A KNOCK ON THE DOOR The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Edited and Abridged (Perceptions on Truth and Reconciliation, Book 1)

Acknowledging the disgraceful legacy of residential schools is the first step toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada. This approachable report includes historical background and powerful firsthand testimony from survivors. The audio version could have brought those voices to a wider audience. Sadly, it is torpedoed by poor editorial decisions. Most glaringly, narrator Michelle St. John reads aloud every reference in the text, starting with the word "footnote" and its number. There are hundreds of these, and the relentless repetition quickly makes the production unlistenable. Charts and tables are also read in a way that makes little sense unless one is following along with the printed book. This is a well-meaning effort by an academic press, but it's a missed opportunity to make an important story more accessible. D.B. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2021]