The Morning Bell Brings the Broken Hearted

by Jennifer Manuel

Exploring the intricacies of power, culture and emotion when a non-Indigenous person moves to an Indigenous community as an educator, Jennifer Manuel casts a spell as captivating and perceptive as in her bestselling novel The Heaviness of Things That Float.

When new teacher Molleigh Royston moves to Tawakin—a remote Nuu-chah-nulth community in the Pacific Northwest—she arrives with good intentions. However, as she struggles to understand and help her students, doubts begin to accumulate—including doubts about her own motivations. Things escalate when three students start behaving strangely and Molleigh makes a serious cultural transgression, triggering a series of disturbing events in the village. Giant boulders are placed in front of Molleigh’s house, furniture moves mysteriously and flowers erupt in flame.

The Morning Bell Brings the Broken Hearted is a captivating story about the complexity of hope and the limits of good intent, offering a grave look at how the education system fails remote Indigenous communities, leaving Indigenous students, with all their brilliance and resilience, in the hands of transient educators.

Genres: Fiction, Indigenous, Canada, Novels

272 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2023

Reviews

[Mad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might be biased because I’m the author’s kid but hey this is a good book.
Glad the pudding scene was included, I was also a student in her class during that.

[Faerietales_again · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story, unlike anything I’ve ever read before. I read this book as part of a book club for new teachers and it was incredible to read of a teacher’s experience that was so close, yet so incredibly different to my own. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a teacher, or is looking for an incredibly unique read.

[Krista Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was about an isolated community on Vancouver Island. The main character is a school teacher who desperately tries to teach and understand her students breaking all work/life lines to embrace the community and her students.

[Michael]

My interview with Manuel discussing the book is here:
https://umfm.com/programming/broadcas...

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, i did not finish this book but I’m finished with this book. I made it half way. The darkness that penetrated the characters’ portrayals, and the narrators personality, even the children, gave me sense of hopelessness and despair. I don’t need that from the novels I read. I previously read this author’s debut novel, about a nurse in a similar environment and i enjoyed that one immensely. This one however had more to do with the children in this isolated indigenous community on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It was just page after page of sadness and strangeness. Finally I put it down, ( which was easier than picking it up each time) and said, nope, I’m not enjoying this, I’m done. It’s not a bad book, it’s just not the book for me at this stage of my life.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 … a bit slow but much to be learned about communities that are rich in culture and traditions that we know little about.

[Anne Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting of this book is what drew me to read it. The Morning Bell Brings the Broken Hearted by Jennifer Manuel takes place in a remote, Indigenous community in the Pacific Northwest of Canada. Right on the ocean and accessible only by boat, this place is technically fictitious, but based on areas very similar to it. Manuel has written an earlier book set in the same location called The Heaviness of Things that Float, which won the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize in 2017. This latest release is the first book of hers that I’ve read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely keep my eye out for her future novels.

Plot Summary

Molleigh Royston moved to Tawakin with hopes of expanding the minds of kids in her classroom. She travels with scientific experiments, art supplies, and exciting specimens from nature to share with her students, but after only a few months she feels worn down and hopeless. Living in a rundown trailer only steps away from her school, her and the other teachers (mainly white teachers) struggle to find separation from their work, yet each feeling like outsiders in the Indigenous community. There is a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, school supplies, and gainful employment on this island, so idleness and boredom are common. One afternoon Molleigh commits a cultural transgression (admittedly by accident), but afraid to tell the village elders about what she did, she keeps this to herself. Shortly after strange incidents begin to plague Tawakin, including strange knocking on walls at night and large boulders randomly appearing on pathways. Has she upset the island’s spirits through her actions, or is she being driven out of the community by disgruntled students and parents? Desperate to prove she is a reliable educator in a town used to transient teachers, Molleigh learns how to navigate the challenges of island life while coming to terms with elements of her past.

My Thoughts

In addition to the beautiful and unique landscape, I was drawn to this story because it depicted the delicate balance of a non-Indigenous person coming to teach in an Indigenous community. As Canadians work towards reconciliation with its Indigenous population, the term ‘white saviour’ is often evoked, especially in the social services sector, where there are lots of good but misplaced intentions. Molleigh approaches her teaching with enthusiasm, with grand ideas of ‘rescuing’ these kids from their difficult circumstances through the knowledge she’s excited to impart, but she quickly realizes how challenging this may be, especially when she’s dismissed as just another temporary face. Instead, she is faced with the realities of living as an outsider, unsure of all the necessary protocols but desperate to win over people’s trust. It is the role of stories themselves that serve to be her guiding light. She quickly learns how dangerous they can be, but how they can also heal – when used appropriately.

I’d be curious to hear a few Indigenous perspectives on this book, mainly, if they found it condescending (was the white saviourism still upheld?) or if it was a balanced view of life in a community such as that. There is one character who had taught in the far north of Canada, and his memories of life up there were much harder, rougher, and violent than life in this seaside community. The author herself has taught in similar places so she is coming from a place of knowledge, but as white audiences read this book, other prejudices and assumptions will likely arise, and Manuel is keenly aware of this. In this brief conversation between Molleigh and her closest (only) friend and fellow teacher, they discuss this very subject:

“Which was more important at school? Academics to bolster their success outside Tawakin? Or cultural activities, after years of having them stripped away from their lives? I didn’t know how to untangle such a question. But I did know that I wasn’t the one to answer it.

‘The only thing worse than the teachers who come in and shun the practice of culture in the classroom are the white saviours.’ Joan gave me a funny look.

‘Who me? You’re not saying I’m a white saviour, are you?’

Joan shrugged. ‘Aren’t we both?'”

-p.158 of The Morning Bell Brings the Broken Hearted by Jennifer Manuel, ARC edition
Alongside these challenging themes are beautiful descriptions of scenery, and the innocence of childhood. Manuel is an impressive writer, and her love of kids shines through in the ways she depicts all their difference personalities in this book. Highly recommended.

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[Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, love, love this series (to be clear the two books are relayed but standalone). I was more moved by The Heaviness of Things That Float but this was still amazing! If there was one suggestion, it would be to help the reader integrate the timelines between books better. I got a little lost at times. That said, I can't put into words the way the author creates atmosphere and brings life to the characters. If the author ever sees this review: PLEASE KEEP WRITING!! Lol, it's become a tradition for my book club to read whatever you write

[Marmot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. I’m going to recommend it to my book club. I loved all the layers of complexity, the art mixed with hope and sadness and the mystery of the unseen elements of the universe, with the main character trying to sort it all out. It’s all about connection :)

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows the teaching experiences of a white woman, Molleigh, in an isolated First Nation's reserve on Vancouver Island. I wondered about this book when I started to read it. Myths, stories and the supernatural were interwoven throughout the story line. After listening to an interview with the author I reread the book and found it such a powerful read. Stories are an integral part of a culture, belief and choices. As one character states outsiders come to the reserve as either runners, users or savers. Molleigh learns not to project her own truths and hope onto others especially when you are an outsider.

[Emily Blodgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful book set on the west coast of Vancouver Island in an impoverished First Nation community. It tells the story of a white teacher who must stash her dreams of the impact she can have on her young students. She first must understand the deeply complex repercussions of white oppression and fully value the native traditions and mysteries.

I also reconfirmed that teachers do NOT get paid enough

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wordsmithing so beautifully spun I read and reread sentence after complex lyrical sentence. Jennifer Manuel ties us to Molleigh’s journey from walled up, naive, and likely temporary educator to self aware, respectful and integral teacher at a politically forgotten school in a remote BC Indigenous community. Honestly breathtaking suspense and a profound understanding of the resiliency of children.

[Mary Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful read about a teacher who chooses to go to a First Nation community on Vancouver Island to teach. I learned a lot about their culture and beliefs and feel I have a much better understanding of the plight of the Indigenous people.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written and provocative. In general the level of cruelty and destruction however made it hard for me to enjoy. I was left with a sense of futility. Perhaps that was the point? I would love to read a review by an Indigenous reader.

[Michelle Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant and tender novel written by an author with a huge heart. Her love and care for this world come through in every word.

[K Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best books I’ve read for a long time

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative and interesting read.

[Kim Letson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and disturbing. Although fiction - a heartbreaking reality for too many. A page turner I could not put down until I read the last page.

[Steffanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so very interesting .