Good for Nothing

Michel Noel author Shelley Tanaka translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Groundwood Books Ltd ,Canada

Published:17th Jun '04

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Good for Nothing cover

Winner of the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction

The year is 1959, and fifteen-year-old Nipishish returns to his reserve in northern Quebec after being kicked out of residential school, where the principal tells him he's a good-for-nothing who, like all Indians, can look forward to a life of drunkenness, prison and despair.

The reserve, however, offers nothing to Nipishish. He remembers little of his late mother and father. In fact, he seems to know less about himself than the people at the band office. He must try to rediscover the old ways, face the officials who find him a threat, and learn the truth about his father's death.

[An] inspiring story by an authority on native affairs... * VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) *
[Michel Noel] has crafted a story of pain and triumph, with both universal appeal and cultural authenticity. Tanaka's accomplished translation introduces an award-winning Canadian author to an English-speaking audience, and all libraries should take note. * School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW *
Michel Noel...knows his craft...the text is extremely accessible. * Quill & Quire, STARRED REVIEW *

  • Winner of Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People 2005 (Canada)
  • Commended for IBBY Honor List 2006 (United States)
  • Commended for CCBC Our Choice 2005 (Canada)
  • Short-listed for McNally Robinson Aboriginal Book of the Year Award 2005 (Canada)

ISBN: 9780888996169

Dimensions: 215mm x 139mm x 22mm

Weight: 240g

256 pages

First Trade Paper Edition