Belle of Batoche is a middle-grade historical fiction that I probably would have been into if I had read it when I was younger. It's rich in historical detail and character personality, building from a fictional embroidery contest to a historical 
battle. My main criticism is that the ending framed a maior tragic event as primarily about a specific interpersonal friendship. This is probably where the middle grade ago level catches up with me. It felt like the ending went nowhere However, the writing was solid and I thought the whole was worth reading.