The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) announced the 2021 finalists for eight major awards celebrating Canadian books for young people on September 14, 2021.
Heritage House is proud to share that Journal of a Travelling Girl by Nadine Neema has been shortlisted for two CCBC awards: The Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People and the inaugural Jean Little First-Novel Award. Our congratulations to Nadine Neema as well as all the other finalist authors and publishers.
The jury for the Jean Little First-Novel Award had this to say about the book:
“Journal of a Travelling Girl gives young readers the chance to imagine themselves on a journey as they read about it through the main character… Neema clearly conveys the modes of teaching afforded by the journey and the community’s Elders, as well as the historic moment the Tlicho Agreement for self-government and land ownership came into effect… The author shares from a place of knowledge, in deep collaboration with the First Nation concerned… This is an important story, not just for those whose lives it touches directly, but for all in Canada.”
The jury for the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction said this about Journal of a Travelling Girl:
“A truly engaging story of a young girl’s coming of age as she embarks on a reluctant canoe trip with her friends and their families… Journal of a Travelling Girl takes readers on a culturally enlightening journey filled with adventure and discovery…bringing out the beauty of the North and the Tlicho culture… This book should be in every school library.”