Review by Deborah Locke
Ezra Cloud, an Ojibwe 15-year-old living in Northeast Minneapolis, is angry with his dad, fears and loathes a school bully – Matt — who will not leave him in peace, and is haunted by the premature death of his mother who died due to workplace toxic substances. The only light in his life shines from Nora, a bright, pretty classmate.
Ezra and the school bully have a confrontation followed by a fire at Matt’s house that kills two people. Matt tells the police that Ezra set the fire. To protect his son from what he thinks will be a racist investigation, Ezra’s dad, Byron Cloud, takes him over the border to “Red Gut,” the family’s home reservation where his parents live. The boy grows in perspective and maturity in Canada, where most of “Where Wolves Don’t Die” takes place.
The book, targeted for middle-school readers, is Dr. Anton Treuer’s (Ojibwe) first novel. Treuer is Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and author of many books. He has a B.A. from Princeton University and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He is editor of the Oshkaabewis Native Journal, the only academic journal of the Ojibwe language.
In the book, once Ezra is safely housed at Red Gut at the home of Liam and Emma Cloud, he prepares to leave with Grandpa Liam to assist with work on a distant trapline. In the company of his grandfather, Ezra learns Ojbwe history and culture, as well as the art and science of trapping.
His formal education also continues as teachers in Minnesota send assignments by email. Evenings at the cabin are spent doing homework by kerosene lamp. In Northeast Minneapolis, detectives investigate the cause of the fire.
Several points here. First, I’ve never felt any interest or affection for wolves. By the end of the book, I viewed them as superheroes. Explaining this attitudinal transformation gives away too much of the plot. I’ll refrain.
Second, Grandpa Liam and Grandma Emma have been happily married for decades. They survived the trials that life threw their way, including loss, and live with joy and purpose.
In an online essay from bookpage.com. Treuer wrote:
“I wrote ‘Where Wolves Don’t Die’ to turn Native fiction on its head. We have so many stories about trauma and tragedy, with characters who lament the culture that they were always denied. I wanted to show how vibrant and alive our culture still is. I wanted to create a story that was gripping but where none of the Native characters were drug addicts, abused or abusing others, one more like the Native life that I know.”
The Native life many of us grew up in contained couples like Grandpa Liam and Grandma Emma. How sweet to read about a solid, caring relationship. Treuer added that the book “demonstrates the magnificence of our elders, the humor of our people and the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.”
A third point. The story moves like a thriller with intrigue on nearly every page. I read late into the night to learn who did it and why, and whether Ezra and Nora fall in love, and just what was the impact of a patience and expectation on an angry 15-year-old. Once he was exposed to the quiet wisdom and example of Liam, Ezra finds self-worth. His grandpa’s lessons help the boy literally grow in strength and size during the winter months. His pain over his mother’s death lessens, along with anger at Byron.
Number four: Treuer includes references to popular culture, food, and local Twin City places and people. Minnesota readers will be familiar with Grandma Emma’s macaroni and cheese hotdish — yes, hotdish. They may have seen the “Billy Jack” movie, know the American Indian Center in Minneapolis, or have dined at Sean Sherman’s restaurant. Maybe like Ezra, Treuer’s readers shared “Reservation Dogs” with family members on Hulu. Here’s one slight oddity: with exactitude, Treuer describes what characters are wearing. Why? Perhaps clothing matters a whole lot to this generation of middle school kids.
Number five: Roger Jourdain (1912-2002). The wisdom of the chairman of the Red Lake Nation is quoted in “Where Wolves Don’t Die.” That’s a nice touch.
So, what may we conclude? I liked not only the content of this book, but the way it felt in my hand. It has weight, on many levels. I think you will like it, too.
