- the story of an 8 yr old Inuit girl who attends a residential school- she wants to learn to read but doesn't know what is in store for her- story about personal spirit, family, and the harms of the residential school system- informative quick read with interesting accompanying photos- written for children but more appropriate for adults with some background knowledge- reading level: gr. 6 for most but gr. 10 at the end- interest level: gr. 5+ Olemaun, an 8-year old Inuit girl, wants to learn to read more than anything. She persuades her father to allow her to attend the "local" residential mission school, 5 days travel from her home village and ends up spending 2 years there because a short summer doesn't allow her family to come get her after the first year. At the school her hair is cut short, she's renamed Margaret, and she encounters deliberate cruelty from one of the nuns (ironically her teacher). There are endless chores designed to teach her to be a menial, a servant, and when all the other girls are given warm gray stockings, hers are red, given her by the nun to make her the butt of other girls' jokes. One nun treats her well; the others do not.In the end though, as a 10 year old, Margaret goes home. She's learned to read and she's survived the misery of the school.A first person account of one of the author's experiences in a Catholic residential school in northern Canada, detailing a dreadful bit of both Canadian and US history, the attempt to deliberately destroy a native culture. The nuns at these schools, with their belief in their own superiority, refused to allow the children warm enough clothing or shoes that fit, treated their non-English speaking students with distain, and frequently treated their charges with casual or conscious cruelty.Middle school and up. History, non-fiction.
What do You think about Fatty Legs (2010)?
Great memoir. Easy read, informative, and touching.
—Loretta
Great book about this topic for the younger set.
—Tiffy222
Couldn't find the French version on goodreads?
—Jack
