The Barren Grounds

Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2020

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Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5-Epilogue

Character Analysis

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Part 5-EpilogueChapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5, Chapter 25 Summary

Morgan, Eli, and Arik stand at the edge of the canyon and cry. Finally, Morgan takes her brother’s hand and asks if he is okay. Eli laments that it isn’t fair that Ochek became a constellation while Mahihkan won’t be remembered. Arik says Mahihkan will be remembered because they will tell his story.

A week after Morgan’s arrival in the Barren Grounds, Morgan, Eli, and Arik start their journey back to Misewa. They walk away from the mountain range to the forest, where they cut down a tree to walk across the canyon rather than traveling several more hours to the other tree bridge. Arik crosses the bridge first, followed by Morgan (conquering her fears of falling) and Eli. As they walk, they notice animals coming back to the forest. Arik catches a rabbit, which they eat for lunch, as well as a few animals for the villagers.

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When night falls, the group feels Ochek guiding them toward home. In Misewa, the villagers stand in a circle in front of the Council Hut, holding torches and welcoming them home. Arik is invited back to the village, and she accepts. Muskwa thanks Morgan and Eli and invites them to stay longer. Morgan says they can’t but would love to come back, and Muskwa says they are welcome back anytime. It is nightfall, but Morgan and Eli need to go back home immediately before Katie and James wake up.

Part 5, Chapter 26 Summary

Morgan and Eli travel back to the Great Tree with Arik. Morgan asks more about Askí, but Arik says it’s like Earth: There’s more than you can explain in a conversation. Eli and Morgan plan to come back the next night (in Earth time), but Morgan feels sad knowing it will be months for Arik. Morgan doesn’t want to forget everything that happened, and Arik reminds them to tell the story of Misewa so that the history is never forgotten. Morgan decides to write about Misewa in her poem.

They arrive at the Great Tree to find the boards that Morgan hammered still in place over the portal. Morgan asks if Arik has ever seen Mistapew, the giant they talked about earlier. Arik says she has not and wonders if there are other portals in Askí; nobody has been in the northern woods for generations. Arik, Morgan, and Eli ponder adventuring in the norther woods the following night. Morgan and Eli open the portal, and Morgan leaves the hammer and boards next to the tree for next time. Arik hugs Eli and Morgan before they step through the portal. Morgan takes the picture off the wall and the portal disappears. The picture now shows the Barren Grounds lush and alive, with Arik running toward Misewa and the animals welcoming her home.

Part 5, Chapter 27 Summary

Morgan and Eli lie down, and Morgan thinks about her time in Misewa. She starts dreaming that she is in the middle of nowhere, and she walks until she finds a small house. Inside, a woman is rocking a little girl. Morgan’s dream transports her to the middle of the room, and she makes eye contact with her mother. Morgan says she hasn’t forgotten herself. Morgan tells her mom that she loves her; as she touches her mom’s fingertips she wakes up. Morgan goes downstairs and has a happy breakfast with Katie, James, and Eli. Katie comments about Morgan wearing her moccasins. Their breakfast ends with Morgan, Eli, Katie, and James laughing about long walks to school.

Epilogue Summary

At school, Emily greets Morgan. Morgan surprises Emily with a hug and a nickname, “Houldsy.” Emily asks about the drawing pad, and Morgan says her brother loved it. In English class, Emily sits next to Morgan, and Morgan hands in her poem. After class, Mrs. Edwards gives it back to Morgan with a B+, saying it was a good job and Morgan can now do better next time. The story ends with Morgan’s poem, “On the Barren Grounds,” relaying her adventures in Misewa.

Part 5-Epilogue Analysis

At the end of the third act, Morgan has completed her adventure and travels home forever changed. Morgan knows who she is and is no longer angry, returning a better version of herself. First, however, there is another homecoming: Morgan, Eli, and Arik have completed their journey to save Misewa and are welcomed back by the villagers. This signals a change in the villagers’ attitude toward Morgan, Eli, and Arik. Previously, they feared Morgan and Eli because of the actions of other humans, but Morgan and Eli have now proved that they were only there to help them and not to take from them. Freed from the pressures of survival, the villagers also welcome Arik back.

There is the promise of another adventure in the conversation with Arik about Mistepaw, the giant that lives in the northern woods and sucks people’s souls. Morgan says that it would be an adventure to go see Mistepaw, and she and Eli suggest that they travel to the north, “Maybe tomorrow night” (234). These words set up the novel’s sequel.

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Back on Earth, Morgan is at peace with who she is, dreaming of her mother and telling her that she knows herself now. In resolving her internal conflict, Morgan also makes peace with Katie and James, calls Eli her brother, and even befriends Emily; now that she is secure in her own heritage, Morgan does not find it threatening to accept this found family for herself. In wearing the moccasins to breakfast, Morgan signals both that she is comfortable with her Indigenous identity and that she appreciates the kindness her foster parents are trying to show to her. Morgan also turns in a poem about the Barren Grounds, being honest about herself and her passions. She knows she can succeed at writing because she finally knows who she is and what she cares about.