Where I Belong

by Tara White

tagged: adoption, aboriginal & indigenous, coming of age

Description

This moving novel of self-discovery and awareness takes place during the Oka crisis in the summer of 1990. Adopted as an infant, Carrie has always felt out of place somehow. Recurring dreams haunt her, warning that someone close to her will be badly hurt. When she finds out that her birth father is Mohawk, living in Kahnawake, Quebec, she makes the journey and finally achieves a sense of home and belonging.

About the Author

Tara White is a Mohawk woman from Kahnawake, Quebec. She pursued her master's degree in business administration at the Schulich School of Business in Toronto and became a certified management accountant. But Tara had always dreamed of becoming a writer, so she started taking writing classes in 2002. I Like Who I Am is Tara's first published children's book. Tara lives in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Age:: 12 to 18
Grade:: 8 to 12
Reading age:: 12 to 18

Awards

Commended, First Nations Community Reads

Editorial Reviews

"White has created a convincing portrayal of a girl caught between two worlds struggling with identity. Carrie is a likeable character whom readers will be able to relate to on various levels. Her telling of the Oka Crisis in Quebec creates a wonderful learning opportunity for readers involving real-life events and issues...This is a story that needed to be told."

— VOYA

"A worthwhile acquisition for middle school and high school libraries, especially those looking to add fiction with a Native perspective to their collections."

— CM Magazine

"A gorgeous, sorrowful and yet hopeful novel...Written mindfully and delicately in the voice of an early master, Tara White’s second book is both a coming-of-age story and a story that desperately needs to be told. Combining a teenage, punk-rock need for acknowledgment and a nationwide need for attention, Where I Belong is a book that feels urgent and human."

— The Globe and Mail

"White shares traditions and teachings without glamorizing Native culture. Ultimately, Carrie must learn to exist in both worlds...A welcome addition to any library, featuring a strong Native protagonist to whom most teens will easily relate."

— School Library Journal

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Librarian review

Where I Belong

by [Top Grade]

This moving novel of self-discovery and awareness takes place during the Oka crisis inthe summer of 1990. Adopted as an infant, Carrie has always felt somehow out of place. Recurring dreams haunt her, warning that someone close to her will be badly hurt. When she finds out that her birth father is Mohawk, living in Kahnawake, Quebec, she makes the journey and finally achieves a sense of home and belonging.

Librarians and teachers can share this coming of age story to help readers learn about Indigenous cultures and to consider the meaning of heritage and belonging. This is a fine example of historical fiction set during the Oka uprising and is an important source to share when teaching Aboriginal history. Tara White is a Mohawk woman, thus providing students with the opportunity to read the authentic voice of an Indigenous female author.

Source: Association of Canadian Publishers. Top Grade Selection 2016.