When I Was Eight

Summary of Book

Bestselling memoir Fatty Legs for younger readers. Olemaun is eight and knows a lot of things. But she does not know how to read. Ignoring her father’s warnings, she travels far from her Arctic home to the outsiders’ school to learn. The nuns at the school call her Margaret. They cut off her long hair and force her to do menial chores, but she remains undaunted. Her tenacity draws the attention of a black-cloaked nun who tries to break her spirit at every turn. But the young girl is more determined than ever to learn how to read. Based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, and complemented by stunning illustrations, When I Was Eight makes the bestselling Fatty Legs accessible to younger readers. Now they, too, can meet this remarkable girl who reminds us what power we hold when we can read.

Author Biography

Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton are the authors of Fatty Legs and A Stranger at Home. They live in Fort St. John, BC.

Illustrator Biography

Gabrielle Grimard has illustrated numerous books for children. Gabrielle Grimard has been drawing since she was a very young child. Born in Montreal, she studied Fine Arts at Concordia University. In 2001, after giving birth to her first child, Gabrielle began her career as an illustrator. She has illustrated numerous pictures books in the US and Canada. She lives in Quebec.