MOON OF THE CRUSTED SNOW

Cree actor Billy Merasty lends an authentic voice to Anishinaabe writer Rice's apocalyptic novel, set on a reserve in northern Ontario. The story is told through the eyes of Evan Whitesky. While many of his neighbors have become accustomed to the fixtures of contemporary life--Internet access, cell phone service, food trucked in every few weeks--Whitesky and his family have tried to maintain traditional ways. Suddenly and mysteriously cut off from the power grid, the community must come together to survive. Merasty's cadence, which sounds like that of Indigenous storytellers, allows the novel to unfold at a deliberate pace that is well suited to Rice's rich descriptions of Anishinaabe culture and history. There are a few mispronunciations of English names; nonetheless, this is a memorable listening experience. S.G. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2019]