David Robertson (writer) facts for kids

David Alexander Robertson, born on January 12, 1977, is a Canadian author and speaker from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has written more than 25 books for different age groups. He has won the Governor General's Literary Award twice, which is a very important award for Canadian writers. His first novel, The Evolution of Alice, came out in 2014. David Robertson is a member of the Norway House Cree Nation.

David Robertson's Early Life and Education

David Robertson was born in Brandon, Manitoba. His father was Swampy Cree, and his mother had Scottish, Irish, and English family roots. He grew up in Winnipeg and spent his summers in Melita, Manitoba. In 1999, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg.

David Robertson's Career as an Author

David Robertson's books for young adults and children are very popular. They are often used in libraries and classrooms across Canada. His graphic novels are especially well-known. His stories often explore difficult parts of history, like the residential school system in Canada.

Graphic Novels and Important Stories

Some of David Robertson's graphic novels include the 7 Generations series and the Tales From Big Spirit series. He also wrote Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story. This book tells the true story of a young Indigenous woman.

Other Writings and Contributions

David Robertson has also written for several collections of stories and poems. These include Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings From the Land of Water. His work has appeared in magazines like CV2 and Prairie Fire. He has also written articles for the Toronto Star, CBC, and the Book and Periodical Council's Freedom to Read website.

Today, David Robertson is the editorial director for a children's book publisher. He also writes and hosts a podcast called Kíwew.

Awards and Recognitions for David Robertson

David Robertson has won many awards for his writing. These awards show how important his books are.

Early Awards and Nominations

In 2015, he was nominated for four Manitoba Book Awards. His novel, The Evolution of Alice, won the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Author. He also won an award from the Aboriginal Circle of Educators. The Evolution of Alice was also considered for the Burt Award for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Literature.

In 2016, David Robertson was nominated for more awards. The Evolution of Alice was chosen for "On the Same Page." This program encourages everyone in Manitoba to read and talk about the same book. His graphic novel, Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story, was also recognized.

Major Awards and Achievements

In 2017, David Robertson won the Manuela Dias Book Design and Illustration Award for Will I See?. That same year, he won the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award. He also won the Governor General's Literary Award for When We Were Alone. This book was also a finalist for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. He won the Beatrice Mosionier Aboriginal Writer of the Year Award in 2017.

In 2018, the first book in his Reckoner series won several awards. These included the McNally Robinson Best Book for Young People Award.

In 2020, his book Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory won the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award.

The Barren Grounds, the first book in his Misewa Saga, was nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award in 2021. Many important reviewers, like Kirkus and Quill & Quire, named it one of the best books of 2020. It was also shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association's Silver Birch Award.

In 2021, David Robertson won the Writers' Union of Canada Freedom to Read Award. His podcast, Kíwew, also won an award for Best Podcast. His book On the Trapline won the Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration at the 2021 Governor General's Awards.

In 2023, the University of Manitoba gave David Robertson a special Doctor of Letters degree. This was to honor his amazing work in the arts.

David Robertson's Published Works

Children and Young Adult Books

• On the Trapline (May 4, 2021)
• When We Were Alone (2016)
• Strangers (The Reckoner Trilogy, Book 1) (2017)
• Monsters (The Reckoner Trilogy, Book 2) (2018)
• Ghosts (The Reckoner Trilogy, Book 3) (2019)
• Ispík kákí péyakoyak | When We Were Alone (2020)
• The Barren Grounds (The Misewa Saga, Book One) (2020)
• The Great Bear (The Misewa Saga, Book Two) (2021)
• The Stone Child (The Misewa Saga, Book Three) (2022)
• The Portal Keeper (The Misewa Saga Book Four) (2023)

Novels and Other Literature

• The Evolution of Alice (2014)
• Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory (2020)
• The Theory of Crows (2022)

Graphic Novels

• Stone (7 Generations series, Book 1) (2010)
• Scars (7 Generations series, Book 2) (2010)
• Ends/Begins (7 Generations series, Book 3) (2010)
• The Pact (7 Generations series, Book 4) (2011)
• 7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga (Collected 7 Generations series) (2012)
• Sugar Falls (2012)
• The Poet: Pauline Johnson (2014)
• The Rebel: Gabriel Dumont (2014)
• The Scout: Tommy Prince (2014)
• The Land of Os: John Ramsay (2014)
• The Peacemaker: Thanadelthur (2014)
• The Ballad of Nancy April: Shawnadithit (2014)
• Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story (2015)
• The Chief: Mistahimaskwa (2016)
• Will I See? (2016)
• Breakdown (The Reckoner Rises, Volume 1) (2020)

Anthology Contributions

• Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings From the Land of Water (2011)
• Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time: An LGBT and two-spirit sci-fi anthology (2016)
• This Place: 150 Years Retold (2019)
• Love After the End: Two-Spirit Utopias & Dystopias (2019)
• Take Us to a Better Place: Stories (2019)
• Moonshot: the Indigenous Comics Collection (Vols. 1, 2, and 3) (2020)
• Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids (2021)