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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a story of coming home, healing, and moving forward into a new world. It addresses historic oppression and injustice. Readers are made aware of different ways of knowing the world, especially with respect to land ownership and use.
Hazel Ellis returns home to the reserve to stay with her mother after completing her post secondary degree. Both of them are grieving the death of their father/husband who died of cancer a while ago.
In the process of learning more about her father and the history of her family and people, Hazel reconnects with her culture and makes connection to the spiritual world. She discovers that her father was keeping secrets and set a plan in motion, that however well meaning, will have catastrophic consequences for all people if let come to fruition.
It’s up to Hazel and her unwilling partner, Nanabush, to do the right thing and save them all.
Hazel’s relationship with Nanabush, her capacity for moving in and out of different realms, and the perspective of Nanabush himself, put me in mind of Celia's Song by Lee Maracle where characters inhabit a landscape wherein past, present and future, and physical and spiritual realms exist simultaneously.
Hazel Ellis returns home to the reserve to stay with her mother after completing her post secondary degree. Both of them are grieving the death of their father/husband who died of cancer a while ago.
In the process of learning more about her father and the history of her family and people, Hazel reconnects with her culture and makes connection to the spiritual world. She discovers that her father was keeping secrets and set a plan in motion, that however well meaning, will have catastrophic consequences for all people if let come to fruition.
It’s up to Hazel and her unwilling partner, Nanabush, to do the right thing and save them all.
Hazel’s relationship with Nanabush, her capacity for moving in and out of different realms, and the perspective of Nanabush himself, put me in mind of Celia's Song by Lee Maracle where characters inhabit a landscape wherein past, present and future, and physical and spiritual realms exist simultaneously.
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I moved to Canada only a couple years ago and since then, I have learned a lot about the First Nations culture. Crow Winter taught me so much more and I am honored that I got the chance to read this book about First Nations traditions and loyalty to the community! Hazel has returned to her home at Spirit Bear Point First Nation after the death of her father. This is her time to recuperate and restart life after this tragic loss. Little does she know that there is a bigger purpose for her return. She meets Nanabush, a Demi-god that walks on Earth as crow. He has been sent to help her, except neither know clearly what he is helping with. What starts out an a unwanted relationship turns into a strong friendship, one with teaches both Hazel and Nanabush about themselves, about the strength that the possess, and the length to which they would go to save their community.
Told in alternating narratives by Hazel and Nanabush, this is an amazing story of loss, preservation, of growing and being open to new things, because even the strangest and un-realest of things have something to teach us. I enjoyed reading Crow Winter and am grateful for getting a glimpse into the First Nations community through the members of the Spirit Bear Point First Nation. Learning about the Seven Grandfathers, their teachings, and being part of a sweat lodge were other highlights for me.
If you are looking to let you imagination fly, and the world be challenged, to debate the presence of Demi-gods, and rethink what fantasy might look like when rooted in belief, customs, and folklore, Crow Winter will no doubt, offer more than you can hope for. I am thankful to Harper Collins CA for providing me with an advanced reader copy - I will cherish this forever!
Told in alternating narratives by Hazel and Nanabush, this is an amazing story of loss, preservation, of growing and being open to new things, because even the strangest and un-realest of things have something to teach us. I enjoyed reading Crow Winter and am grateful for getting a glimpse into the First Nations community through the members of the Spirit Bear Point First Nation. Learning about the Seven Grandfathers, their teachings, and being part of a sweat lodge were other highlights for me.
If you are looking to let you imagination fly, and the world be challenged, to debate the presence of Demi-gods, and rethink what fantasy might look like when rooted in belief, customs, and folklore, Crow Winter will no doubt, offer more than you can hope for. I am thankful to Harper Collins CA for providing me with an advanced reader copy - I will cherish this forever!
This was a lyrical, fantastic, realistic fiction that blended the heartbreak of losing a father with a historical mystery about land rights (which is much more interesting than I made it sound!). I feel like I got a taste of Algonquin Anishinaabe storytelling and heritage, and I can't wait to read more from Karen McBride in the future!
I don't even know where to begin with this novel, but let me just say it is a must read for everyone, no excuse.
I loved Crow Winter right from the start. The pictures at the beginning of each chapter are lovely, followed by beautiful words. McBride is a eloquent writer and you wouldn't guess she is a debut author. I look forward to her next stories already. I honestly cannot explain it in a way that would do it justice.
McBride writes this story as it can be easily understood by a white settler such as myself, but that is not at all why I love it, though I understand that helps with the readability. I love it because of the story it tells. It is an important one in so many ways to indigenous and settler relations today. Hazel was such a strong and resilient character that I felt I wanted too know in real life. The journey and growth she goes on in this book is something I think we can all learnn from, so please go read it.
Meegwetch to Karen McBride for writing such a heartbreakingly beautiful debut. I will stick with me for a long time to come.
I loved Crow Winter right from the start. The pictures at the beginning of each chapter are lovely, followed by beautiful words. McBride is a eloquent writer and you wouldn't guess she is a debut author. I look forward to her next stories already. I honestly cannot explain it in a way that would do it justice.
McBride writes this story as it can be easily understood by a white settler such as myself, but that is not at all why I love it, though I understand that helps with the readability. I love it because of the story it tells. It is an important one in so many ways to indigenous and settler relations today. Hazel was such a strong and resilient character that I felt I wanted too know in real life. The journey and growth she goes on in this book is something I think we can all learnn from, so please go read it.
Meegwetch to Karen McBride for writing such a heartbreakingly beautiful debut. I will stick with me for a long time to come.