Sobering. [The Case of the Missing Auntie by Michael Hutchinson]

When a group of pre-teens Cree cousins head to the city to stay at their aunt's and visit the fair, unexpected adventures and a mission to seek out long lost connections teaches valuable lessons about what builds identity and how locations molds who you are.

The Mighty Muskrats mystery series follows the a group of Cree pre-teen cousins and presumably their adventures, with, I would imagine, allegorical lessons to take away at the end. In this installment, I believe the second, The Case of the Missing Auntie, Chickadee and her three cousins head to the city. Otter wants to see his favorite band at the Exposition Fair and hijinks ensue. The second and more important storyline is Chickadee's interest in finding out what she can about her grandfather's long-lost sister, Charlotte, who was a victim of the Sixties Scoops.

The Muskrats’ search for their missing auntie takes them all the way to the government, and reveals hard truths about their country’s treatment of First Nations kids and families.

Canada has long be portrayed in American history like our innocuous, well-meaning, benign neighbor. Canada, as it was the end-goal destination for enslaved and free African-American slaves looking for a better life, must have been a welcoming locale to contrast with the harsh American politic. Or the so the fantasy image of the neighbor to the north would have one believe. There was barely a reason to delve into Canadian colonialism in any of my classes growing up. I imagine the extent of that historical exploration also depends on what state you were educated in. Growing up on a bordering state with historically significant interactions probably meant you knew more earlier on. But growing up in New York City, poster child of immigrants and diversity, meant the focus was generally domestically centered.

And so reading about the Sixties Scoop, through a book meant for children of all things, was a bit unnerving. This horrible history, this genocide that seems to be a hallmark of settler colonialism (especially in the Americas), where attempts are made to forcibly assimilate children, where human trafficking is a norm. So the presentation of such a heavy topic and its resolution in the book are to be applauded. Outside of the respective community I can't speak to the tone or goals of dealing with the oppressors, because in a lot of times what can you do but seek some kind of co-existence, but I do appreciate the variety of non-indigenous Canadians voiced and the spectrum of awareness in-story. Personally I didn't care for the troubled youth in the city plot line, but I understood its role in the story.

I can't say too much negative for The Case of the Missing Auntie. I'd recommend it, yes, but I'm not sure how strongly. As with most books I'd recommend it'd probably have to be to someone I felt would enjoy the book or take away from it something important. Yes, it's written for a children, but I still don't know who wouldn't walk away considering the heavy emotional baggage the reader is asked to carry. 5 stars from me.