When I Was Eight
- Downloads：3352
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-06-01 12:52:23
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Christy Jordan-Fenton
- ISBN：1554514908
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
"Nothing will stop a strong-minded young Inuit girl from learning how to read。"
Olemaun is eight and knows a lot of things。 But she does not know how to read。 She must travel to the outsiders' school to learn， ignoring her father's warning of what will happen there。
The nuns at the school take her Inuit name and call her Margaret。 They cut off her long hair and force her to do chores。 She has only one thing left -- a book about a girl named Alice， who falls down a rabbit hole。
Margaret's tenacious character draws the attention of a black-cloaked nun who tries to break her spirit at every turn。 But she is more determined than ever to read。
By the end， Margaret knows that， like Alice， she has traveled to a faraway land and stood against a tyrant， proving herself to be brave and clever。
Based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton， and complemented by stunning illustrations， "When I Was Eight" makes the bestselling "Fatty Legs" accessible to young children。 Now they， too， can meet this remarkable girl who reminds us what power we hold when we can read。
Olemaun is eight and knows a lot of things。 But she does not know how to read。 She must travel to the outsiders' school to learn， ignoring her father's warning of what will happen there。
The nuns at the school take her Inuit name and call her Margaret。 They cut off her long hair and force her to do chores。 She has only one thing left -- a book about a girl named Alice， who falls down a rabbit hole。
Margaret's tenacious character draws the attention of a black-cloaked nun who tries to break her spirit at every turn。 But she is more determined than ever to read。
By the end， Margaret knows that， like Alice， she has traveled to a faraway land and stood against a tyrant， proving herself to be brave and clever。
Based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton， and complemented by stunning illustrations， "When I Was Eight" makes the bestselling "Fatty Legs" accessible to young children。 Now they， too， can meet this remarkable girl who reminds us what power we hold when we can read。
Reviews
Caren Pantoja
，
Olemaun， the protagonist， is native to the snowy Arctic lands。 She is eight years old and lives very remotely with her family and their sled dogs。 Olemaun does not know how to read and continuously begs her father to take her to the outsider’s school， where her sister is currently attending。 Olemaun does not know why her father does not want to take her， which intrigues her even more of going to school。 Once Olemaun convinces her dad， she is soon faced with the reality of her new school。 The nun Olemaun， the protagonist， is native to the snowy Arctic lands。 She is eight years old and lives very remotely with her family and their sled dogs。 Olemaun does not know how to read and continuously begs her father to take her to the outsider’s school， where her sister is currently attending。 Olemaun does not know why her father does not want to take her， which intrigues her even more of going to school。 Once Olemaun convinces her dad， she is soon faced with the reality of her new school。 The nuns at her new school rob her of her dignity。 Her Inuit name is changed to Margaret， her beautiful long braids are cut and she is forced to wear uncomfortable clothes。 She is forced to assimilate and forget her own culture， language and beliefs。 Olemaun is humiliated and deprived from an education。 She is forced to do chores instead of learning how to read。 What nobody knows is that Olemaun is very determined to read and uses any learning opportunity to teach herself how to read。 Fortunately， she learns how to read and is able to get through the unfair treatment of the nuns by connecting with her culture and imagining her father’s warm hugs during these difficult times。 This book is a great example having discussions about forced assimilation。 It is a great way to begin conversations with children about communities that have been oppressed through forced assimilation among other things。 This book could be great for elementary school and even young middle school children。 。。。more
Eric Hinkle
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Magnificent book about the resilience of a First Nation child in a brutal Residential School。
La prof de français
，
Un album difficile parce qu’on aborde la discrimination des autochtones dans les écoles de blancs。 La violence est sournoise et fait d’autant plus mal。 La jeune Olemaun que nous suivons est un exemple de détermination et de persévérance。 Elle apprend à lire par elle-même， malgré tous les obstacles que les religieuses mettent sur son chemin。 Plusieurs références à Alice au pays des merveilles parsèment cet album， un parallèle entre les deux histoires serait très intéressant。
Jennybeast
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Strongly based on a true story， so I'm not sure how to categorize it。 Very well done。 Strongly based on a true story， so I'm not sure how to categorize it。 Very well done。 。。。more
Amanda Geske
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“I felt a great happiness inside that I dared not show。”
Julie
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Beautiful story of courage and overcoming injustice。 This is the picture book version of Fatty Legs and now I definitely need to read that book！
Renee
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When I Was Eight is based on the lived experiences of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton， an Inuit woman who attended Catholic boarding school when she was a child。 Despite experiencing horrible abuse， both verbal and physical， as well as the stripping of her native name and language， Margaret remains defiant， indomitable。 Her love of stories and her memory of her family helps her be strong。 This is a great book for kids who are experiencing hardship， even if it’s different from Margaret’s。 It has a lot of When I Was Eight is based on the lived experiences of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton， an Inuit woman who attended Catholic boarding school when she was a child。 Despite experiencing horrible abuse， both verbal and physical， as well as the stripping of her native name and language， Margaret remains defiant， indomitable。 Her love of stories and her memory of her family helps her be strong。 This is a great book for kids who are experiencing hardship， even if it’s different from Margaret’s。 It has a lot of subtle lessons about knowing your self-worth， and finding things to draw strength from even in difficult times。 。。。more
Brian Marion
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We read this during the week leading up to Orange Shirt Day。
emma
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The first of two picture books adapted from Fatty Legs， following Olemaun （Margaret） Pokiak as she attends a residential school in Canada。 It is grim and sad， detailing the abuse of nuns to the Inuit girl， during her pursuit to learn to read。 This book merely tells the story in a startling and sad sense that indeed feels from the point of view of an eight year old。 In this way， it is a true child’s memoir， not explaining the why’s or what’s behind residential schools or the abuse suffered there。 The first of two picture books adapted from Fatty Legs， following Olemaun （Margaret） Pokiak as she attends a residential school in Canada。 It is grim and sad， detailing the abuse of nuns to the Inuit girl， during her pursuit to learn to read。 This book merely tells the story in a startling and sad sense that indeed feels from the point of view of an eight year old。 In this way， it is a true child’s memoir， not explaining the why’s or what’s behind residential schools or the abuse suffered there。 It is helpful as a primary resource of a largely untold story， but will require adult support， as the book contains no back matter or any other information。 The pencil illustrations are beautiful， smooth， and full of expression， clearly portraying the fear， vulnerability， and strength of Olemaun。 。。。more
Jenny
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While I know this book （and it's follow up， "Not My Girl"） is an adapted version of "Fatty Legs" for younger grades， I find that this book is still more appropriate for Grade 4 （maybe late Grade 3）。 There are a lot of difficult words， making it a bit hard to stimulate discussion with students who are younger。 I do love this story， but think the language could have been adapted more。 While I know this book （and it's follow up， "Not My Girl"） is an adapted version of "Fatty Legs" for younger grades， I find that this book is still more appropriate for Grade 4 （maybe late Grade 3）。 There are a lot of difficult words， making it a bit hard to stimulate discussion with students who are younger。 I do love this story， but think the language could have been adapted more。 。。。more
Becky Noelle
，
This book was adapted from the longer book “Fatty Legs” to suite a younger audience。 It is based on Margaret Pokiak-Fenton’s experience at a residential school in Aklavik。 I found it to be a great conversation starter for my students around Inuit culture and the history of residential schools in Canada。
Jo Oehrlein
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About wanting to go to school to learn to read， but the hardship of attending Indian boarding school and the mistreatment there。
Ann Williams
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Compelling， powerful and important。 WOW。
Ricki
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Very nice illustrations。 But I don't see the point in abridging the excellent book Fatty Legs for younger children。 I would rather have seen a different story with similar themes， not the same story with most of the details removed。 Since Fatty Legs is such an important and well-made story （which already has good full-color illustrations）， I'd skip this younger version。 Very nice illustrations。 But I don't see the point in abridging the excellent book Fatty Legs for younger children。 I would rather have seen a different story with similar themes， not the same story with most of the details removed。 Since Fatty Legs is such an important and well-made story （which already has good full-color illustrations）， I'd skip this younger version。 。。。more
Jodi
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This is a sad and scary true story， yet hopeful， too。 It tells of cruelty and abuse， but also of overcoming and pressing on。
Erin *BookDragon_Library*
，
This is a great picture book based on the true story of one of the authors attending residential school。 The illustrations are beautiful with a watercolor feel to them。 There are so many messages within the story that can be taught not just about native American history but the power to read and the desire to be able to read。 Margaret goes through a lot of terrible things so that she can accomplish her goal of being able to read and she is determined and Rightfully proud when she achieves her go This is a great picture book based on the true story of one of the authors attending residential school。 The illustrations are beautiful with a watercolor feel to them。 There are so many messages within the story that can be taught not just about native American history but the power to read and the desire to be able to read。 Margaret goes through a lot of terrible things so that she can accomplish her goal of being able to read and she is determined and Rightfully proud when she achieves her goal basically all on her own because she had no support from the nun at school。 It is unclear to me why she seems like she was singled out above the other girls in tasks being a little harsher than anyone else but it might describe that more in the actual memoir Fatty Legs which I haven’t read yet。 This is definitely a book that would be good in a biography section or an American history section even though this particular story is in Canada。 。。。more
Sara Harrison
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Searing story of an Inuit girl who attends a residential school and endures the cruel abuse of a nun。 She takes some comfort in learning to read。
Jan
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I loved this wonderful example of a young First Nation girl's fight and determination against the odds to achieve her goal-to learn to read。 At the residential school Olemaun's hair is cut off， and her Inuit name taken away。 She is now Margaret， and daily abuse and humiliation from the head nun who takes an immediate dislike to her becomes the norm。 Despite having no encouragement or support she continues to stay strong， believing in herself and her abilities。 Her strength of will is amazing。 He I loved this wonderful example of a young First Nation girl's fight and determination against the odds to achieve her goal-to learn to read。 At the residential school Olemaun's hair is cut off， and her Inuit name taken away。 She is now Margaret， and daily abuse and humiliation from the head nun who takes an immediate dislike to her becomes the norm。 Despite having no encouragement or support she continues to stay strong， believing in herself and her abilities。 Her strength of will is amazing。 Her spirit could not be broken， no matter how hard the nuns tried， and Olemaun achieves her goal。 She learns to read。 What a beautiful celebration of the human spirit。 A great lesson to us all to show how we should never give up on our goals。 。。。more
Anna Virginia
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I would want students 3rd grade and up to read this book on their own。 It will help them practice their reading and learn more about the boarding schools that Native American people attended。 This follows the story of a girl who， unlike other stories I've read about the Native American boarding schools， actually wanted to go。 However， she did not know what awaited her。 She wanted to go so that she could learn to read， but quickly discovered that the nuns didn't particularly care what she wanted。 I would want students 3rd grade and up to read this book on their own。 It will help them practice their reading and learn more about the boarding schools that Native American people attended。 This follows the story of a girl who， unlike other stories I've read about the Native American boarding schools， actually wanted to go。 However， she did not know what awaited her。 She wanted to go so that she could learn to read， but quickly discovered that the nuns didn't particularly care what she wanted。 However， she pushes through and learns how to read。I think this book would be a great exploration for kids and how they can explore the main character's desires and how she stood up to all the challenges， even though they were very difficult。 It's also a great piece of history for children to learn about。 。。。more
Ashley Adams
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Education takes on many different forms。
Meredith
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I think this book should be added to any elementary classroom especially those wanting to build their diversity options
Beth E
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Got to read this with my son for his Battle of the Books program。 It brings up big topics for young children， which is why I'm glad I'm there with him to talk about things as they come up。 "Mama， why did the mean nun cut her hair and change her name？" "Mama， why won't the nun so mean to her？" It's hard。 Big topics。 But we're doing well。 Got to read this with my son for his Battle of the Books program。 It brings up big topics for young children， which is why I'm glad I'm there with him to talk about things as they come up。 "Mama， why did the mean nun cut her hair and change her name？" "Mama， why won't the nun so mean to her？" It's hard。 Big topics。 But we're doing well。 。。。more
Katrina
，
Interestingly， though this is essentially a picture book version of "Fatty Legs，" "When I was Eight" brings new details into the story and glosses over others， making it not exactly a repeat to read。 Interestingly， though this is essentially a picture book version of "Fatty Legs，" "When I was Eight" brings new details into the story and glosses over others， making it not exactly a repeat to read。 。。。more
Ashley
，
Hello world， like i'm Ashley， totally love this book， NOT， lol Hello world， like i'm Ashley， totally love this book， NOT， lol 。。。more
Ben Truong
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When I Was Eight is a children's picture book written by the team of Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard。 It is a semi-autobiographical picture book of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton and her experiences with residential school。November， at least in my part of the world is Native American Heritage Month， which I plan to read one children's book， preferably a biography， which pertains to the subject everyday this month。 Therefore， I thought that this book When I Was Eight is a children's picture book written by the team of Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard。 It is a semi-autobiographical picture book of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton and her experiences with residential school。November， at least in my part of the world is Native American Heritage Month， which I plan to read one children's book， preferably a biography， which pertains to the subject everyday this month。 Therefore， I thought that this book would be apropos for today。Margaret Pokiak-Fenton is a Canadian First Nations author of children's books。 Born on Baille Island， Northwest Territories， Canada， her family was travelling to Banks Island where they would hunt during the winter and remained there until she was eight years old。The text is rather simplistic， straightforward， and informative。 In her first-person narration， she compares the nun to the Queen in Alice in Wonderland， a story she has heard from her sister and longs to read for herself， subtly reminding readers of the power of literature to help face real life。 Grimard’s paintings stretch across the gutter and sometimes fill the spreads。 Varying perspectives and angles， she brings readers into this unfamiliar world and is wonderfully done。The premise of the book is rather straightforward。 An eight-year-old girl named Olemaun convinces her father to send her from their far-north village to the outsiders' school。 There she receives particularly vicious treatment from one of the nuns， who cuts her hair， assigns her endless chores， locks her in a dark basement and gives her ugly red socks that make her the object of other children's taunts。All in all， When I Was Eight is a wonderful and powerful memoir of a girl's experience at Residential School。 。。。more
Nicki
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Use with 5th graders！
Gina
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The story book version of Fatty Legs， this is gentler， but still with a good understanding of persistence and courage helping you through。
Ms。 B
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This one broke my heart。 It's a prequel to Not My Girl by the same authors。 Mean nuns and chores at an Indian boarding school。 （view spoiler）[Despite the hardships， Olemaun achieves her dream of learning to read。 （hide spoiler）]Read this one to your children or students to build cultural awareness and empathy。 This one broke my heart。 It's a prequel to Not My Girl by the same authors。 Mean nuns and chores at an Indian boarding school。 （view spoiler）[Despite the hardships， Olemaun achieves her dream of learning to read。 （hide spoiler）]Read this one to your children or students to build cultural awareness and empathy。 。。。more
Yuman
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Summary: This book is a biography based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton。 It has some difficult words and phrases so it would be best suited for grades 3-5。 Olemaun is an eight year-old Inuit girl who wanted to be literate in English and attend school。 However， she faces many challenges as she doesn’t have any English literacy foundation and is looked down-upon by both her classmates and her teacher。 Despite all of these roadblocks， Olemaun learns to read and accomplishes her goals。 I Summary: This book is a biography based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton。 It has some difficult words and phrases so it would be best suited for grades 3-5。 Olemaun is an eight year-old Inuit girl who wanted to be literate in English and attend school。 However， she faces many challenges as she doesn’t have any English literacy foundation and is looked down-upon by both her classmates and her teacher。 Despite all of these roadblocks， Olemaun learns to read and accomplishes her goals。 Ideas: One activity I can use with this book is building a research project around Inuit people。 Most students are likely unfamiliar with Inuit people and it would be a great learning opportunity for them。 Before reading this book， I will have students research Inuit people and give mini-presentations。 Then， I will read aloud for the whole class。 Next， I will have students digest the book more in small literacy workshops， practicing graphic organizer skills with a character， setting， plot worksheet。 Last， we will come back as a group to discuss the organizer。 Another activity that students can do along with this book is writing about types of books they like to read and books that they don’t like to read。 Then they will give reasons and share with each other。 We will brainstorm and discuss ways that reading can be more fun and less stressful both in the classroom and at home。 These responses will be generated and recorded by students on a large poster that can be hung up in the classroom。 Why WOW？I thought this book was a WOW book because it showed important character traits such as perseverance。 In the classroom， this book can encourage students who need more support in reading to continue challenging themselves and persevere through reading。 As students get older， their reading expectations get higher。 Many students report a loss of interest in reading in older grades because they are overwhelmed by such expectations。 So the content of this book can be interesting and even inspiring to some。 It also shares a perspective from an Inuit child which can bring many interesting classroom research and learning opportunities about Inuit people。 。。。more
Breanna Morgan
，
Grade 2-4。 Related to Fatty Legs
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=When I Was Eight
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=When I Was Eight&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,When I Was Eight&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0