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edition:eBook
also available: Hardcover Paperback Audiobook
category: Children's Nonfiction
published: Sep 2010
ISBN:9781554515882
publisher: Annick Press

Fatty Legs

A True Story

by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

tagged: native canadian
Description

Eight-year-old Margaret Pokiak has set her sights on learning to read, even though it means leaving her village in the high Arctic. Faced with unceasing pressure, her father finally agrees to let her make the five-day journey to attend school, but he warns Margaret of the terrors of residential schools.

At school Margaret soon encounters the Raven, a black-cloaked nun with a hooked nose and bony fingers that resemble claws. She immediately dislikes the strong-willed young Margaret. Intending to humiliate her, the heartless Raven gives gray stockings to all the girls — all except Margaret, who gets red ones. In an instant Margaret is the laughingstock of the entire school.

In the face of such cruelty, Margaret refuses to be intimidated and bravely gets rid of the stockings. Although a sympathetic nun stands up for Margaret, in the end it is this brave young girl who gives the Raven a lesson in the power of human dignity.

Complemented by archival photos from Margaret Pokiak-Fenton’s collection and striking artworks from Liz Amini-Holmes, this inspiring first-person account of a plucky girl’s determination to confront her tormentor will linger with young readers.

About the Authors

Christy Jordan-Fenton

CHRISTY JORDAN-FENTON est née sur une ferme de la campagne albertaine et a toujours rêvé d’écrire des histoires. Depuis, elle a écrit Étrangère chez moi, Les bas du pensionnat et Quand j’avais huit ans. Christy et sa famille vivent à Fort St. John, en Colombie-Britannique.

CHRISTY JORDAN-FENTON was born on a farm in rural Alberta and always dreamed of writing stories. Today, she is the author of Étrangère chez moi, Les bas du pensionnat, and Quand j'avais huit ans. She lives in Fort St. John, B.C. with her family.

Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

MARGARET POKIAK-FENTON a passé son enfance sur l’Île Banks dans l’océan Arctique. Elle a écrit Étrangère chez moi, Les bas du pensionnat et Quand j’avais huit ans. Margaret est décédée en 2021.

MARGARET POKIAK-FENTON was an author, Inuvialiut knowledge keeper, and residential school survivor. Along with her daughter-in-law, she wrote Étrangère chez moi, Les bas du pensionnat, and Quand j'avais huit ans. The books have garnered more than twenty awards and distinctions, including being placed on the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books for Kids & Teens list.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
Age:
9 to 12
Grade:
4 to 7
Reading age:
9 to 11
Awards
  • Winner, USBBY Outstanding International Books Honor List
Editorial Reviews

“An excellent addition to any biography collection, the book is fascinating and unique, and yet universal in its message.”

— School Library Journal, 12/10

"Olemaun's spirit and determination shine through this moving memoir."

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