While on a trip to Vancouver Island we happed upon a small book shop in Nanaimo. The local book club had read this recently and there were a few copies. I was drawn to it also because the Canadians are much more up front about the First Nations and I wanted to support, learn more. This is actually an American author, Native American, writing about not only the separation of Native children from their families but also the farming practices that wiped out Native plantings and their culture of care for the land.

(Also bought some seeds whilst at the Butchart Gardens on Van Isle.)

Told from various points of view and through different generations – some long dead – this is the story of one girl taken from her family and how the seeds brought her back to herself and her history.

Robin Wall Kimmerer has a blurb on the cover, so BIG ENDORSEMENT THERE. I see I have not included her Braiding Sweetgrass on my blog although it’s a seminal work in my reading journey. I will rectify that.

Historical, earthy, important. 4 stars.