They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School

In this memoir of abuse countered with courage, Bev Sellars tells her story of life growing up in an Indian residential school. As is required of all Indian children, Bev is taken to this school at an early age, seven, and forced to stay there away from her family and continuously be abused and beaten. The story that Sellars weaves is heart wrenching and empowering in the same breath. When I received this book, I did not expect to enjoy it. I didn't see what could be so interesting about a memoir of a girl at school. Little did I know about what was to come. Right out of the gate, Sellars gave her family's history; none of which was boring. She continued on her journey of narrative weaving her grandmother's and her mother's stories show more right alongside hers. This gave an even deeper feeling to the memoir. It was like reading three people's life stories in one book. I was very inspired by this memoir and I would say that everyone should read this. Skepticism will sail out the window after the first chapter of reading. This empowering memoir will most definitely get many more read throughs during its time in my personal library. show less

I really enjoyed this book. It is an emotional, thought provoking reflection about one family’s experience with surviving one of Canada’s darkest times in history: the residential school system. A gripping read.

This is a DNF for me. I got a little over halfway through, and just couldn't continue. I did not have a problem with what Ms. Sellars was trying to say, and she gave us an insight into her growing ups years, first while she and her siblings lived with her grandmother and grandfather, onto to seven years in a residential school, and then her life after she was 12 years old. I think it is remarkable what Ms. Sellars accomplished with her life, and the struggles that she faced trying to get there. But I felt that the writing was juvenile, and I'm afraid I've read far more interesting books about life in residential schools. I didn't find that the book engaged me at all and ( quit reading at about 60& of the way through. After reading books show more like Indian Horse, also by a Canadian writer, and even Indian in the Cabinet by Jodi Wilson-Raybould, this book, just did not measure up. It may be a good book for young adults e in school to read to give them an idea of what life was like for residential school survivors as it's nt a long book, and is written in an easy to read format. . show less

I appreciated this very readable book much more than I anticipated. It was especially meaningful for me as she grew up near the same small town I grew up in. Her daughter was in my high school class at one point. I suggested my parents read it, and they did so as well; I knew they'd know a few people and the places in the book also

This is a book that every Canadian should read. I cannot imagine how anyone who considered themselves to be a religious person could inflict such harm on innocent children. This was a very dark time in the history of this country.

Very good book and well written!