Five Little Indians: A Novel
- Downloads：1792
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-06-07 10:50:57
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Michelle Good
- ISBN：1443459208
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
Taken from their families when they are very small and sent to a remote， church-run residential school， Kenny， Lucy， Clara， Howie and Maisie are barely out of childhood when they are finally released after years of detention。
Alone and without any skills， support or families， the teens find their way to the seedy and foreign world of Downtown Eastside Vancouver， where they cling together， striving to find a place of safety and belonging in a world that doesn’t want them。 The paths of the five friends cross and crisscross over the decades as they struggle to overcome， or at least forget， the trauma they endured during their years at the Mission。
Fuelled by rage and furious with God， Clara finds her way into the dangerous， highly charged world of the American Indian Movement。 Maisie internalizes her pain and continually places herself in dangerous situations。 Famous for his daring escapes from the school， Kenny can’t stop running and moves restlessly from job to job—through fishing grounds， orchards and logging camps—trying to outrun his memories and his addiction。 Lucy finds peace in motherhood and nurtures a secret compulsive disorder as she waits for Kenny to return to the life they once hoped to share together。 After almost beating one of his tormentors to death， Howie serves time in prison， then tries once again to re-enter society and begin life anew。
With compassion and insight， Five Little Indians chronicles the desperate quest of these residential school survivors to come to terms with their past and， ultimately， find a way forward。
Alone and without any skills， support or families， the teens find their way to the seedy and foreign world of Downtown Eastside Vancouver， where they cling together， striving to find a place of safety and belonging in a world that doesn’t want them。 The paths of the five friends cross and crisscross over the decades as they struggle to overcome， or at least forget， the trauma they endured during their years at the Mission。
Fuelled by rage and furious with God， Clara finds her way into the dangerous， highly charged world of the American Indian Movement。 Maisie internalizes her pain and continually places herself in dangerous situations。 Famous for his daring escapes from the school， Kenny can’t stop running and moves restlessly from job to job—through fishing grounds， orchards and logging camps—trying to outrun his memories and his addiction。 Lucy finds peace in motherhood and nurtures a secret compulsive disorder as she waits for Kenny to return to the life they once hoped to share together。 After almost beating one of his tormentors to death， Howie serves time in prison， then tries once again to re-enter society and begin life anew。
With compassion and insight， Five Little Indians chronicles the desperate quest of these residential school survivors to come to terms with their past and， ultimately， find a way forward。
Reviews
Allison Turk
，
Fantastic- A sad but necessary read for all Canadians。
Cassie
，
Anne Giardini recommends
Lestat
，
I got a copy of this book after attending the Amazon First Novel Awards where this book won。 This is not an easy book to read。 It’s harrowing and horrifying， especially since I read it after the news about the deaths of the children at the Kamloops residential school。 The actions of the government are honestly unfathomable。 The author Michelle Good is restrained in her writing and some of what was inflicted on these fictional children is left to the imagination - which is worse。 Books written by I got a copy of this book after attending the Amazon First Novel Awards where this book won。 This is not an easy book to read。 It’s harrowing and horrifying， especially since I read it after the news about the deaths of the children at the Kamloops residential school。 The actions of the government are honestly unfathomable。 The author Michelle Good is restrained in her writing and some of what was inflicted on these fictional children is left to the imagination - which is worse。 Books written by Indigenous authors about the horrors the community has faced and continues to face are really important to inform all the people who are convinced that racism doesn’t exist in the West。 Far too often inconvenient histories are forgotten。 It can’t be easy for writers to delve through the real horrors to write these fictionalized versions。 A must read but a difficult one。 。。。more
Carly Findlay
，
Content warning: institutional abuse， sex trafficking， child abuse， violence， poverty Five Little Indians is an incredible read。 It’s historical fiction - about five First Nations teens who have left residential care in Canada - and establish a new life in Vancouver。The systemic abuse runs deep - the trauma stays with them forever。 It is a difficult but important read。 I listened to the audiobook and was engaged from start to finish。 This paragraph will stay with me for a long time。“It should ha Content warning: institutional abuse， sex trafficking， child abuse， violence， poverty Five Little Indians is an incredible read。 It’s historical fiction - about five First Nations teens who have left residential care in Canada - and establish a new life in Vancouver。The systemic abuse runs deep - the trauma stays with them forever。 It is a difficult but important read。 I listened to the audiobook and was engaged from start to finish。 This paragraph will stay with me for a long time。“It should have been me。” Kenny choked out the words， struggling not to cry。 Wilfred moved closer to his friend。 “It should have been no one。”I heard about this book after a friend mentioned it， following the news of the bodies of hundreds of First Nations children found buried at an institution。 Author Michellle Good is a Cree writer， poet， and lawyer from Canada - she has worked advocating for children who have lived in residential care。 Her mother， grandmother and cousins are among the generations of Indigenous children who were forcibly taken from their families and endured the abusive school system。 In this article she talks about how First Nations children in residential care have not been left in history - it’s still happening。https://www。google。com。au/amp/s/www。c。。。 。。。more
Rachel
，
I am unsure if I have any words to describe this book but wow and wow again。 Poignant now more than ever with the horrible findings in BC， this novel is to be read and shared and loved。
Irene
，
This should be mandatory reading for all Canadians。
Sofia Brown
，
read it for school。 writing was simple but story was strong and effective。 I wish i could do half ratings （would be 3。5/5）。 talks about really important topics while still remaining an entertaining fiction。
Mary Jane Hele
，
You will cry。
Timon
，
3。5 stars。
Denise
，
An exceptional read and an Amazing way Michelle writes for the reader to strive for hope - this book won the Governor Generals award this week for 2020 ， also the week they discovered 215 buried indigenous souls in BC - we honour history and strive for a better generation - I’m looking forward to her future stories thank you Michelle
Kim
，
2020 Governor General's Award for Fiction 2020 Governor General's Award for Fiction 。。。more
Timothy Phillips
，
I was triggered to read this story by the recent discovery of a mass grave containing the bodies of 215 Indigenous children from a residential school in Kamloops， British Columbia， Canada。 It's a sad history of the abuse handed down to native youngsters in many residential schools run by religious institutions such as， but not limited to， the Roman Catholic Church。 This was done with the complicity of the Canadian government， without whose support this outrage would not have happened。 It might b I was triggered to read this story by the recent discovery of a mass grave containing the bodies of 215 Indigenous children from a residential school in Kamloops， British Columbia， Canada。 It's a sad history of the abuse handed down to native youngsters in many residential schools run by religious institutions such as， but not limited to， the Roman Catholic Church。 This was done with the complicity of the Canadian government， without whose support this outrage would not have happened。 It might be possible to dismiss the use of residential schools in a historical context of something that happened in another century。 The truth is that the last school closed as recently as 1996。Author， Michelle Good is the daughter and granddaughter of survivors who were taken away from family to be brought up in residential schools。 Although her story is fictitious， it is a composite of the reality of mistreatment inflicted on so many whose childhood - read this as functional adulthood - was taken away from them。 Good has done a superb job of describing how deep run the scars of mistrust and how this has so affected not only those who attended these institutions but perhaps even future generations of their offspring。 Good follows the progress of five involuntary internees from the time of their attendance at a residential school， to their eventual release back into the community， trying to adopt some degree of normalcy but often unable to deal effectively with the trauma of their common experience。 I am still reeling from reading this account but the image will last for a long time。Interview on June 2nd 2021 on CBC with Tom Power https://www。cbc。ca/radio/q/tuesday-ju。。。 。。。more
Joanne Mcleod
，
A very timely and relevant book， even in the form of fiction。 This puts the horrors and suffering inflicted on the innocent ‘inmates’ of Residential Schools in Canada in a very necessary spotlight。 The much needed and necessary focus being the suffering of humanity involved and the attempted stripping of the very essence of their beings。 In the documenting of some of the stories of suffering there is also the much needed restorative narrative of resilience and hope at the end of the story。 This A very timely and relevant book， even in the form of fiction。 This puts the horrors and suffering inflicted on the innocent ‘inmates’ of Residential Schools in Canada in a very necessary spotlight。 The much needed and necessary focus being the suffering of humanity involved and the attempted stripping of the very essence of their beings。 In the documenting of some of the stories of suffering there is also the much needed restorative narrative of resilience and hope at the end of the story。 This is a hope that we all as a society need to work to restore for every member of our community。 For if even one remains suffering and lost we all will continue to suffer along with our Indigenous brothers and sisters。 。。。more
Trish
，
Anyone who has ever asked themselves why Indigenous people "can't just get over it，" should pick up Five Little Indians， by Cree writer Michelle Good。 Her story is a fictional representation of a group of residential school survivors struggling to overcome the lasting effects of the abuse they experienced in the 60s。 Especially after the revelations （to some） of the past week of the bodies discovered on the property of the Kamloops Residential School， it seemed appropriate to buy this book yeste Anyone who has ever asked themselves why Indigenous people "can't just get over it，" should pick up Five Little Indians， by Cree writer Michelle Good。 Her story is a fictional representation of a group of residential school survivors struggling to overcome the lasting effects of the abuse they experienced in the 60s。 Especially after the revelations （to some） of the past week of the bodies discovered on the property of the Kamloops Residential School， it seemed appropriate to buy this book yesterday; an engrossing read， I finished it today。 This book won the recent Canada First Novel Award and is nominated for the upcoming Governor General's prize。 It also secured spots on the Giller long list and Writers' Trust short list last fall。https://vancouversun。com/entertainmen。。。https://www。cp24。com/entertainment-ne。。。 。。。more
Ben Rogers
，
Important read。 Thought it was very well written and thought provoking。 Highly recommended for all to read - especially now。 4。8/5
Parker
，
It's a hard book of intertwined stories of residential schools， and the ripple effects they had on the lives of the victims。 It's an extremely important book， especially for someone that feels like they didn't learn enough about that dark part of my countries history。 It's a hard book of intertwined stories of residential schools， and the ripple effects they had on the lives of the victims。 It's an extremely important book， especially for someone that feels like they didn't learn enough about that dark part of my countries history。 。。。more
Pilar
，
This book opened my eyes in a profound way。 Through the art of story and narrative， I was exposed to the ugly truths of the residential school system here in Canada。 The writing is powerful。 The story is powerful。 This history needs to be exposed and people like me need to learn this history。 Highly recommend this book。 As painful as parts could be， it also told reminded me of resilience and the power of community。
Jessie
，
WOW is all I can say。My heart is torn out but then put back together again with this book。 I could not put down Five Little Indians。 Michelle Good is an excellent writer and crafted such an amazing story with an amazing cast of characters。 I also learned so so much about residential schools。 This was EXACTLY the book I was looking for about residential schools。
Nancy cogger
，
I started this book the day before they found the children’s bodies buried on the grounds of the Kamloops residential Indian school。 It brought to life the terrible tragedy of Indian children being taken from their parents and being abused by the catholic clergy at those schools。 An atrocity that we should be appalled at。 Worth the read
Donna Lutchman
，
This is absolutely gut wrenching。 A heartbreaking read， so raw and vulnerable。 And all based on the true history of residential schools in Canada。 Every Canadian should read this book！！
Deborah Sowery-Quinn
，
This book is an Evergreen Nominee for 2021 （Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading Program） and it follows the lives of 5 people who were sent to the Residential Schools。 They all face different struggles and it's a difficult read， understandbly， but some do find a way out of their past。 This book is an Evergreen Nominee for 2021 （Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading Program） and it follows the lives of 5 people who were sent to the Residential Schools。 They all face different struggles and it's a difficult read， understandbly， but some do find a way out of their past。 。。。more
Stacey
，
This novel about the impact of a Residential School experience told from the perspective of 5 survivors in 1960's Vancouver is a must read。 It's time we really start to understand and have meaningful conversations about the horrors and cultural genocide inflicted on First Nations， Metis， and Inuit Peoples of Canada by the Government and Church - and the intergenerational trauma caused by those experiences。 Novels like this one， helps us do that。 **Please support Indigenous voices by purchasing w This novel about the impact of a Residential School experience told from the perspective of 5 survivors in 1960's Vancouver is a must read。 It's time we really start to understand and have meaningful conversations about the horrors and cultural genocide inflicted on First Nations， Metis， and Inuit Peoples of Canada by the Government and Church - and the intergenerational trauma caused by those experiences。 Novels like this one， helps us do that。 **Please support Indigenous voices by purchasing when you can。 If you can't， Five Little Indians is widely available in multi-formats in libraries across Canada， please seek it out。 。。。more
Luke Spooner
，
It's really good。 Definitely not a fun or easy read， but ultimately hopeful which I think is important。 It's really good。 Definitely not a fun or easy read， but ultimately hopeful which I think is important。 。。。more
Linda French
，
I truly enjoyed this book， a very powerful read it traces the lives of residential school survivors。 I can hardly wait for Michelle Good’s next book It shows the survival， the healing the love it’s a powerful book
Helensn1234
，
I rarely give a book 5 stars。 However， this book deserves it。 This book should be required reading for all Canadians。 It's only when we acknowledge the past that we， as a country， can heal from it。 I rarely give a book 5 stars。 However， this book deserves it。 This book should be required reading for all Canadians。 It's only when we acknowledge the past that we， as a country， can heal from it。 。。。more
Amanda Spitzig
，
In "Five Little Indians，" Cree author Michelle Good tells the story of five children forced to attend a Church-run residential school - the "Mission" - in a remote area of coastal BC。 After enduring years of abuse， each child is released from or escapes from the Mission with little to no support。 As they grow older， the five children， now adults， eventually cross paths in the seedy Downtown Eastside of Vancouver where they attempt to forget and move on from the trauma of their childhoods。 Throug In "Five Little Indians，" Cree author Michelle Good tells the story of five children forced to attend a Church-run residential school - the "Mission" - in a remote area of coastal BC。 After enduring years of abuse， each child is released from or escapes from the Mission with little to no support。 As they grow older， the five children， now adults， eventually cross paths in the seedy Downtown Eastside of Vancouver where they attempt to forget and move on from the trauma of their childhoods。 Throughout their lives， the characters are caught up in the world of alcohol and drug abuse， sex work， the criminal justice system， but they are able to turn to each other to create new lives for themselves。In order to really get the most out of this book， I think the reader needs to have at least a basic understanding of Canada's residential school system and its impact on survivors and their families。 Much of the abuse and trauma suffered by the characters is implied or alluded to rather than spelled out in the book， and so some background knowledge is key。 That being said， this book is written in an accessible way and was easy to read， without many complex plot points carrying throughout the book。 My issues with this book were were the writing rather than the storyline。 I did have some trouble with the pacing of this book。 At the beginning of the story， some of the characters are as young as 6 years old。 The story follows each character well into adulthood， but offers no measure of time between each chapter。 Additionally， as the book follows each character over such a long stretch of their lives， the plot moves rapidly。 There is very little detail fleshing out the experiences of each character or explaining the significance of various events - the book is written in an "X happened， and then Y happened" sort of way， moving quickly。 Further， each chapter is written from the perspective of one of the five characters， rotating between the five throughout the book。 As a result， the reader only gets a brief look into the inner psyche of each character before the chapter ends and we move on to the next。 I felt like I was just skimming the surface of this story as I read this book - each character's experience warrants an entire book on its own。 Overall， I think this book it best geared towards a young-adult audience， or those just digging into these issues for the first time。 The story is important， but the writing just didn't do it for me。 。。。more
Nicole
，
This was very good。 I enjoyed the format of alternating POVs， with all characters being linked but with non-linear time。 I had never read any piece of fiction that dealt with when residential school survivors told of their experiences and were compensated prior to this。 That was quite interesting。 This book though tragic in many ways， leaves you hopeful for the future。 Glad I read it。
Sharaya
，
Broke my heart but also a great character driven novel。 Characters you love and hate to see suffering。 Very educational and eye opening about residential schools in Canada and the trauma the students endured
Debbie Nitsotolis
，
Very good。 Highly recommended 👌
The2CarolinesAndBooks
，