“One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.”
- Jack Kerouac
WELCOME
ADVENTURE AWAITS...
Student Book of the Month
The African Samurai
​
Summary By: Kristi K.​
​
The African Samurai is the story about a man uplifted from slavery and then reduced back to the same position. Yasuke was a young boy when he was taken from his village. At twelve years of age, he has to become a fast learner to survive, seeing the bloodshed and violence along the way. Yasuke grows to become a hardened person. He has built walls around his past to save himself from the grief.
Yasuke was sold to the church at some point in his life. Set in the early days of colonization, the church was rapidly trying to spread its reach. I took the opportunity to research the spread of christianity and its current representation in Japan. Japanese history is full of eras where the church was banned from actively converting.
Yasuke travelled to Japan with Alesssandra Valignona, an Italian priest and Jesuit missionary, who held the title of Visitor to the Indies. This allowed him the highest authority next to the Pope. I enjoyed Yasuke’s musings around christianity, its message and how the Jesuits and other worshippers interpreted that message. He was privy to what the Jesuits had actually come to do in Japan. He is a smart and observant person, focused on his job. He can see through the actions of people and is diligent and alert.
ABOUT
the
Learning
Commons
The KRSS Library Learning Commons is a collection of print material, digital content, multimedia resources, and a makerspace.
​
Hours of Operation
​
Mon - Fri: 8:15-3:30
Have a resource in mind we don't currently have in the library? We might be able to get it in for you!
Homework
Club
​
​Wed/Thurs - 3:15-5:00
Teacher Book of the Month
This Place: 150 Years Retold
Forward by: Alicia Elliott
​
Summary By: Connor Addley
​
This Place: 150 Years Retold is a graphic novel anthology which retells the 150 years of history, from Confederation of Canada to present, through the individual perspective of Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit characters. The collection of comics sees story contributors: Kateri Akiwenzi-Damm, Sonny Assu, Brandon Mitchell, Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Niigaanwewidam james Sinclair, Jen Storm, Richard Van Camp, Katherena Vermette, and Chelsea Vowel. The Illustrations and colours have been done by: Tara Audibert, Kyle Charles, GMB CHomichuk, Natasha Donovan, Scott A. ford, Scott B. Henderson, Ryan Howe, Andrew Lodwich, Jen Storm, and Donovan Yaciuk. The book is divided into 10 chapters, each with a forward from the author and why the story is important to them, as well as a historical timeline which contextualizes the history of each story. The timelines include Treaties, Acts, land claims, and other relevant milestones which influence the Indigenous, Métis, or Inuit characters, like “1933-1934: The forcible fingerprinting of all Inuit is a failure, sparking interagency conflict” (Akiwenzie-Damm, et al, p. 110). The stories tackle huge historical milestones from the ground up, and tells each story through the eyes of Indigenous peoples affected by colonialism, and shares their relationships, hopes, desires and fears in an intimate way.