Juggling soccer, school, friends and family leaves John with little time for anything else.
One day at the local community center, following the sound of drums, he stumbles into an Indigenous dance class. Before he knows what's happening, John finds himself stumbling through beginner classes with a bunch of little girls, skipping soccer practice and letting his other responsibilities slide. When he attends a powwow and witnesses a powerful performance, he realizes that he wants to be a dancer more than anything. But the nearest class for boys is at the Native Cultural Center in the city, and he still hasn't told his family or friends about his new passion. If he wants to dance, he will have to stop hiding. Between the mocking of his teammates and the hostility of the boys in his dance class, John must find a way to balance and embrace both the Irish and Cree sides of his heritage.
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
"Florence effortlessly creates a very real and loving biracial family for her thoroughly modern protagonist. John's fast-paced tale twines universal teen concerns with specific cultural issues. This novel allows young readers to embrace their own heritages and realize they stand on the shoulders of all their ancestors."
"The author...reinforces that she is capable of writing engaging stories about Indigenous subjects in any genre...John is an appealing character...Scenes between him and his parents and energetic younger sister, Jen, are especially well drawn...He Who Dreams offers readers a fast-paced story with realistic Indigenous content connecting the book to contemporary discussions about Indigenous issues in Canada."
"Melanie Florence manages...to portray a realistic portrait of a young man trying to figure out what motivates him and where he wants to go while giving his story room to tell itself rather than trying to direct from the keyboard. Well done."
"He Who Dreams is a breathtaking read for anyone who enjoys dance, drumming, pow wows, and traditional aboriginal attire. Enjoy!"
"Through realistic dialogue and concise, yet entertaining, chapters, He Who Dreams takes readers from a soccer field to the Grand Entry of a powwow with ease…Powerful and smart, He Who Dreams brims with valuable lessons, allowing young readers to access important issues in a highly engaging way. "
Periodical Marketers of Canada (PMC) Indigenous Literature Award | 2018 | Short-listed
Customizable Text and Layout
Text and layout can be adjusted for text size and colour, background colour, and layout to support individual reading preferences.
Described Images
Non-text content includes descriptive text, such as alt-text and long descriptions.
Table of Contents and Structured Navigation
Page elements are labelled and structured in a meaningful sequence.
Screen Reader and Text-to-Speech (TTS) friendly
Structured for screen readers and text-to-speech tools, including assistive technologies and browser plugins.
Bookmarks and Highlights
Add bookmarks and save highlighted passages.
ARIA Roles
ARIA roles clarify semantic elements of this ebook, making it easier for screen readers and assistive technologies to understand the contents of the book.
