The Summer of Bitter and Sweet
Eighteen-year-old Lou, an Indigenous teen whose Métis mother was raped as a teen by a white man, spends the summer working at the family’s ice cream stand with her former best friend and ex-boyfriend King. As she considers her lack of feelings for King and explores and questions her own sexuality, her life takes a turn when her biological father gets out of prison, wants to meet her, and threatens the family’s business. This engaging, emotionally complex novel explores identity, family, friendship, racism, secrets, sexuality, past trauma, and resilience, and highlights the discrimination and violence Indigenous women encounter. Social considerations noted. Teacher preview and student preparation recommended due to sensitive topics and trigger warnings.
Collections:
Indigenous, Novel
Subject:
Applied Design, Skills & Technology
Grades:
- 10-12
Evaluation Date:
Canadian Content
Social Considerations
Indigenous Content