David Robertson (writer) facts for kids

David Alexander Robertson (born 12 January 1977) is a talented Canadian author and speaker from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has written over 25 books for different age groups and has won the important Governor General’s Literary Award twice! His first novel, The Evolution of Alice, came out in 2014. David Robertson is a member of the Norway House Cree Nation.

Growing Up and Learning

David Robertson was born in Brandon, Manitoba. His father is Swampy Cree, and his mother has Scottish, Irish, and English family roots. He grew up in Winnipeg and spent his summers in Melita, Manitoba. David went to the University of Winnipeg and earned his degree in 1999.

What David Robertson Does

David Robertson's books for young adults and children are very popular in schools and libraries across Canada. He is especially known for his graphic novels, which are like comic books that tell a story. His stories often explore tough parts of history, like the residential school system in Canada. This was a time when many Indigenous children were forced to attend special schools far from their homes and families.

Some of David's well-known graphic novels include the 7 Generations series and Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story. This last book tells the true story of a young Indigenous woman and helps readers understand important historical events.

David has also written for different collections of stories, like 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 helps lead a children's book publishing group for Penguin Random House Canada. He also writes and hosts a podcast called Kíwew.

Awards and Recognitions

David Robertson has won many awards for his amazing books!

In 2015, his novel The Evolution of Alice won the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Author. This book was also recognized by the Burt Award for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Literature.

In 2016, The Evolution of Alice was chosen for "On the Same Page," a program that encourages everyone in Manitoba to read and discuss the same book. His graphic novel Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story was also recognized for its important non-fiction storytelling.

A big year for David was 2017! He won the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award and the prestigious Governor General’s Literary Award for his book When We Were Alone. This book, illustrated by Julie Flett, tells a powerful story. When We Were Alone was also a finalist for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. David also won the Beatrice Mosionier Aboriginal Writer of the Year Award that year.

In 2018, the first book in his Reckoner series won 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 series, was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award in 2021. This book was also named one of the best books of 2020 by many reviewers, including Kirkus and Quill & Quire.

In 2021, David won the Writers' Union of Canada Freedom to Read Award. His podcast, Kíwew, also won an award for being a great podcast in the Prairie Region.

His book On the Trapline, also illustrated by Julie Flett, won the Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration in 2021.

In 2023, the University of Manitoba honored David Robertson with a special Doctor of Letters degree for his outstanding work in the arts.

David Robertson's Books

Here are some of the books David Robertson has written:

Books for Kids and Young Adults

• On the Trapline (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 Writings

• 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)
• Version Control (The Reckoner Rises, Volume 2) (2022)

Stories in Collections

• 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)