Dad, I Miss You
This story is dedicated to the author’s mother and father, both of whom are residential school survivors.
Told in the voice of a boy and his father by turns, this book takes a thoughtful and heartfelt look at the emotional toll of a child being taken from their family and community to attend residential school. While the child’s internal monologue expresses his fear, confusion, and loss, the father’s monologue conveys his own sadness, fears, and hopes for the future of his child. The narrative gives voice to the things left unsaid between a parent and child experiencing this heart-rending separation. Upon his return to his community, when father and son are reunited, they must start the long process of reconnection.
Based on the author’s family history of residential school separation, this book provides a unique perspective on the difficult cycle of loss, reconnection, and regaining hope for the future.
Written by Nadia Sammurtok | Illustrated by Simji Park
Hardcover (English) | ISBN: 978-1-77227-482-0 | $22.95 | 9″ x 8″ | 40 pages | Full-colour illustrations throughout | Ages 9-12 | F&P Level V |
Praise
“Told in the voice of a boy and his father, this heartbreaking story chronicles the emotional toll of a child being taken from his family to attend a residential school. From the boy’s fear and loss to the father’s sadness and hope, Dad, I Miss You gives voice to the trauma of forcible separation.”—Quill & Quire
“Sammurtok, in a small number of pages, captures the ongoing harm and alienation Indigenous communities experience in Canada because of the residential school system. . . By focusing on the feelings of loss and longing in both parent and child, Sammurtok communicates the pain felt by many residential school survivors in a way that young readers can understand….The book’s illustrations, by Korean artist Simji Park, are simple but evocative….With its simple storyline and illustrations, this book is excellent for parents, teachers, and librarians looking for a resource that effectively communicates the impact of residential schools at a level appropriate for younger children.”—Quill & Quire
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Quill & Quire reviews Dad, I Miss You
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