Ms. Conti's Literature Lab

This text was written by author Cherie Dimaline.

Quick Write:

How many chapters did your teacher assign?

• So far my teacher has assigned … chapters 1-7.

How many chapters have you currently read?

• I’ve read chapters 1-7.
• I have a paper copy of the book at school.

What assignments has the teacher given you?

• Reading comprehension assessment on Thursday

Task #1

Summary: Write a quick summary of what you’ve read so far. What happened in “Chapters 1-7”? Who are the main characters and what are their motivations?

List of Characters

Start by brainstorming a quick list of the characters:

1. Frenchie (narrator) – aka Francis.
2. Mom
3. Dad
4. Rose
5. Mitch
6. Miig
7. Minerva
8. Wab
9. Chi-Boy
10. RiRi
11. Isaac

Write a quick description beside each character that will help you remember them.

1. Frenchie (narrator) – aka Francis. Young Métis boy living in a dystopian future where indigenous people are hunted because they can still dream.
2. Mom – Left to purchase food and never returned. She likely was captured (inference).
3. Dad – Taken away by guards.
4. Rose – A girl that Frenchie is friends with. They met in the committee.
5. Mitch – He’s Frenchie’s older brother. He is captured while protecting Frenchie.
6. Miig – Leader of their group. She teachers survival and history.
7. Minerva – She is an elder. She represents indigenous language and tradition.
8. Wab – Quiet, guarded survivor with a difficult past
9. Chi-Boy – Older member of the group that keeps everyone safe.
10. RiRi – Youngest member of the group. Represents innocence.
11. Isaac– He is Miig’s husband, who was taken by Recruiters. His story illustrates the importance of love, loss, and hope. He teaches the kids how to protect themselves.

Quick Themes Brainstorm:

• Dystopian literature = society seems perfect, but readers learn how difficult it is to survive through Frenchie’s experiences
• Friendship & Family = working together creates a strong bond between Frenchie and his new-found family.
• Colonialism vs. Indigenous cultures = the government’s treatment of indigenous people echoes historical injustices, particularly in Canada’s residential school system.
• Survival= Frenchie and his group must protect themselves.
• Ability to Dream vs. Inability to Dream= Dreams are connected to identity, memory, hope, and the future
• Innocence= the kids are so young and seem to lose their innocence because they are forced to survive in an unfair world
• Storytelling= becomes an important factor in their ability to dream

Quick Write:

In The Marrow Thieves, Indigenous people are hunted for something that makes them unique, while they fight to protect their culture and identity.

How does this connect to the challenges Indigenous communities or other marginalized groups face in today’s world?

The fight to protect indigenous culture and identity in The Marrow Thieves mirrors the treatment of marginalized groups in today’s world because…

• they aren’t recognized by the government as a community worth protecting.