Lillian is a girl of mixed Indigenous and white ancestry who has been shuffled from foster home to foster home as long as she can remember. At school, she doesn’t feel like she fits in with the white kids and doesn’t fit in with the Indigenous kids either. She finds happiness and a sense of belonging from a surprising spirit that returns her to traditional ways.

Lynda Partridge is a member of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. She is a mother a grandmother, a wife an auntie and a sister. She grew up in the child welfare system and spent her childhood in numerous non indigenous foster homes. At a later age she obtained an honours bachelor of social work (Native Human Services), followed by a Master of Social Work Degree. It was while obtaining her undergraduate degree that she found her birth family and reconnected to her Indigenous culture. This experience led her to the field of Indigenous child welfare.

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• Winner, BPAA Childrens Book

"Reading the first few pages of Lillian and Kokomis was very difficult and emotional for me. l had to put the book down several times knowing that so many First Nation children have gone through the same painful emotions of hurt, of loss and a sense of not belonging. Lynda Partridge also paints a picture of promise and hope — that given the right tools and understanding we can help children like Lillian finds themselves, understand their past and find hope for the future." —Chief Kirby Kirby Whiteduck, Chief of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation

“I love this book. I think everyone, not just children should read it. With gentle empathy and joyous hope Lynda Partridge paints the heartbreaking realities lived by far too many young people, while simultaneously generating optimism. She describes what is possible when we provide opportunities for generations to heal and lead us forward. The possibilities are both tremendous and endless.” —Senator Kim Pate, Senate of Canada

“Lillian has much to teach children and adults alike on the experience of utter vulnerability, resistance, and the art of the wise-child survival.” — Pamela Johnson, PhD Psychology

“A wonderful story of courage, inner strength and resilience as told through the eyes and mind of a child. Through this story of early adversity rises a person of character and wisdom who now shares her extraordinary understanding of finding a place in this world for the benefit of others”.

“Leo Massi, MSW, RSW. Executive Director, H-N REACH.“

“This story is from the spirit and is a message for all of our First Nations relatives that it is now time to rise up and take this responsibility back to being natural helpers, and to nurture our children who are struggling.”— Robin Decontie, MSW

Algonquin Anishinabekwe, Director, Kitigan Zibi Health and Social Services