NetGalley Review: Stolen Words by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard

Title: Stolen Words

Author: Melanie Florence
Illustrated: Gabrielle Grimard
Published: Sept. 5, 2017
Publisher: Second Story Press
Pages: 24
Genre: Multi-cultural, Ages 4 on up
Review: ebook provided by NetGalley and publisher
Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk  

The story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in his language, Cree, he admits that his language was stolen from him when he was a boy. The little girl then sets out to help her grandfather find his language again. This sensitive, beautifully illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of Canada's residential school system, which separated young Indigenous children from their families.

We received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.

The cover and the description called me to read this and see exactly what it was about. 

There is not many pictures in the book but what is drawn is done very well. It is soft illustrations. 

When a little girl ask her grandfather to say something in his native language Cree he tells her the story of how his language was stolen from him. Not only was his language stolen but his world was changed as far as how him and his people were treated. It is a very sad story because we as humans should treat everyone with respect and that doesn't happen. We try to conform certain groups of people to be like us and that isn't right. What the granddaughter does next so her grandfather can speak in his langue is very sweet. I liked trying to say the words that were given to us in Cree. They look to be beautiful words.

This is a powerful book, that many many need to read. I really loved everything about this book but there was a certain picture that I fell in love with and it was where the words turn into birds and fly away. That was so meaningful to me. K thought it was sad that people were treated ugly and that they couldn't speak in their own words. He didn't fully understand why people would be so mean. Which led me to explaining to him. 

Melanie Florence is of Cree and Scottish descent. Melanie works as a freelance journalist, and her byline has appeared in numerous magazines, including Dance International, Writer Magazine, Parents Canada and Urban Male Magazine. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her family. For more information, visit www.melanieflorence.com.
Gabrielle Grimard has been drawing since she was very young. Her passion for drawing and painting led her to pursue studies in fine arts and arts education at Concordia University. After she had her first child, she began her career as an illustrator. She moved from Montreal to the Eastern Townships, where she now lives with her two children, several chickens and her husband, who builds wooden boats. They share an old barn as their artist's studio. For more information, visit www.gabriellegrimard.com.