Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Groundwood Books (2018), 32 pages
Description
"When a young girl visits the site of Africville, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the stories she's heard from her family come to mind. She imagines what the community was once like--the brightly painted houses nestled into the hillside, the field where boys played football, the pond where all the kids went rafting, the bountiful fishing, the huge bonfires"--
Local notes
School Library Journal Starred, 08/31/2018
K-Gr 2—This story celebrates the beauty and joy of the community seen through a child's eyes. Africville was a Black community in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that was settled during the American Revolutionary War, and provided a haven for those fleeing slavery during the War of 1812. Despite its rich history and equal contributions to taxes, the residents of Africville were denied equal services and the community was treated as a literal dumping ground, culminating in forcible relocation and its razing in the 1960s. The spirit of the community could not be broken; there is an annual reunion festival, and the City of Halifax has apologized and offered compensation to former residents. The narrator delights in the festivities, from the hills ripe with blueberries to rafting on the pond. There is both pride and longing expressed in the lyrical text, and the vibrant colors and friendly compositions of the oil and pastel illustrations immerse readers in this community. VERDICT This poetic ode to a place lost in time is an excellent choice for general reading and classroom sharing, and a must-purchase regionally.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN Copyright 2018 Reed Business Information.
K-Gr 2—This story celebrates the beauty and joy of the community seen through a child's eyes. Africville was a Black community in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that was settled during the American Revolutionary War, and provided a haven for those fleeing slavery during the War of 1812. Despite its rich history and equal contributions to taxes, the residents of Africville were denied equal services and the community was treated as a literal dumping ground, culminating in forcible relocation and its razing in the 1960s. The spirit of the community could not be broken; there is an annual reunion festival, and the City of Halifax has apologized and offered compensation to former residents. The narrator delights in the festivities, from the hills ripe with blueberries to rafting on the pond. There is both pride and longing expressed in the lyrical text, and the vibrant colors and friendly compositions of the oil and pastel illustrations immerse readers in this community. VERDICT This poetic ode to a place lost in time is an excellent choice for general reading and classroom sharing, and a must-purchase regionally.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN Copyright 2018 Reed Business Information.
Awards
Governor General's Literary Award (Finalist — 2018)
USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades K-2 — 2019)
Atlantic Book Awards (Winner — 2019)
Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award (Winner — 2019)
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award (Finalist — 2019)
Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award (Honour — 2018)
CCBC Choices (2019)
Globe and Mail Top 100 Book (2018)