Fatty Legs is a haunting memoir recounting the experience of Margaret or Olemaun Pokiak's time in a residential school. Olemaun's experiences were difficult to read. The degrading practices of residential schools while said to be education were exercises in humiliation and cultural genocide. Olemaun's resilience and desire to learn despite her "school's" desire to break her down was inspiring in the end.

Christy Jordan-Fenton brings her mother-in-law's story to life beautifully. Her prose while sparse and accessible for younger audiences was incredibly well wrought. From invoking a deep sense of dread in the first two chapters of the story to the well-realized bird metaphor threaded throughout the story the writing truly elevates Olemaun's experiences.

If you've never read about Canadian residential schools I'd highly recommend this memoir as an accessible entry point into the topic.