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March 7, 2024 by Cathy Hyska Leave a Comment

A book review by Cathy Hyska, Learning Commons Supervisor at the BCIT Library

“All us criminals start out as normal people just like anyone else, but then things happen in life that tear us apart, that makes us into something capable of hurting other people. That’s all any of the darkness really is—just love gone bad. We’re just broken-hearted people hurt by life.” (Thistle, 2019, p. 260)

This candid memoir tells the journey of Jesse Thistle, a man of Métis-Cree and Algonquin-Scottish heritage, as he shares stories of his childhood trauma, addiction, crime, homelessness and all it took for him to survive the lifestyle he was living. It took Jesse a long time to reach the point where he was willing to accept help to deal with his psychological and physical damage that was rooted in multi-generational trauma from both sides of his family. This story of resilience and strength also speaks to the important role that connecting with his Indigenous heritage played in Jesse’s recovery.

It’s a difficult subject matter and I don’t know that I could have finished this book if I didn’t know that Jesse survived to write his memoir. Despite being a painful story to read at times — Jesse’s strength to choose a different life is also a beautiful story of love, hope and resilience. This former high school dropout and now an assistant professor in Métis studies at York University in Toronto, tells a story that shows that it isn’t easy, but with love and support it’s also possible to choose a different path.  I’ve read this book twice and I don’t wonder that it was the top selling Canadian book for 2020. It definitely gave me even more empathy for those living with multi-generational trauma.  As well, when I see unhoused people in our community I think of Jesse and his best friend living in a car in a New Westminster parking lot – and I know that these people too have a story and I hope that they too will be offered the love and support they need. I hope you’ll also enjoy and learn from this book that is available at the BCIT Library.

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER
Winner, Kobo Emerging Writer Prize Nonfiction
*Winner, Indigenous Voices Awards
*Winner, High Plains Book Awards
*Finalist, CBC Canada Reads
*A Globe and Mail Book of the Year
*An Indigo Book of the Year
*A CBC Best Canadian Nonfiction Book of the Year

Citation:

Thistle, J. (2019). From the ashes: My story of being Métis, homeless, and finding my way (Simon & Schuster Canada ed.). Simon & Schuster.

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What would the main character be likely to do if s/he visited our classroom? 

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I can't believe Jesse's parents could just abandon him and his brother like that. It breaks my heart to think that parents could leave their kids all alone to fend for themselves. It's not fair!

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What I noticed was that Jesse is resilient. He never gave up even when the odds were against him. Like when he fell out of a window and broke his leg and was still living at a shelter, he didn't let it "break" him.

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When I read about how Jesse was homeless and living in a car by himself it made me feel sad and like I have lost hope in humanity. How could someone who is so talented and kind have no support, and no one to help him get his life back on track? People make mistakes all the time, but it's no reason to "cancel" someone.

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I picked this novel because I was intrigued by the pictures on the front and I heard a lot about how good this story is! =)