NBE NOVEL SELECTION (Haasnoot) by Jaimie.Haasnoot SNWSS

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

In a futuristic world ravaged by global warming, people have lost the ability to dream, and the dreamlessness has led to widespread madness. The only people still able to dream are North America's Indigenous people, and it is their marrow that holds the cure for the rest of the world. But getting the marrow, and dreams, means death for the unwilling donors. Driven to flight, a fifteen-year-old and his companions struggle for survival, attempt to reunite with loved ones and take refuge from the "recruiters" who seek them out to bring them to the marrow-stealing "factories."

Genre: Dystopian Fiction

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Similar books in this genre: Divergent, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner,

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Wow... if you read the back of this book, you might get the sense that The Marrow Thieves is your typical YA dystopia just with Indigenous protagonists. You would be mistaken. The speculative aspects of Dimaline's novel are not particularly important. What shines is the Indigenous narrative about loss of culture, abuse and murder by a majority population, yet survival and resilience. It's a powerful, painful book that does not hold back. It moves slowly compared to many other offerings in the YA field, but it's such a valuable book that has the potential of teaching non-Indigenous teens at an early age about what white supremacy does to Indigenous people without also framing Indigenous people as some sort of mythical people who lived in the past. - Maggie Gordon

CONTENT WARNINGS:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

- Sexual Violence (character recalls it happening)
- Systemic child abuse / murder is discussed

AUDIO AVAILABLE

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Though Youtube

Sequel Alert:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

This book has a sequel - the school has access to it, if you'd like to keep reading when you're finished!

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Saul Indian Horse’s last binge almost killed him, and now he’s a reluctant resident in a treatment centre for alcoholics. But Saul wants peace, and he’ll find it only through telling his story. With him, readers embark on a journey back through the life he’s led as a northern Ojibway, with all its joys and sorrows.

For Saul, taken forcibly from the land and his family when he’s sent to residential school, salvation comes for a while through his incredible gifts as a hockey player. But in the harsh realities of 1960s Canada, he battles obdurate racism and the spirit-destroying effects of cultural alienation and displacement. Indian Horse unfolds against the bleak loveliness of northern Ontario, all rock, marsh, bog and cedar. Wagamese writes with a spare beauty, penetrating the heart of a remarkable Ojibway man.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Sports

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Wagamese envelopes me into this story. It’s hard to believe this was written in 2012. It’s only been on my radar since all the news of the the recent residential graves have been discovered in Canada.
The reality of Indian children taken from their families to residential schools where they had their culture physically and mentally stamped out of them. The shame we should have as Catholic Canadians.

But there is beauty and magic out of this annihilation of both traditions and spirit. Saul Indian Horse, is an Ojibway child, taken from his family and put into one of these residential schools at the age of 8. It is here he finds his escape through his love of hockey, team camaraderie and community.
It is through this skill, he is able to escape the brutal conditions the children suffered. It is through this vision, he is given the opportunity when a scout comes along to play for a junior A team in Toronto.

But the past will continue to haunt. The discrimination will continue to be felt until he realizes he can’t move forward until he faces the tragic past. Only then can he reclaim himself and his love of the sport and be at one with nature again. - Jen

CONTENT WARNING

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

- Child abuse (physical, sexual)
- Substance Abuse
- Death by Suicide

AUDIO AVAILABLE (SCHOOL)

2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home -- until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to another reality, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything -- including them.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult Fiction

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Middle grade Indigenous adventure / fantasy MAGIC. A fellow reader recommended this as a perfect swap for, or comparison to, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and that was spot on. The messages in this story about the horrors inflicted by Whites upon Indigenous peoples in Canada, as well as the horrors inflicted upon the natural world by Whites, are blatant but expertly woven into a riveting story of an attic portal into a different dimension. I can’t wait to see what Robertson does next in this series. - Kate Olson

Sequel Alert:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

This book has a sequel - the school has access to it, if you'd like to keep reading when you're finished!

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

A revised version of the novel In Search of April Raintree, written specifically for students in grades 9 through 12. Through her characterization of two young sisters who are removed from their family, the author poignantly illustrates the difficulties that many Indigenous people face in maintaining a positive self-identity. April and her sister, Cheryl, have a very different view of their Métis identity, affecting their relationships and life paths.

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Realistic Fiction

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

I really liked this book! It gives the reader great insight into what many Metis people have to go through in their lives. There were many times in this book that I figured that things for April and Cheryl couldn't get much worse, and then the author throws in another curve ball. You don't want to think about the fact that the events in their lives are actually happening to lots of people every day. I think it's a good thing that this book is written from April's point of view, because the emotions she is feeling are more in depth. I strongly recommend reading this book. It's hard to stop reading!

CONTENT WARNING:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Child abuse
Sexual violence
Death by suicide

AUDIO AVAILABLE

2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

This teen novel, by Inuit author Aviaq Johnston, is a coming-of-age story that follows a young shaman named Pitu as he learns to use his powers and ultimately finds himself lost in the world of the spirits.

After a blizzard leaves Pitu stranded on the sea ice, he realizes that he is no longer in the world that he once knew. The storm has carried him into the world of the spirits, a world populated with terrifying creatures, as well as beings less frightening, but equally as incredible.

After stumbling upon a fellow shaman who has been trapped in the spirit world for many years, Pitu must master all of his shamanic powers to make his way back to the world of the living, to his family, and to the girl that he loves.

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy/Mythology

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

A very engrossing, quite moving novel that introduces readers to the culture of the Inuit, and elements of their way of life, providing readers a chance to situate themselves within a young shaman boy's development and experiences - Wendelle

There is a lot of action here and at times we even get the 'out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire' rapid challenge after challenge which certainly keeps the reader turning pages, but I found the encounter and lessons from Taktuq quite interesting. While he's certainly painted as a bit of a curmudgeon, at his core he's still decent (he took Pitu in and helped him recover). But his bitter attitude is poisonous to Pitu who recognizes that this could be him if he doesn't find his way.

The adventure aspect will keep youngsters reading, but the message will sneak in and provide a thoughtful experience. This is 'Gary Paulsen' for a new generation of young readers.

- Daniel

SEQUEL ALERT!

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

This book is the first in a series - the school has access to it, if you'd like to keep reading when you're finished!

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

A daring post-apocalyptic thriller. With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.

The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Out of catastrophe comes resilience. And as one society collapses, another is reborn.

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Slow and ominous, haunting and powerful. Fans of The Marrow Thieves- make this your next read. - LaLa

It feels weird to say I enjoyed a novel about apocalypse and disaster, but I really did! I'd been circling this one for a while and didn't get to it in my year of focusing on Canada, so it got back burnered a bit. It tells the story of an Anishinaabe community (in what could also be northern Ontario), already pretty isolated, and what happens when the power goes out. The author and the audiobook narrator are both from Indigenous Canadian backgrounds - Waubgeshig Rice is an Anishinaabe writer and journalist from the Wasauksing First Nation, and Billy Merasty is a Cree actor.

The narration was excellent, so much so that I found reasons to keep listening. If you have #hoopla you have access already! - Jenny

CONTENT WARNING:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

- Profanity (F-word)

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

The captain of Canada’s Under-18 and a fan favourite on the World Junior squad, Jordin Tootoo became the first player of Inuk descent to play in the NHL.

The stress of competition, the travel, the media, the homesickness—and the added pressure to hold one’s head high as a role model not only for the young people of his hometown but for the culture that had given him the strength and the opportunities to succeed—would have challenged any rookie. But Tootoo faced something far more difficult: the loss of his brother in the year between his draft and his first shift for the Predators. The tragedy took its inevitable toll. In 2010, Tootoo checked himself into rehab for alcohol addiction. It seemed a promising career had ended too soon.

But that’s not the way it would end. As heir to a cultural legacy that included alcohol, despair, and suicide, Tootoo could also draw on a heritage that could help sustain him even thousands of miles away from Nunavut.

All the Way is the searing, honest tale of a young man who has risen to every challenge and nearly fallen short in the toughest game of all, while finding a way to draw strength from his community and heritage, and giving back to it as well. - Joey Mueller

Genre(s): Non-fiction / Autobiography / Memoir (true story), Sports

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Similar books in the genre: Playing with Fire by Theo Fleury

Sample Review

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Everyone in their lifetime has had to find ways around certain roadblocks keeping them from success. This autobiography about by Tootoo is an exact representation of how everyone has felt at least one time in their life. All the Way follows the life of Jordin Tootoo, a hockey player from Inuk descent, and overall shows all of the personal roadblocks he endured in and got around to reach his ultimate goal, to be a professional player. Ranging from when he was a young boy skating out on the ponds all the way to when he was an adult playing the game, he had to overcome many issues that were real and relatable to.

Overall I would recommend this story to just about anyone who enjoys reading and learning about normal people doing big things. Jordin had to overcome a lot just like millions of other americans and this story gives hope for all people. I believe that everyone should read this story to help them become better people and strive to become someone great.

CONTENT WARNING:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

- Death by suicide
- Substance abuse
- Language

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Otter Lake is a sleepy Anishnawbe community where little happens. Until the day a handsome stranger pulls up astride a 1953 Indian Chief motorcycle – and turns Otter Lake completely upside down. Maggie, the Reserve’s chief, is swept off her feet, but Virgil, her teenage son, is less than enchanted. Suspicious of the stranger’s intentions, he teams up with his uncle Wayne – a master of aboriginal martial arts – to drive the stranger from the Reserve. And it turns out that the raccoons are willing to lend a hand.

Genre: Magical Realism (Real World, but with some magical / fantasy elements sprinkled in)

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

What a hoot! I really enjoyed this book. There are magical things going on here, and the fun is in just letting go and enjoying the ride. In to town rides a mysterious stranger - with a really hot motorbike. His appearance sends ripples of excitement and disquiet through the community and an unlikely band of allies come together to find out what the stranger is up to. I don't want to give away too much - but lets just say that I don't often read books in which raccoons are major players!

It is a funny book, but thought provoking, too. Life on a contemporary First Nations reserve, the implications of residential schools, interactions with the various levels of government, the differing opinions within the reservation residents about how their future should look - Hayden Taylor covers a lot of ground in this book. Well done!

- Sharon Stoneman

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Taken from their families when they are small and sent to a remote, church-run residential school, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie are barely out of childhood when they are finally released. Without any skills, support or families, the teens find their way to the seedy world of Downtown Eastside Vancouver, where they strive to find safety and belonging.

Fuelled by rage and furious with God, Clara finds her way into the dangerous, highly charged world of the American Indian Movement. Maisie internalizes her pain, continually placing herself in dangerous situations. Famous for his daring escapes from the school, Kenny can’t stop running and moves from job to job, trying to outrun his memories and his addiction. Lucy finds peace in motherhood and nurtures a secret compulsive disorder as she waits for Kenny to return. After almost beating one of his tormentors to death, Howie serves time in prison, then tries once again to re-enter society and begin life anew.

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

I wanted to read this book after learning about the recent Canadian news surrounding the residential schools. I knew nothing about this part of our history and am shocked and devastated by what has happened in our country. This book gives an eye opening glimpse into what some residential school survivors have had to endure after living through the abuse and neglect suffered at these schools.

A powerful and important story that gives a voice to five residential school survivors. The author created some unforgettable characters who tell the stories of what her own mother experienced while living at a residential school. While there are many gut wrenching situations that these characters face, the author tells their stories in a lighter tone, avoiding any graphic detail of abuse. The story ended up having a more hopeful and heart warming feel than I had expected which I enjoyed. Overall, a highly impactful and heart wrenching book.

Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan of this book!

CONTENT WARNING

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Child abuse (sexual, emotional, physical - explicit)
Substance abuse
Death by suicide
Human trafficking situation in Chapter 2

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.

Lou has enough confusion in front of her this summer. She’ll be working in her family’s ice cream shack with her newly ex-boyfriend—whose kisses never made her feel desire, only discomfort—and her former best friend, King, who is back in their Canadian prairie town after disappearing three years ago without a word.

But when she gets a letter from her biological father—a man she hoped would stay behind bars for the rest of his life—Lou immediately knows that she cannot meet him, no matter how much he insists.

While King’s friendship makes Lou feel safer and warmer than she would have thought possible, when her family’s business comes under threat, she soon realizes that she can’t ignore her father forever.

Genre: Realistic / Contemporary Fiction, Romance

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

I love seeing a story set here in Alberta, and even more so with some ace representation. It brought me back to living in a res, and felt like, while feeling somewhat simple in its story, well executed in conveying some pretty complex issues, on top of a grounded story about a girl coming into her own, feeling othered, and dealing with her families demons coming home to roost.

The ace rep is the type of inclusion that pops up organically, based on the situations she’s in, and not a book capital a about that, and a crash course on it. Which I liked. It would have probably felt awkward otherwise, in this kind of story.

CONTENT WARNING

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

There are discussions about and references to a violent sexual assault; instances of intimate partner abuse; instances of racism and physical assault toward Indigenous and Black teens; discussions of drug use; under-aged alcohol use.

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Everyone knows a guy like Jared: the burnout kid in high school who sells weed cookies and has a scary mom who's often wasted and wielding some kind of weapon. Jared does smoke and drink too much, and he does make the best cookies in town, and his mom is a mess, but he's also a kid who has an immense capacity for compassion and an impulse to watch over people more than twice his age, and he can't rely on anyone for consistent love and support, except for his flatulent pit bull, Baby Killer (he calls her Baby)--and now she's dead.

Jared can't count on his mom to stay sober and stick around to take care of him. He can't rely on his dad to pay the bills and support his new wife and step-daughter. Jared is only sixteen but feels like he is the one who must stabilize his family's life, even look out for his elderly neighbours. But he struggles to keep everything afloat...and sometimes he blacks out. And he puzzles over why his maternal grandmother has never liked him, why she says he's the son of a trickster, that he isn't human. Mind you, ravens speak to him--even when he's not stoned.

You think you know Jared, but you don't.

Genre: Genre: Magical Realism (Real World, but with some magical / fantasy elements sprinkled in)

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

This book gave me a lot to think about. It is a modern coming of age story mixed with Native folklore and magical realism. The magical stuff comes in pretty late in the book, however, and there will be more revealed about that in the next books, so my small complaint is that the pacing is a bit strange if you read this as a standalone.

We follow sixteen-year-old Jared Martin living in the small town of Kitimak in northern British Columbia. Jared is clever and quick with insults - accordingly, the books is full of witty dialogue and dark humour with a large dose of popular culture references. Jared has to deal with a lot over the course of the book; in addition to regular teen struggles in high school (bullying, girls, schoolwork), his parents are unreliable guardians, he is trying to recover from a past trauma, and he self medicates with drugs and alcohol.

Jared is Native living off-Rez, and of particular interest for me were his interactions with other Native (on and off Rez) and white characters in his town.

This book brings to life many contemporary Canadian Indigenous issues. A novel is a great format for going beyond the symptoms and statistics to understand the context and background through, in our case, the story of Jared's family. In particular I thought the topic of multi-generational residential school trauma was subtly and well explained in the thread with Jared's maternal grandmother.

Content Warning:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Drug/Alcohol use, abuse, self-harm, suicide, exlicit language

Sequel Alert:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

This book has a sequel - the school has access to it, if you'd like to keep reading when you're finished! No copies left in the library? Talk to your teacher or ask Ms. Haefling if she can order some more!

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Goodreads Choice Award

Nominee for Best Debut Novel (2021), Winner for Best Young Adult Fiction (2021)

As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in—both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. When her family is struck by tragedy, Daunis puts her dreams on hold to care for her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother’s hockey team.

After Daunis witnesses a shocking murder that thrusts her into a criminal investigation, she agrees to go undercover. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home. How far will she go to protect her community if it means tearing apart the only world she’s ever known?

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley is one of the most powerful and important books I’ve ever read. It made my heart feel so full and broken at the same time. As a Lingít reader, I appreciated how unapologetically Anishinaabe this novel was in it’s use of language, traditions, and culture that created such a rich world. The community was so real and visceral, I felt like I knew the characters, and I absolutely loved all of it. This book shines a valuable light on Anishinaabe people and issues, which many other Indigenous communities across Turtle Island will see themselves reflected in. Boulley has delivered a masterpiece of Indigenous literature. It’s one I’ll be revisiting many times, and pushing on everyone I know.

I would classify this as a young adult crime fiction, so I highly recommend going in as blind as you can. It added to my reading experience and had me gushing, screaming, and wishing I could talk to someone while I read it. And if you are usually turned off by a book being young adult, please don’t let that turn you away from this book. I highly recommend this to teen and adult readers.

Content Warning:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Meth addiction, murder, grief, mourning, kidnapping, mention of drug overdose, rape, suicide

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

When his father was given a diagnosis of terminal cancer, Winnipeg broadcaster and musician Wab Kinew decided to spend a year reconnecting with the accomplished but distant aboriginal man who'd raised him. As Kinew revisits his own childhood in Winnipeg and on a reserve in Northern Ontario, he learns more about his father's traumatic childhood at residential school.

Born to an Anishinaabe father and a non-native mother, Wab Kinew has a foot in both cultures. He is a Sundancer, an academic, a former rapper, a hereditary chief, and an urban activist.

His father, Tobasonakwut, was both a beloved traditional chief and a respected elected leader who engaged directly with Ottawa. Internally divided, his father embraced both traditional native religion and Catholicism, the religion that was inculcated into him at the residential school where he was physically and sexually abused. In a gesture of reconciliation, Kinew's father invited the Roman Catholic bishop of Winnipeg to a Sundance ceremony in which he adopted him as his brother.

Kinew writes affectingly of his own struggles in his twenties to find the right path, eventually giving up a self-destructive lifestyle to passionately pursue music and martial arts.

Genre: Memoir / True story about the author's own life (Non-Fiction)

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

This book is a powerful and important memoir for all Canadians! The Reason You Walk should be mandatory reading in High School/University! Wab Kinew has the gift of storytelling and brings to life our painful (and shameful) history. From the abuse that his Father and thousands of others endured at the hands of those running the Residential Schools, to the vital Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. He talks about how important our families and friends are in our lives, and the painful process of losing those we love.

I have only touched on just a few of the elements that make this such a brilliant book!

One of the most valuable lessons that I have learned from this memoir is that it is your duty to be the best person that you can be and that you must stand up for your beliefs!

This book is a must read for all!

One of the few books that I will read again and again!

Content Warning

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

References to child abuse, physical, emotional, and sexual

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

In 1966, twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack froze to death after running away from residential school. An inquest was called and four recommendations were made to prevent another tragedy. None of those recommendations were applied.

More than a quarter of a century later, from 2000 to 2011, seven Indigenous high school students died in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The seven were forced to leave their families and homes, and live in a foreign and unwelcoming city. Five were found dead in the rivers surrounding Lake Superior. Jordan Wabasse, a gentle boy and star hockey player, disappeared into the freezing winter night. The body of celebrated artist Norval Morrisseau’s grandson, Kyle, was pulled from a river, as was Curran Strang’s. Robyn Harper died in her boarding-house hallway and Paul Panacheese inexplicably collapsed on his kitchen floor. Reggie Bushie’s death finally prompted an inquest, seven years after the discovery of Jethro Anderson, the first boy whose body was found in the water.

Focusing on the lives of the students, investigative journalist Tanya Talaga delves into the history of this small northern city that has come to manifest Canada’s long struggle with human rights violations against Indigenous communities.

Genre: True Crime (Canadian Nonfiction)

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Hands down one of the most important nonfiction books I have ever read. It's also one that I encourage every single resident of the US and Canada to read, whether or not it's a book you WANT to read. While it is about the Seven Fallen Feathers (mysterious deaths of Indigenous teens in Thunder Bay), it's so so much more. It's about the crimes against the First Nations, it's about attempts at reconciliation between Canada and the victims of the Indian boarding schools, and most of all, it brings to life the horrible conditions that many Indigenous youths are still living in today.

Add this to your TBR and read it. I finished it in a day, but feel free to take your time. But read it. And soon.

- Kate Olson

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way

In this extraordinary and inspiring debut memoir, Jesse Thistle—once a high school dropout and now a rising Indigenous scholar—chronicles his life on the streets and how he overcame trauma and addiction to discover the truth about who he is.

"If I can just make it to the next minute . . . then I might have a chance to live; I might have a chance to be something more than just a struggling crackhead."

From the Ashes is a remarkable memoir about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up.

Abandoned by his parents as a toddler, Jesse Thistle briefly found himself in the foster-care system with his two brothers, cut off from all they had known. Eventually the children landed in the home of their paternal grandparents, but their tough-love attitudes meant conflicts became commonplace. And the ghost of Jesse’s drug-addicted father haunted the halls of the house and the memories of every family member. Struggling, Jesse succumbed to a self-destructive cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and petty crime, spending more than a decade on and off the streets, often homeless. One day, he finally realized he would die unless he turned his life around.

In this heartwarming and heartbreaking memoir, Jesse Thistle writes honestly and fearlessly about his painful experiences with abuse, uncovering the truth about his parents, and how he found his way back into the circle of his Indigenous culture and family through education.

An eloquent exploration of what it means to live in a world surrounded by prejudice and racism and to be cast adrift, From the Ashes is, in the end, about how love and support can help one find happiness despite the odds.

Genre: Memoir / True story about the author's own life (Non-Fiction)

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

This book is extremely intense.

I loved the perspective it gives. It really helps to show how such small steps can spiral out of control to the point where decisions are not just poor decisions but become about survival. Not everyone is given an equal chance starting out in life and it can be very hard to overcome the effects that has on a developing child's mind.

I have multiple family members who have dealt with many of the things he has dealt with and it was just really hard to read. If you or anyone in your family has dealt with addiction then please be warned, this entire book is basically one big trigger. It is very honest and very dark.

Overall, I loved this book. I found it hard to put down and I genuinely feel so proud of Jesse. Not many people who live the life that he lived are ever able to come back from it and achieve what he has. I applaud him for his courage. I'm sure the book would have been interesting based on content alone but the writing was very good as well.

I do recommend this book. I thought it was amazing but it definitely will not be for everyone however, I suggest you at least try it out because it is so good.

Content Warning:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:46:31 UTC

Substance abuse
Child abuse
Sexual abuse/ violence

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:51:14 UTC

Two hundred years from now, blood has become the most valuable commodity on the planet—especially the blood of aboriginal peoples, for it contains antibodies that protect them from the Plague ravaging the rest of the world.

Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Mercredi might be immune to the Plague, but that doesn’t mean she’s safe—government forces are searching for those of aboriginal heritage to harvest their blood. When a search threatens Cassandra and her family, they flee to the Island: a mysterious and idyllic territory protected by the Band, a group of guerilla warriors—and by an enigmatic energy barrier that keeps outsiders out and the spirit world in. And though the village healer has taken her under her wing, and the tribal leader’s son into his heart, the creatures of the spirit world are angry, and they have chosen Cassandra to be their voice and instrument...

Incorporating the traditions of the First Peoples as well as the more familiar stories of Greek mythology and Arthurian legend, Shadows Cast by Stars is a haunting, beautifully written story that breathes new life into ancient customs.

Genre: Magical Realism

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:53:45 UTC

This means that magic is subtly woven into an otherwise familiar, real-world setting. In other words, the world is realistic, but some magical or fantastical things might happen.

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:57:38 UTC

I was so impressed by this book. I loved the fact that Cassandra, the protagonist, was so multi-faceted. Not only was she strong and courageous, but she was also loving and giving, and therefore very appealing. The author, Catherine Knuttsson, wove in First Nations mythology, the supernatural, and herbal medicine as she told the story of a family in the future, trying to survive in a land at a time when so much was uncertain. It seemed that with every chapter, things couldn't get worse, and yet they did, over and over again, keeping me glued to the page and up at all hours of the night. I call that a good read.

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 15:59:51 UTC

Lewis "Shoe" Blake is used to the joys and difficulties of life on the Tuscarora Indian reservation in 1975: the joking, the Fireball games, the snow blowing through his roof. What he's not used to is white people being nice to him -- people like George Haddonfield, whose family recently moved to town with the Air Force. As the boys connect through their mutual passion for music, especially the Beatles, Lewis has to lie more and more to hide the reality of his family's poverty from George. He also has to deal with the vicious Evan Reininger, who makes Lewis the special target of his wrath. But when everyone else is on Evan's side, how can he be defeated? And if George finds out the truth about Lewis's home -- will he still be his friend?

Acclaimed adult author Eric Gansworth makes his YA debut with this wry and powerful novel about friendship, memory, and the joy of rock 'n' roll.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:02:28 UTC

This means that the story is realistic, and takes place in a realistic world. The characters are like real people, experiencing things that could happen in a society like ours, or like another one in our world.

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:05:34 UTC

Relatable and touching. I read this for school. At first, I absolutely hated it. As I dove further into the book, I fell in love with it. As this book follows Lewis through middle school, the lessons learned in this book become more and more valuable. There is some mention of underage drinking, smoking, and driving.
- evanescencefan101

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:06:49 UTC

Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years.

Joseph Bruchac brings their stories to life for young adults through the riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His grueling journey is eye-opening and inspiring. This deeply affecting novel honors all of those young men, like Ned, who dared to serve, and it honors the culture and language of the Navajo Indians.

Genre: Historical Fiction

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:09:11 UTC

In most cases, the characters and events are imagined by the author and enriched with historically accurate details from a specific time period. This means that, while the story and people are made up, the events are realistic and might be similar to events, places, or societies that existed at some time in the past.

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:11:36 UTC

Fascinating look at World War II from a totally unique perspective. Without the proud, brave and capable Navajo code talkers, effective communication among all of the various U.S. military branches would have been for more difficult, if not impossible. The Navajos and their code were crucial to the hard-fought victory in the Pacific theater. - Jack Chaucer

While this is fiction, it is based around historical facts, and that's a big plus for this reviewer. The depressing treatment of Navajo (and many other Native Americans) starts this tale off and acts as a wonderful counterpoint to their work as Code Talkers during World War II. Tales of island hopping are accurate, even if the main character's two friends are caricatures. Especially well told is the accurate tale of the two flag raisings on Mt. Suribachi (Iwo Jima).

Also spot on though depressing is the main character's return to civilian life, where he is thrown out of a bar that doesn't serve Indians. While this young adult tale wasn't as good as the same author's Jim Thorpe, it was pretty darn good. Recommended! - Thom

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:13:32 UTC

When Cole Harper is compelled to return to Wounded Sky First Nation, he finds his community in chaos: a series of shocking murders, a mysterious illness ravaging the residents, and reemerging questions about Cole’s role in the tragedy that drove him away 10 years ago. With the aid of an unhelpful spirit, a disfigured ghost, and his two oldest friends, Cole tries to figure out his purpose, and unravel the mysteries he left behind a decade ago. Will he find the answers in time to save his community?

Strangers is the first novel in The Reckoner series by David Alexander Robertson, award–winning writer, and author of HighWater Press’ acclaimed children’s book When We Were Alone.

Genre: Magical Realism

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:14:03 UTC

This means that magic is subtly woven into an otherwise familiar, real-world setting. In other words, the world is realistic, but some magical or fantastical things might happen.

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:16:05 UTC

This book had two mysteries: what drove our main character Cole away from Wounded Sky, and what dark forces are causing mysterious problems in Wounded Sky. The first was great for character development, and the second was great for plot. It felt like the first half of the book was dedicated to what drove Cole away, and the second half focused on the more plot-driven elements. I would have loved for these two narratives to be integrated throughout a bit more.

Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit! - Emily

Sequel Alert!

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:16:17 UTC

This book is the first in a series - the school has access to it, if you'd like to keep reading when you're finished!

Crow Winter

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:17:36 UTC

Walking in Two Worlds

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-18 16:17:58 UTC

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-09-26 15:43:04 UTC

Overachievement isn’t a bad word—for Berlin, it’s the goal. She’s securing excellent grades, planning her future, and working a part-time job at Pink Mountain Pizza, a legendary local business. Who says she needs a best friend by her side?

Dropping out of high school wasn’t smart—but it was necessary for Cameron. Since his cousin Kiki’s disappearance, it’s hard enough to find the funny side of life, especially when the whole town has forgotten Kiki. To them, she’s just another missing Native girl.

People at school label Jessie a tease, a rich girl—and honestly, she’s both. But Jessie knows she contains multitudes. Maybe her new job crafting pizzas will give her the high-energy outlet she desperately wants.

When the weekend at Pink Mountain Pizza takes several unexpected turns, all three teens will have to acknowledge the various ways they’ve been hurt—and how much they need each other to hold it all together.

jaimie_haasnoot — 2023-10-10 16:15:08 UTC

Genre: Realistic / Contemporary Fiction, Mystery

jaimie_haasnoot — 2024-02-29 15:34:40 UTC

Sample Review:

jaimie_haasnoot — 2024-02-29 15:36:40 UTC

What a beautiful read this was. It was really insightful into the other side of what teenage lives can be like, especially for minority groups. I’m Latina, but I grew up in a really diverse city, so even though I was ostracized sometimes, which unfortunately seems to be inevitable, it was never to the extent that these teens faced. The diversity and representation and inner thoughts of these minorities represented was outstanding, and the truth of it all rather sad.

This YA book isn’t the drama of Euphoria or other teenage representations we see all the time; it really was just a day (well multiple) in the life of these minority teens who work at the same pizza shop, and have to deal with members of their family going missing and the police and media not really caring enough to continue looking for them. They’re deemed not important enough, and the reality of that is really sad, as it’s not fictitious; it happens all the time.

jaimie_haasnoot — 2024-02-29 15:44:02 UTC

Nanabush. A name that has a certain weight on the tongue—a taste. Like lit sage in a windowless room or aluminum foil on a metal filling.

Trickster. Storyteller. Shape-shifter. An ancient troublemaker with the power to do great things, only he doesn’t want to put in the work.

Since coming home to Spirit Bear Point First Nation, Hazel Ellis has been dreaming of an old crow. He tells her he’s here to help her, save her. From what, exactly? Sure, her dad’s been dead for almost two years and she hasn’t quite reconciled that grief, but is that worth the time of an Algonquin demigod?

Soon Hazel learns that there’s more at play than just her own sadness and doubt. The quarry that’s been lying unsullied for over a century on her father’s property is stirring the old magic that crosses the boundaries between this world and the next. With the aid of Nanabush, Hazel must unravel a web of deceit that, if left untouched, could destroy her family and her home on both sides of the Medicine Wheel.

Genre: Magical Realism (Real World, but with some magical / fantasy elements sprinkled in)

jaimie_haasnoot — 2024-02-29 15:45:52 UTC