Boarding Schools and the Indigenous Story

by Ashley Fairbanks

240 pages, Library Binding

Expected publication August 18, 2026

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boarding Schools and the Indigenous Story provides a very comprehensive overview of the history of what happened to indigenous people in the United States. I was expecting this book to be mostly about the boarding schools, but was pleasantly surprised to learn that the book covered much more history in a simple and understandable way. This book is perfect for middle grade students in that it presents history in a truthful way without adding too many gruesome details. The book presents facts in a clear way and doesn't shy away from letting the reader know that there was a lot of strife in the lives of indigenous people throughout the years, but is appropriate for the age group.

I loved getting a few stories of real people and would have loved to see some more of these glimpses into lived experiences. I appreciated the explanation of intergenerational trauma. Another thing I really appreciated in this book was the reflection questions included at the end of each chapter. These would be great discussion questions if reading this text in a classroom. This book is informative and is one that I will definitely be purchasing for my school library.

[Olympia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great non-fiction history of Indigenous people in North America after colonizers arrived. Although the title suggests that it's about Boarding Schools the book actually covers a lot more history and should be a helpful resource in most classrooms. Aimed at middle-grade readers and educators, the book is a little dense at 240 pages (especially with the bleak subject matter), and while motivated young readers could finish it, I could otherwise see it being used for class readings or as a teaching tool. The history is presented very well for the age group, not shying away from atrocities, but without getting too in depth to the gory details or the boring historical facts. It includes end of chapter discussion questions that both check for comprehension and invite deeper thought into the topic presented in each chapter.

I learned a lot and enjoyed that the text included women's history and Indigenous history through the late 20th century and a bit of today! A great resource for school libraries.

*Review of a much appreciated advance copy received from Netgalley*

[Sara Melugin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
Boarding Schools and the Indigenous Story tells the history of the US Government forcing Native children from their homes to assimilate in boarding schools across the country. The way the author addresses this terrible, tragic, and sensitive topic is gentle enough for young readers to understand in an age appropriate way. I will be purchasing this title for my elementary school library as a librarian on the Cherokee Reservation. However, I strongly urge librarians across the country to share this book with their readers. It is imperative that students know it wasn't so long ago that Native Peoples were treated so horrendously. There are still survivors from some of these boarding schools alive today.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boarding Schools and the Indigenous Story (Race to the Truth)
by Ashley Fairbanks
A personal and broad look at Indigenous schools. The story of the many children taken from their families to be educated by corrupt and brutal schools for over 60 years of generational abuse. The children were abruptly taken from their homes, their family, their culture. Their language was banded. Their traditions deemed savage, and they were punished for any slight. These institutions created to give the children an "education", were dehumanizing, and brutal. Generations of families were destroyed by these process. And those children who survived were alienated from their families, culture and identity.

[Marcia McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from reading this book. I plan to buy it for my grandson, who is in middle school. I hope to be able to have conversation with him, using the excellent questions that Fairbanks purifies in each chapter. This is a book that teens & adults would benefit from reading.