Geist reviews Goodbye Buffalo Bay

Geist Magazine's Patty Osborne has reviewed Goodbye Buffalo Bay on page 79 of Winter 2008, Geist 71 edition. If you haven't read Geist before, ask to see it in the library or magazine stand. It is published in Vancouver, BC. Known and appreciated internationally, Geist offers thoughtful, intriging and entertaining commentary on all aspects of Canadian culture.

Patty Osborne called Goodbye Buffalo Bay "a joy to read." Here is the full review by Patty Osborne in Geist:

"Larry Loyie's new book, Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus Books), covers the lonely and bewildering time that Loyie spent at a Native residential school and his subsequent problems finding a place in his Aboriginal community, and even though Loyie tackles harsh topics, the rhythm and simplicity of the writing speaks to the inner strength that helped young Larry withstand the racist attitudes and strict discipline of the nuns and priests and to find solace in the unexpected kindness of a teacher, the freedom of skating on a frozen lake, and even the hard physical work that he and his fellow students were expected to perform. At age fourteen, when Loyie returned home for the summer, he vowed he would never return to the residential school, which meant he had to leave his home again to find work wherever he could. This YA novel is not only a joy to read, it is a refreshing portrayal of the life of a First Nations kid as a continuum, rather than one crisis after another."

Larry Loyie now on Facebook

Check Larry Loyie's Facebook site -- search Larry Loyie.

There is a great new photo of Larry (known as Lawrence, age 13) in his hockey attire, with four friends, or "Mission Beans." The picture was taken in McLennan, Alberta. The photo was found by Fern Welch in her sister Pauline's photo collection. Pauline was one of Larry's best friends. She passed away several years ago.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay: great readers feedback

Goodbye Buffalo Bay: What readers are saying

Please check out CM Magazine’s review of the book. Goodbye Buffalo Bay is “Highly Recommended” and received the highest rating Larry Loyie has received for his children’s books: www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol15/no10/goodbyebuffalobay.html

More feedback from readers:

Thanks so much for the copy of your new book. It is a valuable insight into life at a Residential School and a step back in time, when life was very different. We are so caught up in the here and now that we don’t take time to remember and learn from the past. When I was young, we used to travel the road through Grouard. At that time, the south part of the wooden bridge was still there. Even that part of the bridge seemed to go on forever. The whole bridge must have seemed endless. Thanks for sharing your past and giving me a reason to reflect and appreciate good parts of my past. – Judy Smith, Literacy Coordinator, Valleyview, AB

Just a note to tell you that I enjoyed reading Goodbye Buffalo Bay. Somehow the focus on the few bright moments and encounters emphasizes how unfair the whole system (and majority of controlling individuals) was. I liked the style of the book – vignettes all connected… as I am writing this a patron just asked the staff person on the desk for children’s books about First Nations people! – Laura Reilly, Children and Youth Services Librarian, Grande Prairie Public Library, Grande Prairie, AB

Thank you very much for your new book Goodbye Buffalo Bay. It’s a beauty! I LOVE it. You guys are fine artists. You are making a wonderful contribution to humanity by expressing your creativity in such a beautiful and sensitive manner. Congratulations. – Steve Heller, Lopez Island, Washington, USA

Once I started reading it (Goodbye Buffalo Bay) – I couldn’t put it down and finished it… wishing it hadn’t ended so soon!!! It was excellent and gave me more insight into what “residential life” was like for you and others Larry – much to Canada’s shame. I was wondering what happened to your cousin, Jackie – sounded like Sister Denise was particularly cruel to him. I was so glad Sister Theresa was there to offer encouragement and real learning. – Anne Robertson, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

What a beautiful beautiful beautiful book! I LOVE it! I cried twice, laughed lots, and fell in love with Oskiniko [note: Young Man, Larry’s Cree name] all over again. Thank you so much. What a treasure. Fabulous work, you two. No Wonder you're proud of it! Awesome. – Karen Essex, Toronto, Ontario