Key Selling Points

• Two friends face the fourth grade together while learning to overcome cultural prejudices. Reconciliation is exemplified by a friendship between a white child and an Indigenous child.
• The authors use fictional versions of their younger selves to reimagine what it would be like if they met as children today.
• Extended family is celebrated with positive relationships with a grandmother, aunties, and a cousin.
• Coast Salish culture is celebrated by Johnny Aitken’s own experiences and teachings.
• Contains about 25 black-and-white illustrations.
• An Indigenous character, who identifies as 2Spirit, acts as a role model and educator to the two friends.
• Raven, a trickster and wise teacher in many Indigenous stories, guides the two friends through the story.

To Jessie and Johnny, their friendship is easy.

Jessie and Johnny have been inseparable ever since Jessie moved to the small island town during summer break. But as they begin fourth grade together, the new school year gets off to a rocky start when outside pressures and differences in their home lives threaten their friendship. Jessie lives comfortably and never worries about money while Johnny lives with his father and stepmother on the reserve outside of town. With guidance from Raven and spiritual teacher, Steven, the two friends bridge the gaps between them and learn to lean on each other through family troubles and cultural differences.

Available in French as Johnny et Jessie reçoivent un message de Corbeau.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.