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A review by damaris_anne
Stolen Words by Melanie Florence
5.0
I was at a conference recently, perusing one of the many bookstores, when I caught sight of an adorable little book. Brightly yellow and red, it was one of the cardboard ones they make so babies can chew on them without tearing the paper. I picked it up, turning it over in my hands. It was a 'First Words' book, but instead of having just English words, it had English, French, and Cree.
I remember standing in that bookstore, turning this book over and over in my hands, looking at this beautiful little book and realising how privileged I really am, and always have been. I'm as white as they come (my skin looks like uncooked chicken, ok?), but I've always had an immense interest, appreciation and reverence for other cultures. Even still, I'd never even thought how lucky I was to grow up with all my books, my precious books, written in my language. My music, in my language. My signs, in my language.
And that is why I love Second Story Press. They are tackling the real issues, and they are tackling them where it counts: through children's books. Stolen Words is my fourth Second Story Press book that I've read, and each of them are absolutely brilliant. They are teaching kids, encouraging kids, and empowering kids to embrace who they truly are, and who their friends truly are.
Stolen Words is a really touching story about a little girl and her grandfather, who was placed in residential school when he was younger, and lost his language as a result. The illustrations through Stolen Words are truly gorgeous, and add to the haunting but evocative nature of the story. It also gives the reader their own introduction to Cree, and ends the story with hope.
Second Story Press and Melanie Florence are on the right track with books like these. Just like that 'First Words' book that I held for a good five minutes in that bookstore, Stolen Words not only educates children, but it also awakens adults like you and me to realise and face parts of ourselves that we didn't know existed. And, really, isn't that what great literature does? Great literature helps us to embrace who we are, and forces us to reconcile and realise who we are not. Stolen Words does exactly that.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for my fair and honest review.
I remember standing in that bookstore, turning this book over and over in my hands, looking at this beautiful little book and realising how privileged I really am, and always have been. I'm as white as they come (my skin looks like uncooked chicken, ok?), but I've always had an immense interest, appreciation and reverence for other cultures. Even still, I'd never even thought how lucky I was to grow up with all my books, my precious books, written in my language. My music, in my language. My signs, in my language.
And that is why I love Second Story Press. They are tackling the real issues, and they are tackling them where it counts: through children's books. Stolen Words is my fourth Second Story Press book that I've read, and each of them are absolutely brilliant. They are teaching kids, encouraging kids, and empowering kids to embrace who they truly are, and who their friends truly are.
Stolen Words is a really touching story about a little girl and her grandfather, who was placed in residential school when he was younger, and lost his language as a result. The illustrations through Stolen Words are truly gorgeous, and add to the haunting but evocative nature of the story. It also gives the reader their own introduction to Cree, and ends the story with hope.
Second Story Press and Melanie Florence are on the right track with books like these. Just like that 'First Words' book that I held for a good five minutes in that bookstore, Stolen Words not only educates children, but it also awakens adults like you and me to realise and face parts of ourselves that we didn't know existed. And, really, isn't that what great literature does? Great literature helps us to embrace who we are, and forces us to reconcile and realise who we are not. Stolen Words does exactly that.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for my fair and honest review.