I Lost My Talk
Rita Joe, illustrations by Pauline Young
Nimbus Publishing

I bought this book myself, just a few months ago when I was looking for stories that would help me start the difficult conversations about residential school, with the many children that I get to visit here in PEI as an Indigenous storyteller and poet. 

I found this book was a gentle, beautiful way to talk about this devastating time in our Indigenous history. I have always loved all of Rita Joe’s books, and in her words I can see and feel her stories, every page come to life in my head as I read them, and this new book has that same feel for me. 

Not to forget the artwork in this book; it is beautiful, colourful and sometimes sad, but each image helps to tell this story for this generation and hopefully many more generations to come. In one sentence this book is heartbreaking but healing because it allows us to share our truths. 

Julie Pellissier-Lush also has a book in our #GiftAtlantic collection, Epekwitk: Mi’kmaq Poetry from Prince Edward Island.

Julie Pellissier-Lush, M.S.M., Poet Laureate of Prince Edward Island.