I really enjoyed this book, the story has stuck me since reader. The characters are interesting and nuanced and the world building is extensive.

So this book would have easily been a five-star read but it has not one, but TWO Harry Potter references. Are you fucking kidding me? I feel like the worst part about it for me is that the references are so stupid. One is explaining that JKR is on a bookshelf when trying to explain the variety of books on the shelf and the other is some dumb reference that makes no sense and is unneeded. Obviously I'm a firm believer that any HP or JKR reference is unneeded and unnecessary and inherently transphobic. I can just say that I'm incredibly disappointed to see the blatant disregard for trans readers in a book publish in 2024. I'm also incredibly frustrated because this is a fantastic book written by an indigenous author about an indigenous MC and the whole book is good except for those two references. I am uncomfortable blanketly recommending this because of those references.

Ezra Cloud is an Ojibwe teenager, living in Minneapolis with his father and grieving the passing of his mother. When Ezra becomes a suspect after his bully's house is burned down, Ezra's father sends him back home to the Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation to prevent any unfair (or racist) treatment that most Indigenous Peoples face when dealing with the police. From here, Ezra gets to run traplines with his grandfather - where no one outside his community will know where he will be.

Wow, what a great read. I do not read too many YA books anymore, but the synopsis was just so intriguing I had to pick this one up. And this did not disappoint. This was a moving and heartbreaking coming-of-age novel, with a slight mystery added in. This was an emotional read with Ezra connecting with his family and his Ojibwe culture in a way he had never been able to experience before.

Also, I listened to the audiobook while reading the ebook. And the audiobook was fantastic as it is narrated by the author, who is a Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University.

YA indigenous lit always hits different and I love it.

Was this one extraordinary? No. Was it easy and fun to listen to? Absolutely.

The exploration of Ojibwe culture was refreshing, and the connection to the generational impact of residential schools was brilliant. I wouldn’t say the plot in this one is great - I feel like it took a backseat to the focus on culture and beliefs, which, to be honest, worked for me! The plot itself I found weaker anyways, so I’m not mad about the reflective/meditative piece of this book shining through.

Thank you to RB media & @netgalley for the digital review copy of the audiobook!

I was not the biggest fan of this book. I love first person narration in audiobooks typically, but I found the main character's depiction of women uncomfortable and it made me struggle to like him as a protagonist.

Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer is a beautifully written and deeply engaging novel that weaves Ojibwe culture, history, and identity into the coming-of-age journey of a young Ojibwe teenager, Ezra Cloud. The story explores the universal struggles of adolescence—family dynamics, friendship, bullying, loss, and self-discovery—while highlighting the unique challenges faced by Native American communities. Ezra’s story is set against the backdrop of his deep connection to nature and his Ojibwe roots, making for an immersive experience that resonates on multiple levels.

The audiobook, narrated by the author, adds a special touch, allowing listeners to hear the story exactly as Treuer intended. His narration brings the characters and the Ojibwe culture to life with authenticity and passion. Ezra’s journey takes him from the struggles of urban life in Northeast Minneapolis to the quiet, reflective world of his grandfather’s traplines in Canada. Through these experiences, he learns valuable life lessons, from the importance of taking things slow to the deeper meaning of respect for nature, the land, and his community.

The novel is a poignant exploration of the complexities of growing up as a Native American in modern society, where Ezra grapples with both personal challenges and the broader impact of historical trauma and societal injustice. It is a heartfelt, tender story about learning to love oneself and finding strength in family, culture, and tradition. The themes of connection, care, and respect for nature are central to this story, making it a powerful read for anyone interested in understanding more about Native American perspectives, culture, and resilience.

I highly recommend Where Wolves Don’t Die to anyone looking for a thought-provoking, emotional, and beautifully crafted story. It’s an excellent choice for both young readers and adults alike.

I meant to read this during Indigenous Heritage Month. As always, I failed.

Ezra lives in Minneapolis. The local bully, Matt Schroeder, picks on him and his friend Nora. They fight. Matt's house burns down. Guess who gets blamed?

Unlike Christina, I didn't cry, although I did feel a lot of emotions. +1 for grandpa

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books

It was an interesting and fascinating read. I learned so much about native American culture. I would definitely recommend

I talked about this one in my Monday Reads post.
https://www.unleashingreaders.com/28463

I’ll be using this in my class!

First the cover of this book is stunning! And the content even more so. What a powerful and moving story. The journey and self discovery in this book felt truly genuine. This will definitely be one of my top reads this year

Where Wolves Don’t Die is exceptional! I’ll be adding it to my shelves to read over and over again!

Anton Treuer was a fantastic narrator and I appreciated the translation guide at the end of the book.

Where Wolves Don't Die was an amazing story. I highly recommend this novel. Where Wolves Don't Die would be an exceptional addition to any library or classroom.

15-year-old Ezra is constantly bullied. Even a house fire killing the bully's family can't stop the bullying. When Ezra is the prime suspect, his dad takes him to the Ojibwe reservation to be with his grandparents. This is a time of reflection, learning the ways of his people, learning stories of the past, and trying to discover who actually set the fire. Ezra gains a deeper respect for nature, family, and even himself.
We are reminded of the importance of cultural preservation, generational relationships, and storytelling.
Many deep topics are just barely touched on. They are so lightly mentioned that it is easy to bypass the horrific events the family has endured.
VERDICT: A must-add to expand Indigenous perspective in teen libraries.

Ezra and his struggles caught me up - dealing with bullies, being an outsider, all the accelerated awkwardness of youth, together with its natural wonder found me curious as to his resolutions and problem-solving. He's Ojibwe, and lucky to have a grandfather who can teach him the old ways, and lucky us, Reader, we have the chance to go along. There are explicit bits about animal kills, but the use of 100% of the creature, and the respectful manner in which it was done helped me over that hump (mostly). It brought up many thoughts of what if things 300-200 years ago had gone differently. . .how and where would we be today? Would we be today?

Ezra's grandfather is his cornerstone, and it was encouraging to see that relationship heal them both, and extended remedies to shorten the distance between Ezra and his father and mother as well.

Anton Treuer's book is hopeful, while being mindful of the unique cultures of indigenous peoples and the value of honesty when considering the past troubled history - all while living a 2024 life and managing the everyday challenges families face, no matter where their generations of dna point.

*A sincere thank you to Anton Treuer, RB Media, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

It was an interesting story to listen to. I like listening to First Nations, especially Ojibway, voices, as I live in their territory. I'm so glad to see more of their authors being published.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

What a unique, beautiful, cool book! I really loved this read. Ezra was such an awesome character. I feel like this book was such a great coming of age story. This book offered so much. The characters were phenomenal, the plot was really interesting. I loved the father son relationships it explored, the Indigenous experience it showcased, and the strong narrative.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

loved this audio - such a great read. Intense suspense and wonderful mystery - you can't always see where it is going - which is great!

I loved Where Wolves Don't Die. It was an excellent YA read but still had the heft of an adult novel. Overall, great narration and storyline.

Audiobooks are very rarely my thing, but I found I quite enjoyed this one. Although I still struggled a little bit with pacing, I am as always an absolute sucker for stories about family that hit you right in the heart, and I can guarantee this one did just that.

This was a solid, YA coming-of-age novel from the perspective of a teen Indian boy.

I enjoyed seeing him connect with his culture and feel like he was achieving the markers of manhood, while gaining introspection and insight into why his father acts the way he does. There was a lot of heart in the character relationships and none of the conflict seemed unreasonable or overblown, but was handled maturely.

My only tiny nitpick is the way they refer to alpha/beta/omega dynamics in wolves which felt very Western influenced and has long been disproven, even by the scientist who originally wrote the paper.