no expression of bitterness or other negative emotions.
The illustrations are magnificent!
I recommend this book to everyone, it would be an especially great addition to an Aboriginal classroom or a Native Studies course. It opens the door to many discussions in a gentle, yet highly effective manner.

When We Were Alone is a sweet story about a little girl who is gardening with her grandmother and begins to ask her questions. Her grandmother tells her tales of her lie in boarding school, explaining that she wears coloring clothes because she wasn't allowed to in school. Seeing the granddaughter begin to understanding her grandmother better, and learn about her past was really sweet and interesting. A great story to teach children about differences in history and culture.

This book is poetic and lyrical, full of insight and also warmth. I am so grateful for the way children's books are approaching hard topics in sensitive ways because our kids need to know our history.

This book is a beautiful story about a granddaughter gardening with her grandmother, asking her about why she wears beautiful clothes or why she speaks in Cree. Grandmother referenced her residential school and why she celebrates her heritage now, because she wasn't always able to.

I did not know much about the residential schools but after this book, I did my own research. I think this is an incredible movement with children's literature, peaking curiosity in both children and adults.

I liked the art work and how it was drawn, and how the story progessed but there were a couple of times I lost the thread of the story.

This is the second book I've read by David Alexander Robertson, the first being his graphic novel, Will I See?, for teenagers and adults. He's a very powerful author who knows how to address both historical and modern issues of indigenous people in an accessible way.

Premise: A little girl is spending the day with her kókom (grandmother). As she notices things about her kókom, she asks questions about them: "Nókom, why do you wear so many colours? / “Nókom, why do you wear your hair so long? / etc.” Each time, the girl's grandmother answers with an explanation of the residential school to which she was taken as a child and how the people running the school tried to remove the influences of the native peoples from the children. “They wanted us to look like everybody else.” She also counters with an explanation of how the children made it bearable and kept their heritage and happiness alive. These are the reasons she honors her heritage now, she says: “Now,” Nókom said, “I always wear the most beautiful colours. / “Now,” Nókom said, “I always wear my hair very long.” And so on. The book ends with the little girl holding hands with her grandmother and great-uncle, impressing a message of strength and pride in one's self, heritage, and family.

This is a brilliant way to start a discussion with children about the history of residential schools to which First Nation children were sent. It's honest without being too scary or graphic. And the illustrations by Julie Flett are simple but gorgeous! I've been trying to read books to my son that represent a variety of cultures, and this is a great place to start with the Cree in Canada and the United States. I would recommend this book to anyone who has the chance to read to a child, or to anyone who just enjoys reading picture books!

Lovely, informative and important book for readers of all ages..

I would have picked up and read this book just because, you know, Julie Flett! I adore her illustrations.
In this narrative, a young girl spends time with her Nokom (grandmother) and wonders why she does the things she does. The girl questions how she dresses, wears her hair, why she speaks Cree, and spends so much time with her brother. We readers learn, along with the girl, that this is how her Nokom celebrates her life in contrast to her experiences in residential school.
I highly recommend this one for all libraries.

I love Julie Flett's art, and I am always interested in reading anything she touches.