I liked this! This isn’t my first time reading a book by a Native author, so I was familiar with some of the themes in the novel and I found it to be both entertaining and emotional. My only critique is that some of the characters felt a little one-dimensional at times, but I enjoyed the plot and narrator. Four stars!

4.25 stars

**Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

Basics
Author: he/him, Indigenous Ojibwe
Genre: YA Indigenous fiction
Setting: chilly & snowy Canada & US
Themes: escape, growth, coming-of-age, return to roots, tradition, loyalty, family, love
Mood: resentful, contemplative, heartfelt

Pros
+ Ezra - 15yo Indigenous boy who returns north to his family's Canadian hunting grounds after his school bully's family is killed
+ Grandpa Liam - Ezra's grandpa who is a master hunter and wilderness expert (fav character)
+ Nora - Ezra's best friend who was also being bullied
+ Indigenous hunting methods are truly genius
+ Indigenous coming-of-age rituals
+ Indigenous life & death beliefs
+ truly gorgeous nature writing (makes me want to visit Canada)
+ made me cry fat tears

Neutral
/ This centers male experiences (through the son, father, and grandfather) told through a male POV (son). Would've loved to have a dual POV switching between the son and his best friend, a girl. Seeing how they are treated differently (expectations, rituals, hobbies) would have been very interesting.

Cons
- Mentions the alpha/beta/omega wolf hierarchy quite a lot (literally about a wolf pack & also as a metaphor for Ezra's family). However, that theory has been disproven. Wolves don't have that kind of hierarchy in the wild.

TW: bullying, death (off-page), physical injury, death of animals, parental death (off-page), cancer, skin burns, drugs (mentioned), Indigenous incarceration (off-page), Indigenous murder (mentioned), cutting up of dead animals for food, Indigenous child stealing, child death (off-page), wild animal attack, attempted r*pe/murder (off-page)

There were parts of this book that I really loved! But ultimately, I found myself wanting more emotional immediacy from Ezra as he processed his grief, anger, and growing pains. This is something I've come to expect from YA, especially; perhaps these expectations contributed to my dissatisfaction with the emotional depth in this book.

Ezra is a thoughtful Ojibwe teenager growing up between the city and ”the Rez.” This first person narrative (read beautifully by the author) unfolds a story that has a mystery at the center but mostly is about Ezra figuring out how the world works - universal teenager stuff like being mad at your parents for things they can and can’t control, how to tell someone you have feelings for that you want to be more than friends, dealing with bullying, loss and grief, and homework.

And also the perspectives, traditions, beliefs, and experiences unique to being a Native American boy in modern society. Being part of a whole community who knows from centuries of violence and oppression of their people that they have no room for error in interacting with non-natives, that their brown skin and misunderstood culture subjects them to both child welfare involvement (rooted in state sanctioned kidnapping of whole generations of children) as well as police brutality and false arrest and conviction regardless of their culpability.

“Ezra, you’ll notice many kinds of moose in the woods…Moose can be dangerous. They are usually happy to eat lily pad roots and be left alone, but on the rare occasions when one attacks a human, it is not usually a big, mature, fully-antlered male who charges. The mostly likely moose to charge a person is a young bull, and that’s the moose who is most likely to be shot, or hit by the car. You see, Ezra, the moose is a metaphor for manhood. We often make our biggest mistakes when we are young. That’s when we are most likely to drive too fast and pay the price. To experiment with alcohol and drugs. To go on a date and not respect our partner. Or to hurt ourselves . If you want to live to be a big, mature, fully antlered bull, you have to act like one. You have to move a little slower and think before you act.”

All in all, it’s a beautiful story about connection and care set in a place and culture with such deep respect for nature and animals, a way of living with the earth with mutuality rather than depletion and exploitation. I would highly recommend it to YA as well as adult audiences.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to listen to and review this excellent audiobook.

Where Wolves Don't Die Audible
by Anton Treuer
As a reader or listener Anton Treuer is a great voice not only for his book, but for the Ojibwe language. His compassion and voice is shown throughout the book.
The book shows the complicated nature of native relationships. Especially on the boarder between Canada and United states. The Tribal land allows individuals to provide for their families through traditional roles. The problem is prejudice that is formed between law enforcement, and governance. This causes problems with investigations, and other events that affect Native Americans in both countries. The book shows the spiritual nature of Native beliefs and how they support each other traditionally. It is respectful of social rules, tribal law, and tribal belief. I think this is a great book for children of Native cultures all over the world, showing the value of family, tradition, and the guidance of balance.

I really enjoyed this audio version of Where Wolves Don't Die read by the author. He has a beautiful voice that I could cheerfully listen to for much longer. His delivery was excellent and, despite the drama, wasn't over the top. I dislike narrators who over dramatise situations. I learned at the back that Dr Treuer is a professor who teaches the Ojibwe language so I guess this goes a long way to understanding his excellent narration.

Where Wolves Don't Die tells the story of Ezra Cloud, a Native American boy, living in Northeast Minneapolis. Ezra has an ongoing feud with the local bully, Matt Schroeder. The feud comes to a head when Matt attacks Ezra's friend Nora and culminates when the Schroeder's home is burned down. For safety's sake Ezra is taken back to the family reservation where he begins to run traplines with his grandfather. Whilst there he learns not just family history but also tribal and learns to respect the landscape, it's flora and fauna - not least of all the wolves whose clan his family are part of.

This is a great YA book that delves into Ezra's state of mind very cleverly - his anger at the loss of his mother, how much he blames his father for everything, his hatred and fear of Matt. He comes across as your typical self-centred, whiny teenager who is given the chance to see what life is really all about. There's also a sweet (but not too soppy) sub-plot involving Nora.

The book gives you insights into Native American tradition and their horrific history at the hands of settlers. But it never goes too far and keeps all the information imparted as part of the story. It is all very cleverly woven together by a master storyteller.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for the advance review copy.
Edit Review

Living in Minneapolis is not easy or pleasant for Ezra Cloud. He has some friends, but there are other kids at his school who hate him and make his life miserable. Being Ojibwe makes Ezra a target for certain kids, such as Matt Schroeder. After a tragedy occurs in the neighborhood, Ezra moves to remote Canada to learn from his grandfather where he learns many valuable lessons and truly matures and grows up.

I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story about a boy, his father, and his grandfather. I have not read many stories like this one, and I enjoyed myself greatly as the story progressed. I love how it is truly about love and family, but with some mystery and tragedy sprinkled in.

I received a gifted audiobook ARC copy of this book via NetGalley from Anton Treuer and RBmedia in exchange for a complete and honest review.

The audio version of this book only made it more enjoyable. The narrator, who just so happens to be the author himself, really added an extra element to this story. I think it is amazing when an author narrates their own story. The only critique I have for the narration is that it was read really slowly, so I did end up speeding up the narration a little.

I highly recommend this book as it has important themes of love, grief, and maturity. It is a well researched, well thought-out, and insightful book on growing up in a society that is not always kind to people who are different.

Such a good mystery/thriller book with an intriguing plot and I loved how they educate the reader on indigenous culture/language/history. I’ve never read an indigenous book before I don’t think and it wasn’t confusing at all, it was easy to understand and appropriate the way the characters live. I loved the family aspect and how Ezra (the MMC) grew into himself and learned to love himself.
Highly recommended!

When Ezra's is suspected of committing arson and/or murder, his dad decides that it is time for him to lie low for a while. This means sending Ezra to his grandfather's trap house where he will be taught how to become a man in the eyes of his grandfather and the Ojibwe people. Whether that means learning how to hunt or discovering his culture on a deeper and more personal level, Ezra is on a mission to prove that he is worth more than the social injustices that he has endured.

I listened to this book on audio, and loved the narrator/author's voice. I will say that I am SO happy that he was the one to narrate this as I truly believe that it was imperative to have someone who spoke the Ojibwe language, which is absolutely beautiful. It was such a pleasure to hear it spoken so fluently and confidently! As a listener, I felt that it enhanced the story significantly as it felt as though we were being brought into the inner circle.

After listening to the book, we discover that the author is a teacher of the Ojibwe language. That led me to look into the language a bit more. I'd like to share just a bit of what I found:

According to encyclopedia.com, the Ojibwe language is only spoken by around 60 thousand people throughout the US and Canada. Of those, not all are totally fluent. It goes on to say that the majority of Native American languages have been lost over the years, presumably due to the persecution these groups have endured at the hands of others. Because of this, there has been a huge push to reintroduce language back into the schools and tribal governments through immersion programs. The efforts of teachers and professors (such as the author) are sometimes the only thing keeping the languages from becoming obsolete. In fact, "Ojibwe is "one of only twenty Native American languages that scholars believe will survive the twenty-first century." It is so sad that these languages are dying off, and I am honored to have been able to hear it spoken in this book.

Overall, I'd give this book a 4.5 rounded up. Thank you for pulling me into this story. Thank you for shedding some light on social injustice (both past and present), and allowing us to experience a slice of Ojibwe culture!

🧚🏻Another HUGE thanks goes out to NetGalley, RB Media, and author Anton Treuer for providing me with a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

It was an interesting book. I wish the plot was more focused on. At times I questioned if there was an actual plot happening. It’s a feel good coming of age story that lacked the drama that could have made it great. Characters were very likable and it was interesting to hear about the tribe.

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

Loved this Young Adult novel about an indigenous boy living in Minnesota!

The family relationships are beautiful and masculinity in the culture is described in terms of Ezra’s lived experience. Ezra’s Adverse Childhood Experience number must be pretty high!

If you ask me, the conflict with Matt went from 0 to 100 really quick but, whatever works. 😆

I loved hearing about how Ezra and his grandfather grew their relationship. His grandpa was so funny and a character you immediately will come to love. The authors note at the end of the book helps everything come full circle.

I received this book in audio format and the author reads it which is SO special for fiction!! It’s so cool to know that I heard the book exactly as the author intended it :) the quality was amazing. definitely would recommend this as an audiobook!

Everything at the end came together so well. I cried! I would have loved to have read this in high school. such an impactful coming of age story

Thank you Netgalley & RBmedia for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

This is a YA thriller/mystery book where we follow Ezra Cloud. Ezra is a young native boy who gets bullied by the local bully, Matt Schroeder. One day at school Ezra gets in a fight with Matt to defend his friend Nora George. That same night Matt's house burns down. Of course, Ezra becomes a prime suspect. Aware that he wouldn't get a fair trial and believing in his innocence, Ezra's family decideds to send him to a remote part of Canada to run traplines with his grandfather while the investigation is ongoing.

I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story, where we get to see Ezra, one Ojibwe boy, learn to love himself through the love of his family around him.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which is narrated by the author himself. Since I am partially Indigenous (Apache) I just absolutely love reading Indigenous books, love learning more about the language, culture and history etc. And this just hit every little thing I love with Indigenous books.

The one thing I didn't like with the audiobook though was that very often I could hear the different "mouth noices" the author/narrator made. I am very sensitive to mouth noices and just absolutely hate hearing it, so that might be a me problem. But very often I could hear him swallow or he would make mouth noices that made me think, "damn you need to rehydrate your mouth".

HOWEVER, overall I did enjoy the audiobook and this book and I do recommend y'all to read this. Especially if you wanna read more Indigenous books.

While this book was beautifully written, it fell kinda short to me. I understand this is a YA book, therefore, I think it’s my own problem that I found the mentioning of TikTok, smartphones and Naruto, along with the main characters inner dialogue and character conversations a bit awkward and for lack of a better word “cringey”. To me it felt like the author was trying too hard to relate to gen alphas which took some of the enjoyment out of the book.

Regardless, the author was wonderfully descriptive and provided beautiful representation of Ojibwe culture, including traditions and beliefs. Treuer also highlighted the racism and injustices indigenous individuals still face, which is important to recognize. Because of this, I would recommend this book especially to a younger audience that could better appreciate the main characters juvenile characteristics.

Ezra, an Ojibwe teen boy grieving the loss of his mother, spends the summer with his grandfather on the trapline learning about family traditions and how to respect the land and its animals. Moving, heartfelt and with great mental health rep. This was great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like David Robertson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy of this new to me author's latest book! Highly recommended!

Thank-you netgalley and rb media for the free alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I really enjoyed this book found it informative and was invested in the story. This is a book that needs to be savored and reread to make sure you are getting everything it has to offer. Great narration and appropriated the translation in the back of the book

My one complaint is the hp mention and the author. This does nothing to add to the story and definitely could be omitted. It is very frustrating to continue to see new books with either mentioned especially whennit does nothing to the plot of the story. .

4.5/5☆

Ezra is from the Ojibwe tribe, growing up in Northeast Minneapolis. At school he is a bullied by a fellow classmate, Matt. After a rather impulsive incident, where Ezra punches a locker instead of the Matt's face after the Matt is extremely rude to Ezra's friend, Nora, Matt's house later burns to the ground killing several people, but not the him. Erza is rushed off to the tribal lands to spend some time with his father, learning to trap and the ways the of the wild. But... who burned Matt's house down and why do the police continue to look at his family as possible suspects?

Overall, I did enjoy this novel, outside the general characteristics of the evil white man. Yes, there are white people who have and who will do horrible things, but in a novel where there are NO redeeming people of a specific color and you are told often how evil they are and cannot be trusted, it's a bit eye rolling. I love indigenous culture and heritage. I wish tribes had not been stripped of their identities and language and put onto reservations. How much has been lost because of people doing horrible things? But I love stories of their lives and their beliefs about nature and living in harmony with it and respecting it. I would have enjoyed an entire novel of just Ezra's time with his grandfather out trapping - in fact during those parts I forgot about the fire and investigation until it was mentioned. I was along side them lighting tobacco as an offering of thanks, attending the first kill meal. That story was captivating! I lost interesting who committed the arson, and honestly, I kinda solved it rather early on - the reason I was wrong, but the people involved I was correct.

The narration was great! I think the author did a wonderful job and I love that you could really hear the language spoken by someone who knows it and had connection to it.

Thanks Netgalley, and RB Media for an advance listening of this novel. I might not get the audio version, but will definitely get the physical book upon it's release.

A great story of coming of age and learning to find yourself in your culture. A great in depth look at what it means to be family and always being there for your community.

Where Wolves Don’t Die is a YA novel featuring Ezra, an Ojibwe boy living in Minneapolis. His mother died recently, and his father teaches Ojibwe at the local college. That is what they live in the city, not in Canada on First Nations land. Ezra HATES the city and the dirty snow and dreams of living and tracking with his grandfather.

His dream becomes reality when a fire engulfs his school bully’s home the night after a fight with Ezra. Ezra becomes a suspect…so his dad sends him to Canada.

This book is a beautiful story of family, friends, self-discovery, and healing. As an audience follows through the eyes of the Ojubwe—the Author, Dr. Anton Treuer, reads the book. I loved listening to him read, especially the parts in Ojibwe.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this beautiful book.