Five Little Indians

Introduction

The book Five Little Indians by Michelle Good was first published in 2020. This

is a Historical Fiction, that follows five residential school survivors, and their journeys to

their passions, legacies, and struggles. Even though this book is fiction, Michelle Good

wrote it in a way that brought those five characters and their stories to life for me. I was

sent on an emotional roller coaster with them. They gave me a greater understanding of

the depth of the trauma endured by the residential school survivors, as well as that of

their families and friends.

Main Ideas

The book Five Little Indians has three main ideas, all revolving around how these

five characters survived during and after they attended The Mission residential school in

BC. The first main idea is the experiences of these characters while they attended The

Mission. The author does this with flashbacks and memories. These can be hard to read,

but essential in the understanding of the situation and the characters. The second main

idea is what happens immediately after these characters leave the residential school,

either by escaping or aging out. In some cases, they are told that their families have died

and that they are on their own, in other cases they return to their “homes” only to realise

that they no longer fit in. Finally, the last major idea of this book is how the characters

chose to live their lives, and how their shared legacy will affect their lives.

Analysis
 This was not my first introduction to residential school survivors, but it was able

to present these five characters in a way that made you feel invested in their outcome.

The first main idea, what happened to these characters while they attended The Mission

residential school was well presented. It was not overly graphic but was still able to

bring the abuse and trauma to the forefront. “She ripped Howie’s covers off, grabbed his

mattress and rolled him out of bed onto the floor. Howie lay there motionless, the

bloodstained pillow and sheets on top of his still body.” (Good, 2020, p.7). Each of these

five characters suffered differently at The Mission, yet they often shared experiences and

traumas. Since Michelle Good used actual residential school survivors’ stories as

research and knowledge, it is all in the very possible realm of reality.

The second main idea is one that is told by many residential school survivors,

once they leave the residential schools they no longer fit in anywhere. They no longer

understand the life of their “homes” or the people who live there. Everyone and

everything is different from what they remember. All too often, parents suffer a different

form of trauma at the hands of the authorities, and they are fighting their own battles.

This side of the story is very well told at the point of view of Kenny, one of the five main

characters in this book. When he returns home he finds everything and everyone

broken. No matter how hard he tries to fix things, he realizes it is forever changed, just

as he is. Survivors of residential schools often need to forge a new path and try to find a

place where they fit.

Finally, the third main idea of this book is how these five characters live after they

have left The Mission residential school. This is the part where the author could have

taken the most liberties, but I feel she stayed very true to actual plights faced by

survivors. Each character took a different path, at times some choosing anger, hatred,
and revenge. At other times some choosing to try to better themselves and the trauma

suffered by their people. Sadly, at times their trauma chose for them, and we are taken

into the world of substance abuse, depression, and suicide.

The book Five Little Indians begins with a direct connection to what we are

currently seeing, the finding of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential

schools. This link to our current reality was very poignant. “They gathered in a circle

around the open grave. The men gently placed the casket in the raw earth. Clara wept. It

had taken a dedicated researcher to find Lily’s remains, and even then it was almost

impossible to get the Church to give her up.” (Good, 2020, p.3).

Conclusion

Despite the fact that this is a fictional story, the author Michelle Good notes that she

used many residential school survivors’ stories to help guide her writing. “It occurred to

me that this needed to be told as a story – as something that people could engage in –

with more ease than a factual diatribe.” (Michelle Good’s Acclaimed Novel Five Little

Indians Looks at the Legacy of Residential Schools, 2020). I think this helps let the

reader become more invested in the characters, knowing that this is not an

autobiography.

The author uses many historical facts in her story. One such historical fact that

caught my attention was when the character of Clara becomes involved with the

American Indian Movement (AIM). I was intrigued by the information given about AIM

in the book, so I investigated it further. I have learned that AIM was founded to address

many issues faced by Native Americans. This is one more way that the author, Michelle

Good, inserted realism into a historical fiction book.

 I would strongly recommend the book Five Little Indians by Michelle Good. It is a

great book for anyone who would like to learn about survivors of residential schools, in a

genre that is easy to read and personable. The story of resilience, survival, and healing is

universal in its message, but remains true to it’s people.

Resources

Good, M. (2020). Five Little Indians. Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.

Michelle Good’s acclaimed novel Five Little Indians looks at the legacy of residential schools.

(2020). CBC Radio. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapter/full-episode-aug-31-2020-

1.5559811/michelle-good-s-acclaimed-novel-five-little-indians-looks-at-the-legacy-of-

residential-schools-1.5559853