Educator and author Jennifer Maruno’s previous novels include When the Cherry Blossoms Fell and Cherry Blossom Winter, both of which address the internment of Japanese-Canadians during the Second World War – a tragic, important event that every young person should know about. Her latest introduces middle-grade readers to another historical injustice: the residential school system.

Totem is an enthralling, magic-filled novel that tells of a young orphan named Jonny Joe who has lived his entire life at Redemption Residential School. It quickly becomes clear that Maruno is taking an unusual approach to telling Jonny’s story when the character realizes no one else can see the elderly native man he keeps running into. When the students return to their families for the summer, leaving behind only Jonny and a new boy named Ernie, circumstances take a dark turn and the two boys run away – and find themselves cast back in time to a native village in 1862.

The time-travel angle provides Maruno with endless opportunities to include historical context, and as Jonny learns about his unfamiliar new surroundings, readers are introduced to a variety of important themes, all centered on respect – for nature, other cultures, and other individuals. The writing is peppered with vivid descriptions of everything from traditional native carving tools to medicinal herbs. Maruno also includes a number of scenes that drive the plot and provide insight, such as when Jonny meets his spirit guide and begins to learn about his past, or when he recites an important native legend that helps him become part of the tribe.

Maruno handles sensitive issues (including sexual abuse) carefully, obviously keeping her audience’s age level in mind. The book nicely bridges the gap between fiction and non-fiction, and the accessible writing style makes it a great choice for reluctant readers. With engaging language and action delivered at the perfect pace to maintain interest without overwhelming a reader with information, Totem is a masterpiece of middle-grade fiction.