The Portal Keeper by David Alexander Robertson

Eli and Morgan experience life-changing revelations in the fourth adventure in the award-winning, Narnia-inspired Indigenous middle-grade fantasy series, now in paperback.

While exploring World's End, an area in Aski they've just discovered, Morgan and Emily delight in their developing relationship, while Eli struggles to understand his new-found the ability to locate a portal. A shocking turn of events leads them to a new village, Ministik, where the animal beings who live there are going missing. Horrified to discover who is responsible, the children vow to help and turn to friends, old and new. But it's getting harder and harder to keep the two worlds separate, especially when details of a traditional legend change everything. 

Forever.

Paperback, 256 pages

Audiobook, 7 hours, 35 minutes

Published July 2, 2024

 by Tundra Books

3.5/5 stars

The Portal Keeper, is the 4th book the Misewa Saga. It's another imaginative and heartfelt journey into the richly woven world of Indigenous storytelling. Robertson continues to blend fantasy and Cree culture in a way that feels both magical and meaningful.

Morgan and Eli continue into new realms and face fresh challenges that test their courage, wisdom and friendship. Being the 4th book I wondered what could be next and again the Misewa world expands in new ways  that offer new characters and settings.

I don't really want to say too much, especially for those that haven't started this series.  Book 6 just released today.  Suffice to say this is an adventure filled series with emotion and cultural insight.  I definitely recommend reading this series in order.  Though written for the middle grade readers this adult is enjoying this series.

This book is part of my 2025 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #40

The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson

Narnia meets traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations in an epic middle-grade fantasy series from award-winning author David Robertson.

Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home -- until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to another reality, Ask�, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything -- including them.

Paperback, 256 pages

Published August 31, 2021

 by Tundra Books

4/5 stars

This is book 1 in The Misewa Saga with book 5 coming out in August. I was lucky enough to get a digital arc of book 5 so now I am slowly going through this series to caught up.

I was excited to start this series not just because David Robertson is a Canadian author with his books taking place on Canadian soil but rather that he is known for his indigenous stories. He did not disappoint here.

For Morgan and Eli they are brought together in a foster home living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They don’t start off as friends, in fact the opposite, but when they travel through a portal they are forced to work together. Transported to a alternate fantasy world called Aski they are met with a culture that both have been internally craving along with myths and creatures, both good and bad. 

This book did have a Narnia vibe to it, but instead of a faith theme it had a very indigenous feel along with a great message. 

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is booked #2.

Hopeless in Hope by Wanda John-Kehewin

We live in a hopeless old house on an almost-deserted dead-end street in a middle-of-nowhere town named Hope. This is the oldest part of Hope; eventually it will all be torn down and rebuilt into perfect homes for perfect people. Until then, we live here: imperfect people on an imperfect street that everyone forgets about. For Eva Brown, life feels lonely and small. Her mother, Shirley, drinks and yells all the time. She’s the target of the popular mean girl, and her only friend doesn’t want to talk to her anymore. All of it would be unbearable if it weren’t for her cat, Toofie, her beloved nohkum, and her writing, which no one will ever see. When Nohkum is hospitalized, Shirley struggles to keep things together for Eva and her younger brother, Marcus. After Marcus is found wandering the neighbourhood alone, he is sent to live with a foster family, and Eva finds herself in a group home. Furious at her mother, Eva struggles to adjust―and being reunited with her family seems less and less likely. During a visit to the hospital, Nohkum gives Eva Shirley’s diary. Will the truths it holds help Eva understand her mother? Heartbreaking and humorous, Hopeless in Hope is a compelling story of family and forgiveness.

Paperback, 216 pages

Published September 5, 2023

by HighWater Press

5/5 stars

Hopeless in Hope is one of those stories that makes me wonder why it isn’t getting the hype that it deserves. And knowing that this is the authors debut makes it all the more poignant.

Eva is 14-years-old, she lives in Hope, BC.  Not only is she indigenous, but bullied for being overweight and impoverished. Her mother is an alcoholic, along with her brother Marcus, they are being raised by their grandmother, her Hohkum.

Hopeless in Hope was an emotional read as it tackles a number of subjects. It is about Eva‘s journey as she enters a group home while her brother enters a another one following their grandmother's hospitalization. It is during that time that Eva reconciles with her mother and grandmother‘s past and how they arrived where they are today.

Such a well written story about the effect of Canada‘s past on future generations.  This book should be in classrooms and widely talked about.  I recommend this to readers of all ages.

My copy was obtained through my local public library.