I enjoyed this book! The book was most interesting when focused on the customs and lifestyle of the Ojibwe people.

This is written as a YA books. Sometimes, those books are more geared for 16 and up and other times, those books are meant for the younger of that. This book isn't quite middle grade, but is definitely young for YA.

a lovely little story with so much good ideas about it and so much good writing in it. i learned a lot thru it.

I am glad I gave this book a chance. I almost gave up really early on before anything had really happened, because I found the characters and their dialogue "super cringe". I still stand by the fact that the teenagers in this book have cringey and unnatural dialogue, but luckily there is more to the book than that. I really loved hearing about native culture and history (learning alongside Ezra), and just generally getting to know his grandparents, especially his grandpa, who was an awesome and lovable character. I laughed and I cried (a LOT) and I wondered what happened to the murder-mystery-plot from the beginning of the book, which didn't really return until I was more than 90% through the book. I will say that I was personally satisfied with the way things wrapped up, so I'm not too mad about it. I actually liked the ending better for what it was, rather than what I initially thought it would be. It was, however, a little strange for it to be set up as the main plot in the beginning and then it was almost sort of forgotten. The "romance subplot" also just felt like unnecessary filler to me. I loved the family and community dynamics though.
I have a few critiques that I don't know how to knit together properly so I'll just throw them here:
1) the author is not great at writing teenagers (imo) and Ezra was not just mostly unlikable, his personality and behaviour often seemed super inconsistent.
2) sometimes I noticed weird or unnecessary comments like when Ezra thinks that Liam looks "weak and emasculated" in his hospital gown. Why would he think this and what was the reason for this comment?
3) ok, she was only mentioned by name once and there were no other comments attached, but I just have to mention this. At this point in time, it feels like a very deliberate choice to include JK Rowling in your book. There is NO WAY that you don't know what she stands for, and honestly it feels icky when authors still mention her in current literature. Either let her fade into obscurity or tell me straight out that you support her so that I can stop supporting you. That is all.

I will give this book 4 stars. One for Liam, one for Emma, one for Byron and one for Buster. Honourable mention: Oogima and the George family

A great first effort at fiction by this exceptional nonfiction writer. The book could have be edited a bit for pacing but the various descriptions and explanations were welcome.

I loved so many parts of this book, but as a whole it was just okay.
Ezra is a young Ojibwe boy living in northeast Minneapolis, where he has one main friend who he's crushing on, and one main bully who staff turn a blind eye to. When the bully targets his friend Nora, Ezra manages to contain his rage enough to punch a locker instead of the boy's face. Later that night, the bully's house burns down in what is either a suspicious circumstance or a well-timed meth lab explosion. The cops are suspicious of Ezra, who is worried that his weird dreams means he was somehow responsible. This is, I guess, the thriller aspect of the novel, and I thought we were almost heading in a shape shifting, werewolf-esque plot.

Then we abruptly turn to a wholesome family story of Ezra learning to work the trapline with his grandpa. I loved this part of the story so much, the familial and cultural connections were rich and I forgot all about the maybe murdered meth cookers.

When we return to the murdered meth cooker plotline, it all came unwound again. Somehow the bully managed to find Ezra and Nora in Canada, despite having been moved to a foster home in the Midwest? You lost me there.

This book could have been two completely different books, but instead it became a mess of two disconnected stories. So much promise but unfortunately it didn't deliver for me.

did the audio for this title- loved the mystery and suspence. obviously Treuer knows his stuff (being the author of Everything you wanted to know about indians but were afraid to ask). great story - looking forward to more fictional titles!

Where Wolves Don't Die is one of my top reads of the year and I'm certain it will continue to be. If you've read and enjoyed stories like Fire Keeper's Daughter you will also love this one. For anyone who has a kid or student who loves the outdoors, books like Hatchet, or hunting and fishing, this is a must. I think this could easily span middle grade and high school and even adults would love it.

Ezra and his friend Nora are two of the few Indigenous kids at their school and their neighbor Matt makes that well known. One day Matt starts harassing Nora and Ezra is MAD. He almost punches Matt but seeing that adults and kids are witnessing this interaction he punches the locker next to him instead. He goes to the ER and finds he's broken his hand and is prescribed heavy medication. After taking the medication he falls into a deep sleep and has an incredibly vivid dream that Matt's house burned down and everyone was killed in a fire. Ezra wakes up to find out Matt's house really has been burned down and while Matt survived his other family members died -- and they believe there was foul play. Knowing the justice system isn't always just, Ezra's father takes Ezra to his parents' house in Canada to finish out the last few months of the school year. Ezra never liked living in Minneapolis and is excited to spend the next few months outdoors learning all about trapping from his grandfather. There are many outdoor survival scenarios and those who love the outdoors or hunting, fishing, or trapping will love that part of the story. Meanwhile, Nora and Ezra are still worried about Matt tracking them down and trying to hurt them--and all along we're learning about Indigenous culture and important topics like the generational trauma of residential schools that took away Indigenous children. Much like Fire Keeper's Daughter, this is a MUST READ for anyone and everyone. I loved Treuer's first book (Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Too Afraid to Ask) and loved this one even more. Pick it up today!

These Indigenous YA authors have been turning out such great books!

The story of a young man and his father struggling through loss and grief within the greater sphere of their community was really beautiful. I also loved the dynamic of the community that is created off-Rez and how the connection to home and each other still remains there.

An engaging story, great themes, and a connection to the natural world make this a great addition to our growing family library.

A great book for our youth and deserving of all of the praise I’ve been seeing for it! I read the book, but also listened to the audiobook version (which the author narrates) from @librofm and really enjoyed both.

Tokša aké, book friends 📚☕️🌱

Pidámaya, Anton Treuer for this beautiful story of family and community and Levine Querido and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Rating 2.5 / 5 stars

This book was a bit of a disappointment, but that may be due to me going into it with the wrong expectations. From the blurb I expected a YA thriller, and while the beginning and end do fit that description, the part in between does not. The beginning sets up an interesting premise where a young indigenous boy (Ezra) and his best friend become involved in an investigation into a suspected case of arson at the house of a bully they had just had a confrontation with. However, after Ezra’s father brings him to live with his grandparents on the reservation he grew up on, this crime mystery plotline comes to a screeching halt to make way for a more slice-of-life type narrative. This middle part of the story is focused on Ezra learning how to hunt from his grandfather and fleshing out the relationship between the two. This part of the story isn’t bad, and in a different book I’d have probably found it quite engaging, but given that the crime mystery plot is almost completely put on hold while Ezra and his grandfather are isolated, hunting in the wilderness, I found it almost tedious. As is, it feels like this is two separate books that were somewhat haphazardly smashed together. The main theme of the middle part, about the importance of passing on indigenous knowledge, could have been integrated much better with the themes of racism and indigenous identity in the beginning (Ezra’s anger at his father for raising him off-rez, Ezra’s dad’s justified fear that his son will be treated unfairly by the police investigation) and the end (the stealing of indigenous children to raise them in boarding ‘schools’, the deaths that occurred there and the lingering present-day fears around indigenous children being separated from their families and cultures). Overall, this book had a lot of potential, but the ARC version didn’t quite live up to it.

The description of this book on NetGalley calls it "both taut thriller and a raw, tender coming-of-age story," which is, in my humble opinion, some of the most atrocious marketing I've ever seen. This is a great coming-of-age story - perhaps not my cup of tea, but objectively a very good story.

The thriller part, however, pales in comparison. It does not even feature prominently in most of the book, meaning when it is brought up, it feels like nothing more than an afterthought. In a thriller, I expect action and high stakes; this book has very little of either of those when it comes to the conflict with the Schroeders. The lack of attention paid to the Schroeder plotline makes them seem like caricatures of "the evil white man." Granted, white people do suck, but it's no fun to read a book where the villain is a villain simply because it's their nature. A little backstory or rationale would have been appreciated.

Now onto a few more minor critiques: the author namedrops absolutely EVERYTHING. This is a huge pet peeve of mine in books because it ages them unnecessarily. Whenever a character puts on an article of clothing, the specific brand is noted. Also, there's a point where Ezra makes a reference to The Office, which is another thing that is going to age this book exponentially.

Finally, perhaps it's the TikTok brainrot, but I could not take the conversation about wolves seriously. "I was done being an omega" is not a phrase I can read in a book and not laugh at.

All of this is to say this book would be significantly improved if the whole thriller plot was eliminated and it was just marketed as a coming-of-age novel.

What an incredible story!! I truly could not put this down.

Ezra Cloud is a 15 year old native boy who lives in Minneapolis with his father, dealing with bullying and general discontent in his life. Suddenly, a fire errupts at his bully's house and he is then sent to Canada to live with his grandparents for a time while the investigation is taking place. The book then unravels into a beautiful coming of age story that allows not only Ezra, but his family to grow closer together.

Ezra's character was developed so well, as we see parallels of his growth in the different communities he is placed. Not only that, but his maturity by the end led him to self discovery regarding human nature and his native roots. Dr. Treuer also expertly provides insight on what it means to grow up native: learning culturally significant and sustainable ways of surviving off the land while also respecting the land and animals in it.

My only con is that it should have been longer to flesh out some of the action packed parts! I definitely wanted more.

I would definitely recommend this to any YA person/student wanting to know more about native life!

Thank you Netgalley, Dr. Treuer, and the publisher for a great YA read!

I enjoyed this book about an Ojibwe teenager in Minnesota. I'm always looking for indigenous literature to offer my high school students, and I think they would like this one.

Fifteen-year-old Ezra Cloud is an Ojibway boy grieving the death of his mother and living in Minneapolis with his professor dad. Unfortunately, Ezra hates the city, the dirty snow, and, most of all, school and the bullies there. When Matt, the worst of these bullies, starts picking on Nora George, Ezra’s friend, fellow Indigenous, and first crush, Ezra intervenes. That night, Matt’s house burns down and Ezra becomes the main suspect. To protect him, his dad takes him to the Reserve across the border in Canada where his grandparents live. His father returns to the city while his grandfather takes him with him on his trap-line and teaches him about Indigenous life and culture.

Told in the first-person by Ezra, Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer is a thoughtful YA tale combining coming-of-age, first love, family and grief with an interesting mystery. But this is also a story of Indigenous culture, showing its vibrancy through the myths and stories passed down through generations and the reverence and respect for nature including the dangers inherent to it. There is also a nice portrayal of romance, not only for the young but for seniors as well.

Although I am way way outside the age of the intended audience, I found the story compelling and enjoyed it immensely. I read the novel while listening to the audiobook narrated by the author who does a wonderful job of giving voice to Ezra’s story.

Thanks to Netgalley. Levine Querido, and RB Media for both the ebook and audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer is part mystery, part first love, part coming of age. This compelling YA story packs a powerful punch!

Nora and a few other friends are pretty much the only thing Ezra Cloud likes about his school in Northeast, Minneapolis. When the home of Ezra's nemesis, Matt, burns down the very same day Ezra has a run-in with the school bully, Ezra's father sends him to stay with his grandparents in Canada.

Ezra has always dreamed of learning the family's work of running a trapline. From Grandpa Liam, Ezra learns more than the habits of animals and survival in the wintry wilderness. He learns about tradition, family history, and the importance of community.

I enjoyed learning about sacred Native traditions. The reverence Grandpa Liam showed the animals was beautiful. And don't get me started on Grandpa Liam's and Grandma Emma's relationship! They were a shining example of how to love well. It was so refreshing to see how they prioritized their marriage!

Although  the main character was young, Where Wolves Don't Die dealt with some heavy issues. I am happy to see contemporary Indigenous storytelling, and can't wait to see what Anton Treuer writes next!

Read this if you like:
•  YA suspense
•  Indigenous literature
•  Coming of age stories

This is the first novel of the author of Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask and it delves deeply into the actions and traditions of the Ojibwe tribe.

It starts in Northeast Minneapolis, where almost 15-year-old Ezra Cloud is immersed in a cloud of grief and rage, having lost his mother to cancer recently. He misses his grandparents and wishes to become a man of the rez, at Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation.

He is in such a fit of rage, always trying to control himself, that he punches through a locker instead of punching the local bully, Matt Schroeder, breaking his arm in the process.
That same night, he has a wild and vivid, violent dream, and wakes up feeling cheerful, only to learn that Matt’s house has burned down, (maybe because there was an accident at the secret meth lab his dad had in the basement), his elders are dead and Matt is shocked and blaming Ezra.

Ezra becomes a prime suspect, and fearing that he won’t get a fair deal, his father sends him up to the rez, to hunt moose, to relive the lives of his ancestors, and to heal.



Running traplines with his grandfather in a remote part of Canada, Ezra starts to heal all his spiritual and physical wounds and gets to deal a bit with his frustration and sadness. The Schroeders are hunting for him though, feeling that he is guilty and that he has to pay.

There are few females in this story, and, although they do pass the Bechdel test, they do so by a hair. As I read it, it struck me how male it was (maybe a bit macho even) with this kid peeing to mark his snares against the wolves and the grandpa and him walking around in what feels like an initiation to him.

Grandfather is smart, strong, and loving, and very much approves of the man his grandson will become. They have a bad opinion of the White population, one that is sustained by all the things they’ve experienced with them.

I understand: that in my country, the Aymara have those distinct values as well, but having read so many novels about powerful women, like Akata Witch, brought me back to a time when men had adventures in the snow and girls got stuck at home. I am just glad that that time is over.

A wonderful addition to Ojibwe kidslit.

Would recommend for those who are a big fan of thrillers and coming of age stories. We need more books like this!

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

A book that will make people uncomfortable and it should. Where Wolves Don't Die should be in our classrooms so maybe the next generation can be better. The Indigenous people have been mistreated in our past and our present, hopefully the future will be different

I just finished reading Where Wolves Don't Die and I loved the book! The story is suspenseful throughout the whole book. The plot is totally believable and we constantly want to read further to learn what will happen. It's a great pleasure to read and we learn a lot about First Nations (Ojibwe) ways of doing and also about their stories. I definitively recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about First Nations of America and Canada while enjoying a good work of art! Thank you Levine Querido for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”

This is Anton Treuer’s first YA fiction, but he has written numerous nonfiction texts and is an amazing speaker as well. This book would be a perfect addition to an ELA classroom (I’d suggest 7th-9th). Adventure, loss, teen angst, suspense, and lots of indigenous knowledge to gain. I will be grabbing copies for my classroom and my sons. Miigwech, Anton!

Although the topic is sad, about how "white" settlers have treated the indigenous, it was well written and informative. The story is touching, and making history personal through stories like this, make it easier to understand and feel for today's problems that have been created from past and current actions. I enjoyed the writing style and will read more from this author. "Where Wolves Don't Die" is an excellent read for adults or young adults both. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy.