April Raintree [Paperback]

Beatrice Culleton Mosionier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1995

A revised version of the novel In Search of April Raintree, written specifically for students in grades 9 through 12. Through her characterization of two young sisters who are removed from their family, the author poignantly illustrates the difficulties that many Aboriginal people face in maintaining a positive self-identity.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Beatrice (Culleton) Mosionier was born in the St. Boniface area of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The youngest of four children, she grew up in foster homes, but says she had a “reasonably happy childhood.” When she was 17, Beatrice moved to Toronto where she attended George Brown College. Her sister Vivian committed suicide in 1964; after a second sister, Kathy, committed suicide in 1980, Beatrice decided to write a book. In Search of April Raintree, based loosely on her own experiences, was published in 1983, and has become a Canadian classic. A revised version, April Raintree, is taught in schools around the world. In 1999, In Search of April Raintree, Critical Edition, was published by Peguis Publishers (now Portage & Main Press). Beatrice is the author of several children’s book including: Spirit of the White Bison, Christopher’s Folly, and Unusual Friendships: A Little Black Cat and a Little White Rat. Her second novel, In the Shadow of Evil, was published in 2000. Beatrice has travelled nationally and internationally to speak to organizations, schools, and universities. In her spare time, she pursues her other long-time interest—designing and building woodworking projects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Peguis Publishers (December 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1895411416
• ISBN-13: 978-1895411416
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,457,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beatrice Mosionier was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba in 1949, and was the youngest of four children. When she was three, she was separated from her parents and she and her siblings were placed in different foster homes.

Following the suicides of her sisters, Vivian in 1964 and Kathy in 1980, Beatrice, who had no desire to be a writer, decided to write a book to understand why her sisters committed suicide, and why her family had lived with poverty, alcoholism and racism.

She wrote about a young Metis woman trying to survive in two worlds, one she rejected and one that rejected her. "In Search of April Raintree" was published in 1983, under Beatrice Culleton, her married name at the time. The novel had such impact that subsequent editions were published for high schools and for universities. This book remains one of Canada's most popular works of Aboriginal literature. The 25th Anniversary Edition launched the Manitoba literacy initiative, On the Same Page: Manitoba Reads, in 2008.

Beatrice previously worked as publisher of Pemmican Publications, has written more works of fiction, a play and a short film. She now writes under her maiden name. Her most recent book, "Come Walk With Me, A Memoir", was released in October 2009. She now lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible for young Aboriginal girls, August 6, 2003

By 

"jeboa" (the rez - Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: April Raintree (Paperback)

This book is read by every Aboriginal girl growing up. (By Aboriginal I mean Indian, First Nation, Native American, Metis girls.) This book hits home, thinking about the book makes me cry, because I related so much to the characters in the book, this book portrays the reality of an aboriginal girl/woman living in canada. This book is a must read for everyone. Yes, it's sad, but that's reality..

It's an awesome book for aboriginal and non-aboriginals to read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Juvenile, involving, true, June 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: April Raintree (Paperback)

Based on her own life and experiences as a Canadian First Nations family whose kids were placed in foster homes, Beatrice Culleton has improved her 1984 juvenile classic with an update, fleshing out her characters better, and providing some transitions that were needed.

Culleton was raised in non-Native foster homes because of her parents' alcoholism. Both her sisters (reduced in the book to one) committed suicide, in 1963 and 1980. (Suicide remains the largest death cause of Indian teenagers, and percentagewise, Indian suicide outstrips tyhat of any other ethnic group.) I don't know if Culleton was gang-raped, as her main character April is, but that scene has all the violence, fear, and horror of a real experience being told. Certainly it has happened, and just about that way to many young Native women unprotected in cities.

April can (her sister can't) pass for white, so -- after their separate foster-home experiences (Cheryl's positive, April's very negative), April has a Cinderella marriage. But when the rich upper-class family she marries into learn she is Indian, they reject her (she was getting bored with their life -- shopping and social charity work -- anyway) and she eventually realizes a goodly amount of money from the divorce.

But Cheryl, a bright college student and hopeful Indian activist has become a drunk, causing strain between the sisters who live together in the house April's divorce bought. It gets a lot worse when several white men drag April into a car and rape her, mistaking her for her sister (who is hooking to buy her booze). With many typical racist remarks about how squaws love this.

The remainder of the story includes the stress on April that the trials of the rapists cause, a possibly rewarding relationship with a white lawyer who she is very thorny with, Cheryl's suicide and April's determination to raise her sister's illegitimate boy.

There is a note of hope in this ending: that April may be able to keep the next generation from alcohol, and involve him with elders and others at the Indian Center, where April now works. A note of fear just behind it. Culleton herself is (though successfully established) still full of fear, and the society she lives in is still a frightening place for a Native woman.

One of the few books that can communicate to non-Indian as well as Indian teens some of the realities of contemporary urban Indian life.

It's a powerful story of the lives of so many Indian women (and children) forced to leave their reserves, and thrown into city life. April is not shown as a conquering heroine, but as an ordinary young woman, whose life unfolds as she grows and shapes her own identity , buffeted by tragedy, but continuing.

It has become a Canadian young adult classic, and deserves wider readership in the US too.

Reviewed by Paula Giese, Native American Books website editor, http://www.fdl.cc.mn.us/~isk/books/bookmenu.html

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The bitterest of realities..., May 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: April Raintree (Paperback)

"April Raintree" is a depressing story which attempts to be uplifting and fails. It is the story of a native girl who attempts to find her identity amidst racism and stereotypes. On one fateful day, her innocence is lost and she must learn to accept who she is and to trust others. Her misery knows no bounds and the reader is left unsatisfied, as April's redemption is not completely won. How could Culleton subject the protaganist to so much pain and angst? It leaves the reader feeling emotionally drained and thoroughly disgusted