Before internationally acclaimed author Joseph Boyden penned his
bestselling novel Three Day Road and his Scotiabank Giller
Prize-winning novel, Through Black Spruce, he published a powerful
collection of thirteen stories about modern Aboriginal life that made
readers and reviewers take notice. These stories of love, loss, rage and
resilience match virtuosic style with clever wit to turn stereotypes on
their head and reveal the traditions and grace of our First Peoples.
Readers come to know a butterfly-costumed boy fascinated by the world of
professional wrestling, a young woman who falls in love with a wolf, to
the leader of an all-girl Native punk band and Painted Tongue, the
unforgettable character from Through Black Spruce. Though each story
is told in a different and distinct voice, they are all united by their
captivating vitality, nuanced perceptions and vigorous prose.