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afro8921's review against another edition
5.0
Olemaun is a young Inuit girl who longs to learn to read like her big sister. Her father resist taking her to school until she wears him down. At her new school she receives a new name and a haircut. While she still longs to read, her chores and the treatment she receives at the hands of her classmates and the nun teacher blunts her zeal for words. Olemaun must harness the strength and tenacity that got her into to school to master the English language. This is a wonderful book that highlights the difficulties experienced by some Inuit students immigrating to American schools. Great book for discussing cultural differences.
heisereads's review against another edition
5.0
I have not read Fatty Legs, but this picture book version of a part of the novel will introduce younger children to the determination of one child who attended an Indian Residential (boarding) School. This
is an important memoir picture book to add to a collection.
is an important memoir picture book to add to a collection.
raaahella's review against another edition
5.0
Exceptional. Should be read in classrooms across North America & the world for that matter.
bookbutterfly111's review against another edition
5.0
It's an important story about cruel assimilation policies that indigenous people faced and also a powerful story about the importance of literacy. The book features a strong female character who is determined to learn to read no matter what. She perseveres despite the harsh conditions she faces and learns to read.
jennybeastie's review against another edition
5.0
Strongly based on a true story, so I'm not sure how to categorize it. Very well done.
afro75's review against another edition
5.0
Olemaun is a young Inuit girl who longs to learn to read like her big sister. Her father resist taking her to school until she wears him down. At her new school she receives a new name and a haircut. While she still longs to read, her chores and the treatment she receives at the hands of her classmates and the nun teacher blunts her zeal for words. Olemaun must harness the strength and tenacity that got her into to school to master the English language. This is a wonderful book that highlights the difficulties experienced by some Inuit students immigrating to American schools. Great book for discussing cultural differences.
elizabethlk's review against another edition
5.0
When I Was Eight is a picture book adaptation of the early/middle grade chapter book Fatty Legs, telling the true story of Olemaun (Margaret) Pokiak as she ventures into the dangerous territory of residential schools in northern Canada.
The overall story of what was told in Fatty Legs is the same here in When I Was Eight. The story has been made less frightening for younger readers. The illustrations are done by a different artist, creating images that are less chilling, and overall warmer. It still presents residential schools as a scary place, and serves as a quality introduction for children to a very mature subject. It also serves much more about a book about reading than Fatty Legs did, offering more encouragement in literacy, and showing what learning to read meant to Olemaun.
When I Was Eight is a great picture book for any age, but especially for children ready to be introduced to the topic of residential schools. I would definitely recommend it.
The overall story of what was told in Fatty Legs is the same here in When I Was Eight. The story has been made less frightening for younger readers. The illustrations are done by a different artist, creating images that are less chilling, and overall warmer. It still presents residential schools as a scary place, and serves as a quality introduction for children to a very mature subject. It also serves much more about a book about reading than Fatty Legs did, offering more encouragement in literacy, and showing what learning to read meant to Olemaun.
When I Was Eight is a great picture book for any age, but especially for children ready to be introduced to the topic of residential schools. I would definitely recommend it.
bookdragon_library's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great picture book based on the true story of one of the authors attending residential school. The illustrations are beautiful with a watercolor feel to them. There are so many messages within the story that can be taught not just about native American history but the power to read and the desire to be able to read. Margaret goes through a lot of terrible things so that she can accomplish her goal of being able to read and she is determined and Rightfully proud when she achieves her goal basically all on her own because she had no support from the nun at school. It is unclear to me why she seems like she was singled out above the other girls in tasks being a little harsher than anyone else but it might describe that more in the actual memoir Fatty Legs which I haven’t read yet. This is definitely a book that would be good in a biography section or an American history section even though this particular story is in Canada.