Age Group:
Adult

Genre:
Native, Realistic Fiction, Canadian, Adventure, Survivalism, Coming-of-age, Historical, Humourous

Awards:
Nominee for the Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award and the Books in Canada First Novel Award in 1998.

Summary:
Champion and Ooneemeetoo Okimasis are young men growing up in a magical Cree world in northern Manitoba. They live a charmed life with their brave father Abraham and nurturing mother Mariesis. But their innocence ends much too soon when they are forced to abandon culture and tradition to live in a Catholic residential school.

At school, the newly renamed Jeremiah and Gabriel are abused by priests. It is only through music and dance and their spirit guide – the Fur Queen trickster – that they learn to come to grips with the trauma they endure. Together Jeremiah and Gabriel become successful young men who struggle with their identity as they are drawn back to their home at Mistik Lake year after year.

My Thoughts:
A poignant and humourous story with a cinematic tone. I enjoyed this novel. It is raw and real and passionate. The stories of Jeremiah and Gabriel are the collective stories of Native Canadians living in the 20th century – pressured to adopt Catholic values and take on new identities. And yet, there is such a sense of hope, survival and strength from these two young men who refuse to be silenced.

Borrow Kiss of the Fur Queen from your local VPL library today!

Intrigued by this title? Try Tomson Highway’s award winning The Rez Sisters, a hilarious play portrayal of seven women from a reserve attempting to beat the odds by winning at bingo.

I read this play for a university course but it also makes a great leisure read

Have you read either of these books? If so let us know what you thought.