Twelve-year-old Rose is the daring and likable heroine in this historical novel. It’s 1985 and the Canadian government is forcefully moving towards a takeover of Rose’s Métis community during the North-West Resistance. She along with her parents and little sister Delia live in Batoche near the Saskatchewan River. It’s a small town with a few shops, a school, and a church.

Rose hears the adults talking about losing their land and the debate on how to react. The decision is to fight and Rose knows she has to help in some way. But shouldn’t girls be home taking care of family, not out on the front lines where danger exists?

This doesn’t fit Rose’s personality and she takes action, Rose disguises her appearance to look like a boy and hauls a cart full of guns and supplies to the front lines. She also devises a brave scheme to stop additional Canadian troops from arriving by ferry.

The world building and sense of community is strong and heartfelt. Thirty-three emotion packed chapters display Rose’s determination to keep her family and community together. Carol Lindstrom based this novel on her own family history. You can also find Rose in the author’s 2025 picture book, The Gift of the Great Buffalo.

Red River Rose is a rare look at a time period in Canada that will never be forgotten thanks to books like this one. Perfect for any young middle grade reader who enjoy adventurous historical fiction.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 17, 2026 PAGES: 224

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: RED RIVER ROSE by Carole Lindstrom

1. The writing is never boring as you feel for what is going on in each scene, making this story even more memorable. A good start for those who have never read a story based on history.
2. Ambroise, Rose’s friend is a great support for Rose. He is a fun and necessary companion who helps Rose and ends up as a memorable character for sure.
3. The character ARC for Melanie, a girl who dislikes Rose, is nicely done. There is often a good side to people few get to see.
4. The Author’s Note is a compelling look at the why and how this book had to be written. A well done extra after reading the story.
5. The front cover of a book often stops at the front cover. Not here as the entire scene gets colorful exposure throughout.

About the Author

Carole Lindstrom is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of literature for young people, including the Caldecott Medal-winning WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS. She is Anishinaabe/Metis and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. She is honored to write books that allow her to shine a light on her beautiful people and their strength and resilience. Her tribal homelands are in Belcourt, North Dakota, but she was born and raised in Nebraska and currently makes her home in Maryland.

Carole has been a voracious reader and library geek ever since she was growing up in Nebraska. On weekends you could usually find her at the library lost in the book stacks or holed up in her bedroom with a good book. It wasn’t until she had her son, that she discovered her love of writing for children and began to work seriously on her writing.

(Carole’s Author Website)

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