Wanda John-Kehewin, an author and advocate from Kehewin Nation in Alberta, brings her personal and professional insights to this poignant novel. With a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia and training from The Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University, John-Kehewin has long championed Indigenous voices in literature. Drawing from her upbringing during her Métis mother’s struggle with alcoholism, the book delves into the life of 14-year-old Eva Brown. When Eva's grandmother falls ill and her mother battles addiction, Eva finds solace in poetry, chronicling her journey through her creative writing. Set in a group home, the narrative sensitively explores Eva's challenges and resilience, offering a tribute to the experiences of Indigenous children within the system. John-Kehewin’s novel promises to resonate deeply with readers, combining personal reflection with a powerful narrative of hope and identity.

Cautions / Content Warnings: The book contains explicit language including terms such as “sexy” and swearing, which may not be suitable for all readers.
Other End Matter: Acknowledgements
Images: None
Contributor Affiliation: Author Wanda John-Kehewin (Cree)
Bibliography: No
Index: No

Evaluator: Anika L., Middle School Teacher, Indigenous Books for Schools

Wanda John-Kehewin (she, her, hers) is a Cree writer who uses her work to understand and respond to the near destruction of First Nations cultures, languages, and traditions. When she first arrived in Vancouver on a Greyhound bus, she was a nineteen-year-old carrying her first child, a bag of chips, a bottle of pop, thirty dollars, and a bit of hope. After many years of travelling (well, mostly stumbling) along her healing journey, she shares her personal life experiences with others to shed light on the effects of trauma and how to break free from the "monkeys in the brain."

Now a published poet, fiction author, and film scriptwriter, she writes to stand in her truth and to share that truth openly. She is the author of the Dreams series of graphic novels. Hopeless in Hope is her first novel for young adults.

Wanda is the mother of five children, two dogs, two cats, three tiger barbs (fish), and grandmother to one super-cute granddog. She calls Coquitlam home until the summertime, when she treks to the Alberta prairies to visit family and learn more about herself and Cree culture, as well as to continuously think and write about what it means to be Indigenous in today's times. How do we heal from a place of forgiveness?

Wanda John-Kehewin's profile page

• Nominated, Forest of Reading
• Winner, Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize
• Winner, Winner of the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize

? Among CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens list, a starred selection of exceptional caliber

CCBC

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A tender and even humorous coming-of-age story...a resonant story of healing, belonging, and persisting despite the odds.

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