Biography Winnipeg, Manitoba 184 pages Sarah Bonner-Proulx April Raintree Biography Winnipeg, Manitoba 184 pages Sarah Bonner-Proulx

Beatrice Mosinier (Beatrice Culleton) Born in St.Boniface ,Manitoba in 1949 . Métis Travelled worldwide to raise aboriginal awareness Attended George Brown college in 1970. Raised in several different foster homes Author of many children's books including : In the shadows of evil and the spirit of the white bison Alcoholic parents Turned to writing as an emotional release

Vocabulary words Facade : a false or artificial appearance or effect. ex: At first the women seemed kind, but to my dismay it was only a facade . Justify :  to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable ex: Justify to me why I should let you stay out past your curfew. Sympathetic : existing or operating through an affinity, interdependence, or mutual associationex ex: I could not help but feel sympathetic for the death of the young boy.

Vocabulary Defenestration: a throwing of a person or thing out of a window ex: I quickly defenestrated the evidence before my mother saw it. Preposterous : contrary to nature, reason, or common sense Ex: The abusive behavior towards her children was preposterous . Zany: one who acts as a fool for the amusement of others .ex: His zany behavior relieved the tension in the room.

Characters April Raintree : Main character of the novel Canadian Métis girl Eldest of the two sisters Very intelligent and mature Motherly and caring of her younger sister rule abiding and cautious Secretary for a high end law firm

Characters Cheryl Raintree : - Secondary character Youngest of the two sisters Culturally aware and proud of her Métis background Stubborn but very smart Courageous Very ‘driven’ girl.

summary April Raintree is the story of two metis sisters who are born into a home of alcoholism and poverty. April and Cheryl are taken by social services and put into separate foster homes at a very young age. Over the years, both sisters experience good foster families and bad ones. At one point, April is stuck in a very physical and mentally abusive home. As the girls grow in to young adults, they transform into very successful people. April works as a secretary and marries a rich business man from Toronto. Cheryl attends school to become a social worker- her dream job. As the years pass, the sisters lose touch, but when Cheryl begins drinking, April intervenes. April finds out that Cheryl dropped out of college and is an alcoholic. April attempts to help her sister, but it’s no use. Cheryl becomes depressed and commits suicide a year later. After her death, April discovers that Cheryl has a son. Although devastated from the death of her sister, she decides to raise him. Through the love of Henry, April is able to accept the death and strive for a better life for both her and Cheryl’s son.

Likes/dislikes I liked that the book was very detailed when describing places or situations. It made it easy to create a visual . I liked the real life problems the book addresses. (Racism and stereotyping) I disliked the lack of humor and happiness I disliked the cover of the book (very plain)

Theme the theme of the novel self- identity April spends her life searching for her true identity and purpose as a metis women She cannot fully embrace her culture knowing that her race is stereotyped so negatively. It takes many lessons and tragedies for April to finally know and accept who she is. Lesson: never be ashamed of who you are and where you came from.

Review April Raintree is a brutally honest and harsh autobiographical fictional novel that you will not soon forget. The bitter sweet reality of Native life in urban Canada is not only read, but felt by the reader. Whether or not you are metis, you can’t help but feel connected and understanding of both metis and aboriginal people. It is the kind of story that is tragic, but will leave you feeling aware and open minded.

Ending change I would change the ending of the book. Instead ending it with Cheryl’s son as a baby, I would have gone further into his life. I also would have gone more into detail about the reasoning behind Cheryl’s suicide I would have given more insight into how April raises Henry.