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culpeppper's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was a truly unique book for me. I loved getting to know the setting, the family dynamics, and the community relationships in the beginning as dread slowly seeped in with the cold. I think a lot of authors don't use weather as a storytelling tool enough, and this story confirmed that I really appreciate when it's a core part of the story. I appreciated the main perspective of Evan, a devoted father, loving partner, and loyal community member who still had flaws and a personality beyond his relationships. The antagonist, or at least the physical embodiment of it, was foreboding from the moment it is introduced, and threats to the community as the cold presses in feel real; the stakes and tension rise slowly but the story doesn't drag. Instead, it drops in on important conversations and focuses on narrating plot or character moments for us rather than having us slog through every day on the rez.
While I don't mind Rice's telling and not showing for instances where we’re getting caught up to speed on certain things, sometimes the writing does feel more like it's telling us what the character is feeling rather than showing us what they're doing and having us decide what the character might be feeling. This wasn't so apparent if sentences were longer, but in the bits between dialogue we’re often told how characters react and what emotion that reaction comes from. Another gripe is the kids are basically pieces of furniture with names but I'm more surprised when I find a novel that does kids well. In general, there were a few characters and plot elements that could have been built more— at times, it felt hollow or, in the case of certain characters, unfinished. So if you're looking for a tight, no questions left unanswered this is not that kinda story. Me, I don't mind it enough to care too much.
There were a lot of beautiful moments interspersed between the hard and traumatic ones. The balance is maintained well, and it offers hope to readers when needed. While the pain characters felt was always there, it never felt overly traumatic or too much.
Overall, I really did enjoy reading this and got through it quick, and it was a really interesting premise and execution of this genre of story. I'm looking forward to becoming more familiar with Rice's other work!
While I don't mind Rice's telling and not showing for instances where we’re getting caught up to speed on certain things, sometimes the writing does feel more like it's telling us what the character is feeling rather than showing us what they're doing and having us decide what the character might be feeling. This wasn't so apparent if sentences were longer, but in the bits between dialogue we’re often told how characters react and what emotion that reaction comes from. Another gripe is the kids are basically pieces of furniture with names but I'm more surprised when I find a novel that does kids well. In general, there were a few characters and plot elements that could have been built more— at times, it felt hollow or, in the case of certain characters, unfinished. So if you're looking for a tight, no questions left unanswered this is not that kinda story. Me, I don't mind it enough to care too much.
There were a lot of beautiful moments interspersed between the hard and traumatic ones. The balance is maintained well, and it offers hope to readers when needed. While the pain characters felt was always there, it never felt overly traumatic or too much.
Overall, I really did enjoy reading this and got through it quick, and it was a really interesting premise and execution of this genre of story. I'm looking forward to becoming more familiar with Rice's other work!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Cursing, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, Racism, Murder, Abandonment, Blood, Colonisation, and Gun violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Addiction, Cannibalism, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
Other: guns (not specifically always in gun violence way), smoking cigarettes/tobacco, fatally freezing conditions, animal hunting/butchering, institutional racism, starvation, threats of violence, poverty, corpses, intergenerational trauma, suffocation descriptions. Many of the triggers are embedded in the structure of the character's world, or appear in dream sequences. Death of Parent:kelly_e's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Title: Moon of the Crusted Snow
Author: Waubgeshing Rice
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: October 2, 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Accessible • Clever • Timely
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision.
💭 T H O U G H T S
A Moon of the Crusted Snow first came onto my radar when it was included on the Canada Reads longlist in 2023, and then it came highly recommended by several Canadian book friends, so I was appreciative when it was selected as our January book club pick. For such a short book, there is certainly lots to think about and discuss.
Set on the Anishinaabe territory, this post apocalyptic narrative was timely with eerie similarities to early pandemic life. The author purposely gives just enough detail to allow the reader the possibility of imagining the details. The writing style is incredibly accessible and the detailed descriptions of the environment really set the tone. Each of the characters felt incredibly human
The interplay between Anishinaabe traditions and history and the newfound reliance on electricity and the convivences of new technology was portrayed with careful thought and genuine detail. The quiet, chilling plot forced the characters to return to their traditions and turn to the comfort and familiarity of community - something I think every reader needs to be reminded of.
Overall, Moon of the Crusted Snow was a quick and haunting read that is perfect for the cold and dreary winter months. Despite the gore, it left me with a sense of hope and connection. Even though there was an inkling for just a little bit more, I know there is a sequel so it's quite possible that is where I will get that missing piece. With that said, I definitely think Waubgeshing Rice is an emerging talent in the realm of Canadian literature, and one I will be keeping an eye on.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Canadian readers
• upper level high school classes
• book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Evan sometimes envied the trees and black bears that could shut down for winter."
"One suicide often led to another among the young people, and the compounding tragedies squeezed the stammering heart of the reserve."
"And when it became clear to them that they were never supposed to last in this situation on this land in the first place, they decided to take control of their own destiny. Their ancestors were displaced from their original homeland in the South and the white people who forced them here had never intended for them to survive."
Author: Waubgeshing Rice
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: October 2, 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Accessible • Clever • Timely
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision.
💭 T H O U G H T S
A Moon of the Crusted Snow first came onto my radar when it was included on the Canada Reads longlist in 2023, and then it came highly recommended by several Canadian book friends, so I was appreciative when it was selected as our January book club pick. For such a short book, there is certainly lots to think about and discuss.
Set on the Anishinaabe territory, this post apocalyptic narrative was timely with eerie similarities to early pandemic life. The author purposely gives just enough detail to allow the reader the possibility of imagining the details. The writing style is incredibly accessible and the detailed descriptions of the environment really set the tone. Each of the characters felt incredibly human
The interplay between Anishinaabe traditions and history and the newfound reliance on electricity and the convivences of new technology was portrayed with careful thought and genuine detail. The quiet, chilling plot forced the characters to return to their traditions and turn to the comfort and familiarity of community - something I think every reader needs to be reminded of.
Overall, Moon of the Crusted Snow was a quick and haunting read that is perfect for the cold and dreary winter months. Despite the gore, it left me with a sense of hope and connection. Even though there was an inkling for just a little bit more, I know there is a sequel so it's quite possible that is where I will get that missing piece. With that said, I definitely think Waubgeshing Rice is an emerging talent in the realm of Canadian literature, and one I will be keeping an eye on.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Canadian readers
• upper level high school classes
• book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Evan sometimes envied the trees and black bears that could shut down for winter."
"One suicide often led to another among the young people, and the compounding tragedies squeezed the stammering heart of the reserve."
"And when it became clear to them that they were never supposed to last in this situation on this land in the first place, they decided to take control of their own destiny. Their ancestors were displaced from their original homeland in the South and the white people who forced them here had never intended for them to survive."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Death, Violence, Colonisation, Blood, Gore, and Suicide
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Addiction, Cannibalism, Animal death, Racism, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Cursing
biobeetle's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Colonisation, Animal death, Suicide, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Addiction
emalderwood's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Murder, Death, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
Minor: Genocide, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Addiction
kellyofcali's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
While I appreciated this post-apocalyptic tale from a First Nations author, I sometimes struggled a bit with the pacing - the action moved in spurts, and sometimes stepped into and out of dreams or through time a bit confusingly. It also almost skipped over the actual action, which was an interesting choice - not sure 100% how I felt about it. Overall though, I liked the story and the setting, and it was an easy listen (I did audiobook). Be warned, the narrator reads quite slowly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Cannibalism
Moderate: Alcohol, Violence, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Murder, Racism, Alcoholism, and Blood
Minor: Xenophobia, Addiction, and Animal death
charlottesreadingweb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book reads like a debut. The story is solid, and I enjoyed it overall. It probably could have been longer to allow more substantial character development, which would have made the climax of the story more meaningful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Xenophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Racism and Addiction
lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Believe it or not, but this is a compliment: I almost DNF'd this book; the apocalypse felt too real, and I was uncomfortable. I even had an unsettling dream about this book. In this tale, we are following Evan, primarily, who lives on a Anishinaabe reservation in Ontario as winter is approaching. Then they lose power, internet, cell service, food deliveries, and diesel fuel. The community finds itself cut off, and then a white man/stranger comes and disrupts things. I actually found the second half a bit disappointing. It felt like we were getting bullet points of the story and we never see the white man's machinations, other than at one brief party. I don't know that we need it spelled out, but I would have liked to see more of him being the villain, rather than just being told he is corrupting people. I also found the characterization to be a bit shallow, but maybe they are meant to be types, more than people? There are definitely some good points made about survival, the destruction that white supremacy/colonization has caused to the indigenous people, and maintaining close ties with one's community and beliefs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Classism, Murder, Colonisation, Gun violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Violence
fmcphaden's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is an incredible take on the post-apocalyptic survival genre. It takes place on a First Nations reserve in northern Ontario; this cultural, historical and political context changes everything. Although it could probably be read just for plot, some basic understanding of the Anishnaabe experience with Canadian colonialism takes it from good to amazing.
(I said “it’s complicated” for diverse characters because it’s almost entirely Anishnaabe characters. Having said that, it uses the small number of white characters in a way that perfectly explores cultural conflict.)
(I said “it’s complicated” for diverse characters because it’s almost entirely Anishnaabe characters. Having said that, it uses the small number of white characters in a way that perfectly explores cultural conflict.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Colonisation, and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Suicide, Addiction, Racism, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Classism, Cannibalism, Gun violence, and Animal death
I loved it as a reader, and jumped at the coincidental chance to bring it into my high school class. The students love it too despite finding it challenging.edurie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, Violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
erkietheturkey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Death, Blood, and Cursing
Minor: Colonisation, Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Grief, Racism, and Suicide