Lights along the River

Synopsis:

On a cold winter morning in 1952, Patsy Lamondin wakes to the day electricity will finally be connected to her small town along the Magnetawan River.

Patsy and her siblings buzz with excitement, eagerly awaiting the ceremony being held at the center of town. The Lamondins have lived along the waters of Georgian Bay and the Magnetawan River for generations. They are a Métis family who love music, dancing and being outdoors, and Patsy ponders how electricity will change all of their daily lives. What she knows for sure is that, whatever changes, she will always feel she belongs here.

Reviews
"This book is based on the author’s life story. On a winter day in 1952, a young girl, Patsy, and her siblings await the ceremony that will bring electricity to their small town of Britt, Ontario. Throughout this day, Patsy reflects on how the town will change. She also shares about an extended family gathering and how she, her siblings, and her parents did various activities in the evenings in the one room that had the lantern. Within these memories, Patsy shares that her father has Métis ancestry, but they kept that quiet due to people’s attitudes about Indigenous Peoples. As the author did not learn that her family was Métis until years later, this story is about her reclaiming identity and her family history that included memories of jigging to fiddle and spoons music. The colourful illustrations in this book help to transmit a joyful and excited mood within this author’s pleasant memories." - Meredith R., Elementary School Teacher, Indigenous Books for Schools

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient: M
Lexile measure: 660L
Guided Reading Level: M

Recommended in the Indigenous Books for Schools catalogue as a valuable resource for English Language Arts and Science in Grades 1 to 3.

Themes: Childhood, Community, Family, History, Technology, Engineering.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.75" x 10.75" | Hardcover