Former Drumheller resident short listed for literary award
Set in Gleichen and on the Siksika First Nation, the novel tells the story of how a young girl raises money to help women in Africa who are raising their grandchildren because the parents are sick with, or have died of, AIDS.
It is based on the true story Lisa Jo Sun Walk who raised money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign by sewing and selling purses.
The 160-page novel, that contains about two dozen photographs, is suitable as support material for the Alberta social studies curriculum.
The Rocky Mountain Book Awards is a provincial “readers’ choice” award. Alberta students in Grades 4-7 will choose one of the 20 books short-listed.
“Being short-listed to a readers’ choice award is really exciting,” says Farrell Holler of her book published last year by Second Story Press of Toronto. “The best thing about these types of awards is that they encourage children to read. To qualify to vote, the children have to read at least five books on the list, then select their favorite.”
Farrell Holler, who is a weekly columnist with Sun Media newspaper the Daily Herald-Tribune, is also the author of two picture books. She regularly tours Alberta schools and libraries sharing her enthusiasm for reading and writing. Next week she will be touring the northern part of the province as the guest of the Peace Library System.
Teachers or other adults who would like to organize a group of children who will act as judges for the award should contact the Rocky Mountain Book Awards at www.rmba.lethsd.ab.ca