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line_so_fine's review against another edition
5.0
A poignant picture book about a little girl who learns to read at a great price because she must attend an Indian Residential School. She endures the stripping of her cultural traditions, her language, and her family, but perseveres. This one doesn't sugarcoat things and remains understandable for young readers.
amageske's review against another edition
4.0
“I felt a great happiness inside that I dared not show.”
youngdi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
candycain's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
renee_b's review against another edition
5.0
When I Was Eight is based on the lived experiences of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, an Inuit woman who attended Catholic boarding school when she was a child. Despite experiencing horrible abuse, both verbal and physical, as well as the stripping of her native name and language, Margaret remains defiant, indomitable. Her love of stories and her memory of her family helps her be strong. This is a great book for kids who are experiencing hardship, even if it’s different from Margaret’s. It has a lot of subtle lessons about knowing your self-worth, and finding things to draw strength from even in difficult times.
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.
tashrow's review against another edition
4.0
This is a lovely new picture book version of Fatty Legs that will share Olemaun’s story with younger readers than the original chapter book. It follows Olemaun from her time with her nomadic family through her attending the “outsider’s school.” There her hair is chopped short and her warm parka is replaced with thin and scratchy clothing. Her name is even changed to Margaret. Margaret wants most to learn to read, but the school is much more interested in getting the children to work hard rather than teaching them. Margaret has a difficult relationship with one nun in particular who makes a point of humiliating her regularly. In the end though, Margaret does learn to read all on her own.
This is a story that works really well as a picture book. I really enjoyed both Fatty Legs and A Stranger at Home that were chapter books, but this younger version simplifies the story and keeps its quiet power. As with the earlier books, I remain in awe at the strength that it took for Margaret to survive in the school and also the courage it takes to keep on telling her story.
Grimard’s illustrations echo the beauty of the Arctic but also capture the dullness and darkness of the school. The nun character radiates scorn and anger on every page she appears in. Margaret is shown usually isolated, but also as radiant in her resiliency.
A powerful look at residential schools on Native populations, this picture book version belongs in most libraries. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
This is a story that works really well as a picture book. I really enjoyed both Fatty Legs and A Stranger at Home that were chapter books, but this younger version simplifies the story and keeps its quiet power. As with the earlier books, I remain in awe at the strength that it took for Margaret to survive in the school and also the courage it takes to keep on telling her story.
Grimard’s illustrations echo the beauty of the Arctic but also capture the dullness and darkness of the school. The nun character radiates scorn and anger on every page she appears in. Margaret is shown usually isolated, but also as radiant in her resiliency.
A powerful look at residential schools on Native populations, this picture book version belongs in most libraries. Appropriate for ages 6-9.