Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story
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- Create Date：2021-07-06 06:51:15
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：David Alexander Robertson
- ISBN：1553799755
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Summary
Inspired by true events， this story of strength， family， and culture shares the awe-inspiring resilience of Elder Betty Ross。
Abandoned as a young child， Betsy is adopted into a loving family。 A few short years later， at the age of 8， everything changes。 Betsy is taken away to a residential school。 There she is forced to endure abuse and indignity， but Betsy recalls the words her father spoke to her at Sugar Falls—words that give her the resilience， strength， and determination to survive。
Sugar Falls is based on the true story of Betty Ross， Elder from Cross Lake First Nation。 We wish to acknowledge， with the utmost gratitude， Betty’s generosity in sharing her story。 A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Sugar Falls goes to support the bursary program for The Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation。
This 10th-anniversary edition brings David A。 Robertson’s national bestseller to life in full colour， with a foreword by Hon。 Murray Sinclair， Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada， and a touching afterword from Elder Betty Ross herself。
Abandoned as a young child， Betsy is adopted into a loving family。 A few short years later， at the age of 8， everything changes。 Betsy is taken away to a residential school。 There she is forced to endure abuse and indignity， but Betsy recalls the words her father spoke to her at Sugar Falls—words that give her the resilience， strength， and determination to survive。
Sugar Falls is based on the true story of Betty Ross， Elder from Cross Lake First Nation。 We wish to acknowledge， with the utmost gratitude， Betty’s generosity in sharing her story。 A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Sugar Falls goes to support the bursary program for The Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation。
This 10th-anniversary edition brings David A。 Robertson’s national bestseller to life in full colour， with a foreword by Hon。 Murray Sinclair， Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada， and a touching afterword from Elder Betty Ross herself。
Reviews
smalltownbookmom
，
This tenth anniversary edition of David A Roberton's residential school survivor graphic novel should be a must read for all high school students。 It covers the heartbreaking story of Betsy Ross， who attended the Cross Lake Indian Residential School。 She shared her story with the author in hopes that it would help readers understand the strength and resiliency of Indigenous people and especially Residential school survivors， and how that strength is tied to "stories， cultures， families， and lang This tenth anniversary edition of David A Roberton's residential school survivor graphic novel should be a must read for all high school students。 It covers the heartbreaking story of Betsy Ross， who attended the Cross Lake Indian Residential School。 She shared her story with the author in hopes that it would help readers understand the strength and resiliency of Indigenous people and especially Residential school survivors， and how that strength is tied to "stories， cultures， families， and language。" HIGHLY recommended！ 。。。more
Renee
，
4。5 stars。 Quick and powerful read - this is a sad， hard read about someone's experience at a residential school。 I love the way it's told as a story and it focuses on being resilient and the graphic novel formula is so accessible。 Lot's of trigger warnings， but it's a story that must be told and must be read。 4。5 stars。 Quick and powerful read - this is a sad， hard read about someone's experience at a residential school。 I love the way it's told as a story and it focuses on being resilient and the graphic novel formula is so accessible。 Lot's of trigger warnings， but it's a story that must be told and must be read。 。。。more
Arpita
，
The humiliation， pain， rejection children faced at residential schools is unbearable for me as a reader。 I salute all the survivors of these horrendous schools。 Elder Betty Ross' story is an important one， as are all the stories that we hear。 The clock cannot be turned back to erase that pain， but we can acknowledge the wrongdoings and listen to these experiences。 That is the least we can do。 The humiliation， pain， rejection children faced at residential schools is unbearable for me as a reader。 I salute all the survivors of these horrendous schools。 Elder Betty Ross' story is an important one， as are all the stories that we hear。 The clock cannot be turned back to erase that pain， but we can acknowledge the wrongdoings and listen to these experiences。 That is the least we can do。 。。。more
Erin Elizabeth
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This was a short graphic novel， but told an awful， yet hopeful， true story of a residential school survivor。
Jenna
，
💫 Book Review 💫 Sugar Falls: A Residential School StoryBy David A RobertsonIllustrated by Scott B HendersonThis isn’t a review。 It’s a must add to your library。 Especially if you have children。 Sugar Falls is just one tiny spotlight onto the horrific past that Canadians have unearthed in recent weeks。 It’s a graphic novel about teens that are asked to write a report on First Nations People… and how one of the main character’s friend introduces him to her grandmother （Kokum）。 As the story progres 💫 Book Review 💫 Sugar Falls: A Residential School StoryBy David A RobertsonIllustrated by Scott B HendersonThis isn’t a review。 It’s a must add to your library。 Especially if you have children。 Sugar Falls is just one tiny spotlight onto the horrific past that Canadians have unearthed in recent weeks。 It’s a graphic novel about teens that are asked to write a report on First Nations People… and how one of the main character’s friend introduces him to her grandmother （Kokum）。 As the story progresses， you get snippets of Kokum’s traumatic experience in a residential home。 The illustrations are graphic but in no way even touching what really happened at the core level of daily life。 The short novel is almost a gateway that could be shared with youth that explains in simple terms the trauma of what happened。My heart is heavy。 I’m disgusted with every fact I am finally hearing about and truthfully I’m not sure if anything matters in educational systems these days except finding out the truth in our past and finding a way to let our First Nation’s history be heard and grieved。 。。。more
Rachel Findley
，
This graphic novel is a good introduction to the story of residential schools but not very detailed。I was able to finish the book in about half an hour。
Kitty
，
A quick read， but a sobering one。 As a Canadian I knew about residential schools， but with everything in the news lately I wanted to try to learn more。 I found this one at work in the Junior section while getting books for a display， and I think it's an excellent introduction for younger kids to what went on at these places， and the Graphic Novel format works to make it more engaging than just black and white text。 A quick read， but a sobering one。 As a Canadian I knew about residential schools， but with everything in the news lately I wanted to try to learn more。 I found this one at work in the Junior section while getting books for a display， and I think it's an excellent introduction for younger kids to what went on at these places， and the Graphic Novel format works to make it more engaging than just black and white text。 。。。more
Ben Truong
，
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story is a graphic novel， based on a true story， written by David Alexander Robertson， illustrated by Scott B。 Henderson， and colored by Donovan Yaciuk with a forward by Murray Sinclair and an afterward by Betty Ross， of which the graphic novel is based on。 It is a remarkable story of endurance and survival of a Cree girl and the impact of the Residential School system had on her。Betty Ross describes her experience of physical and sexual abuse while at school at Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story is a graphic novel， based on a true story， written by David Alexander Robertson， illustrated by Scott B。 Henderson， and colored by Donovan Yaciuk with a forward by Murray Sinclair and an afterward by Betty Ross， of which the graphic novel is based on。 It is a remarkable story of endurance and survival of a Cree girl and the impact of the Residential School system had on her。Betty Ross describes her experience of physical and sexual abuse while at school at the hands of a priest at a Catholic residential school to an audience of two teenagers on a school assignment。 Betty attributes her survival as well as the retention of her Cree language and culture to a lesson from her father。Prior to being forcefully enrolled at the school， Betty and her dad traveled to Sugar Falls where she learned that family， relationships， and interconnectedness to tradition， Mother Earth， and the ancestors were bound through the thumping rhythm of the drum。 He told her to listen to the beating of her heart for that was what connected her to him and everything else。After witnessing the drowning of a friend attempting to flee the abuse at the school， Betty remembered her dad's lesson and found the light to survive and succeed as Cree in this hostile environment。 Betty's survival is based on how connections to others enabled perseverance。After leaving the residential school， Betty attended highschool in Winnipeg and eventually became a Cree language teacher and consultant。Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story is written and constructed rather well。 It is a story of a young girl who never surrendered， endured， and retained her pride in being and speaking Cree。 This story， while tinged with horror and sadness， speaks to the adaptability and strength of tradition and the human spirit。 Wonderfully illustrated by Henderson， this tenth edition is wonderfully updated and colorized by Yaciuk， which portrays the emotions and experiences of Betty rather well。All in all， Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story is a wonderful graphic novel that provides a good foundation for discussion and a visual connection to a human experience。 。。。more
Monica
，
A short graphic novel that is a great story and resource to add to learning about residential schools。 It is based on the true story of Elder Betty Ross and her experiences at a residential school as a child。Residential school stories are often hard to hear and read， and while the trauma Betty experiences is not sugarcoated or hidden， a really beautiful part of this story is how strong Betty’s relationships are to her culture and her family。 Those bonds are what allowed her to survive day by day A short graphic novel that is a great story and resource to add to learning about residential schools。 It is based on the true story of Elder Betty Ross and her experiences at a residential school as a child。Residential school stories are often hard to hear and read， and while the trauma Betty experiences is not sugarcoated or hidden， a really beautiful part of this story is how strong Betty’s relationships are to her culture and her family。 Those bonds are what allowed her to survive day by day， reminding her that her family cares about her and that she and her culture are beautiful。 I don’t find inspiration in this story and I don’t think readers are meant to， but I do think we are meant to see hope。 Hope and truth， two things that are necessary to reconcile with Canada’s violent history with Indigenous peoples and move forward for a better future。 。。。more
Tina Evans
，
Written by David A。 Robertson， illunstrated by Scott B。 Henderson， Colours by Donovan Yaciuk in the style of a graphic novel。 This book is about a first-hand experience with the residential school system here in Canada。 。Catering to the younger generation as well as adults in a way to help the story get told。 Bringing awareness and envokong discussion to become part of a solution。 Bridging the gap between ignorance。 。Beautifully illustrated and written in a way that made me feel like the story w Written by David A。 Robertson， illunstrated by Scott B。 Henderson， Colours by Donovan Yaciuk in the style of a graphic novel。 This book is about a first-hand experience with the residential school system here in Canada。 。Catering to the younger generation as well as adults in a way to help the story get told。 Bringing awareness and envokong discussion to become part of a solution。 Bridging the gap between ignorance。 。Beautifully illustrated and written in a way that made me feel like the story was being told directly to me。 。It breaks my heart to know that this happened in Canada。 My eyes were definitely opened after reading this。 。。。more
Sue
，
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story is a beautiful way to present a tragic and important chapter of Canada's history。 Thank you to ZG Stories for my gifted copy for review！Indigenous author David Robertson and illustrator Scott Henderson take readers through the true story of Elder Betty Ross of Cross Lake First Nation。 The graphic novel format is artfully presented and makes for an excellent introduction for readers of all ages to the indignities of residential school experiences。The story Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story is a beautiful way to present a tragic and important chapter of Canada's history。 Thank you to ZG Stories for my gifted copy for review！Indigenous author David Robertson and illustrator Scott Henderson take readers through the true story of Elder Betty Ross of Cross Lake First Nation。 The graphic novel format is artfully presented and makes for an excellent introduction for readers of all ages to the indignities of residential school experiences。The story is told as a school assignment of a student interviewing Betsy， a residential school survivor。 We are shown her being happily adopted by a loving family， then taken away to the residential school at age 8。 Depictions of the system， including abuse and stripping away of culture， are tastefully handled but not shied away from。 The residential school system is something I admit to not knowing nearly enough about， and this book serves as an entry point for YA readers， and adults as well。 Sugar Falls not only focuses on healing of Indigenous peoples， but also of strength and resilience。 This lovely and important work has been updated for it's 10th anniversary of release， including full-colour illustrations。 Author Robertson is a resident of Winnipeg and a member of the Norway House Cree Nation， and a thoughtful afterword from Elder Betty Ross is also included。Recommended！For release on May 25。 。。。more
Lillian
，
Powerful。
K。A。 Wiggins
，
Hard content by necessity， but it's great to see these difficult stories being told across mediums and reaching a wider audience。 Heartbreaking especially when read next to the related graphic novel "Betty。" Hard content by necessity， but it's great to see these difficult stories being told across mediums and reaching a wider audience。 Heartbreaking especially when read next to the related graphic novel "Betty。" 。。。more
Breelynd Huntley
，
A chilling representation of all that children who were forced to go to residential schools had to endure。 It still shocks me that in the not so distant past， children were taken away from their homes and sent to a place where they were abused and couldn't even have the comfort of their own language。 I was a cultural genocide that still affects first nation people today。 Sugar Falls is a great graphic novel that depicts the atrocities that went on behind the closed doors of these "schools" A chilling representation of all that children who were forced to go to residential schools had to endure。 It still shocks me that in the not so distant past， children were taken away from their homes and sent to a place where they were abused and couldn't even have the comfort of their own language。 I was a cultural genocide that still affects first nation people today。 Sugar Falls is a great graphic novel that depicts the atrocities that went on behind the closed doors of these "schools" 。。。more
Ashley
，
This was a quick read， but it was really interesting。 I appreciated the story， and I'm definitely glad that I read it。 This was a quick read， but it was really interesting。 I appreciated the story， and I'm definitely glad that I read it。 。。。more
Colleen
，
This could be a good book for middle grades to start a discussion of residential schools。
Mairéad
，
A graphic novel about a woman recounting her life in a Residential school in Canada， inspired by true events。 A very upsetting story - the things the young people had to go through at these schools was horrendous。 The art style is simple black line drawings。
Sarah Russell
，
I must read。 I good introduction for children into residential schools。
bibliotrain
，
This novel is short and effective。
Aryn
，
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story is a graphic novel that provides a look into the far too recent past， when children of the First Nations peoples in Canada were taken from their families and forced into abusive residential schools。 Based on the life of Betty Ross， it's a dark story with moments of hope。 Highly recommended as a short but weighty read for YA and adult audiences alike。 I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review。 Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story is a graphic novel that provides a look into the far too recent past， when children of the First Nations peoples in Canada were taken from their families and forced into abusive residential schools。 Based on the life of Betty Ross， it's a dark story with moments of hope。 Highly recommended as a short but weighty read for YA and adult audiences alike。 I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review。 。。。more
Mikayla
，
4。5*
Allie
，
A short and heart-rending account of life in residential school。 Highly recommend borrowing this one from the library。
Lily
，
This series is excellent and covers a variety of personal experiences and stories from indigenous people who are all connected through social networks and the journalist viewpoint of the author。 This one is about the traumatic residential schools and the erasure of culture。 It's short and well-done。 This series is excellent and covers a variety of personal experiences and stories from indigenous people who are all connected through social networks and the journalist viewpoint of the author。 This one is about the traumatic residential schools and the erasure of culture。 It's short and well-done。 。。。more
LauraW
，
This book makes me profoundly sorry for the things people have done in the name of God。 I know， not all religions have done this， nor even most of the people in this religion， but it is still too much。
Manybooks
，
So yes indeed， David Alexander Robinson's "own voice" residential school graphic novel Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story （and based on what Cree Elder Betsy Ross actually experienced at a government mandated and Catholic Church run residential school as a child） might generally be rather scanty on textual expansion and detail。 But truth be told， anyone who would even remotely consider Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story as therefore and somehow being meant as a basic （and also thus of So yes indeed， David Alexander Robinson's "own voice" residential school graphic novel Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story （and based on what Cree Elder Betsy Ross actually experienced at a government mandated and Catholic Church run residential school as a child） might generally be rather scanty on textual expansion and detail。 But truth be told， anyone who would even remotely consider Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story as therefore and somehow being meant as a basic （and also thus of course gently depicted） picture book for younger children is in my humble opinion most certainly and woefully misdirected and misinformed。 For while David Alexander Robinson's text and Scott B。 Henderson's accompanying and starkly expressive black and white illustrations are definitely basic and simple in their execution and in their expression， this very sparseness and that Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story actually often just seems to present a totally horrible horrible horrible list of cultural genocide （of Canadian government mandated cultural genocide）， of First Nations children being forcefully wrenched from their families and their communities， of physical， emotional， and even at times sexual abuse （and all meant as a tool to be taking the "Indian" out of First Nations children and in the name of God at that）， to and for me， this is actually a much more poignant representation and condemnation than a considerably more expansive story and explanation would be， because readers are in fact coming totally face to face with the absolute horror of those residential schools and that there is （and happily so） no way for us to hide away from this and to even in a tiny and minuscule manner try to believe that residential school was not absolute and utter torture， totally abusive and for Canada's First Nations also very much akin and alike to what Concentration Camps were in Nazi Germany。 Highly recommended and I do in fact also and strongly believe that Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story should absolutely be mandatory reading in Canadian classrooms and for EVERY Canadian student above the age of twelve （and with no exemptions granted with regard to this either， in other words， with Sugar Falls: a Residential School Story there in my opinion should absolutely be no way for students to be permitted to excuse themselves from having to read this very important， but yes and of course， also exceedingly painful and horrifying graphic novel）。 。。。more
Ricki
，
I think this is a great resource for Canadian high schools。 It tells a true story well， quickly， and with good art。 Great for someone who only has the time or attention for a graphic novel。Personally， I'm going to stick with Fatty Legs and Stranger at Home for my personal library。 I like that they are appropriate for a younger age （8-12） rather than high school， and they are novels with many more details--a more fleshed out story than this one。Also， and I know this is just me， I can't get past t I think this is a great resource for Canadian high schools。 It tells a true story well， quickly， and with good art。 Great for someone who only has the time or attention for a graphic novel。Personally， I'm going to stick with Fatty Legs and Stranger at Home for my personal library。 I like that they are appropriate for a younger age （8-12） rather than high school， and they are novels with many more details--a more fleshed out story than this one。Also， and I know this is just me， I can't get past the description of sexual abuse in the residential schools。 Yes， it happened and we do need to talk about it， but I'm just personally really squeamish about rape in books。 I couldn't own this book for that reason。 。。。more
Rod Brown
，
A fictional framing sequence about a high school kid writing a report about the Canadian residential school system and its forced assimilation of indigenous children brackets the true story of Betty Ross， an Elder of the Cross Lake First Nation in Manitoba， Canada。 Ross is the victim of corporal punishment and sexual abuse at the hands of the school's nun and priest。The story captures her feelings of disorientation and fear quite well， but assumes knowledge on the part of the reader as to why an A fictional framing sequence about a high school kid writing a report about the Canadian residential school system and its forced assimilation of indigenous children brackets the true story of Betty Ross， an Elder of the Cross Lake First Nation in Manitoba， Canada。 Ross is the victim of corporal punishment and sexual abuse at the hands of the school's nun and priest。The story captures her feelings of disorientation and fear quite well， but assumes knowledge on the part of the reader as to why and how Ross is placed in this situation by the Canadian government。 I would have welcomed more context in the story or in the end matter， especially since this seems to be aimed at educating a younger audience。 。。。more
CyGrrl
，
A good introduction to Residential Schools。 Prefer The Secret Path but this has good info suitable for schoolage children
Dorothy Himberc
，
Tough to read， but definitely worth reading。Based on the life of a real person， I think it helps shatter any myths that people might hold that the residential school system was， broadly speaking， appropriate。It is direct and full of feeling， and the characters are conveyed well - even if the nun and the priest are， understandably， depicted as 100% villainous。And I think the story holds out hope that survivors of abuse will indeed overcome their experiences and live fulfilled lives; while at the Tough to read， but definitely worth reading。Based on the life of a real person， I think it helps shatter any myths that people might hold that the residential school system was， broadly speaking， appropriate。It is direct and full of feeling， and the characters are conveyed well - even if the nun and the priest are， understandably， depicted as 100% villainous。And I think the story holds out hope that survivors of abuse will indeed overcome their experiences and live fulfilled lives; while at the same time it is clear that there is lasting， lifelong trauma。Highly recommend。 。。。more
Sara Maria
，