I tried. The premise sounded really good, but it jist wasnt carried out well. I'm always on the lookout for diverse fiction to expand my worldview, but this was a DNF for me.

Jon Hickey’s debut novel, Big Chief, is an interesting read. I was hooked by the premise and the hope of a deep dive into life and politics within a fictious version of the Anishinaabe Tribe.

Mr. Hickey’s characters are well developed, and they felt realistic and authentic. I found Mitch, the story’s narrator, likable as the cynical, semi-outsider who is torn between loyalty to his best friend and his adopted family, who Mitch left behind.

Hickey’s plot meanders a bit and I got lost in multiple storylines, flashbacks and memories. His list of addressed issues is a bit overreaching (corruption, class conflicts, disenfranchisement, tribal membership, and greed) and probably contributed to my thoughts on the plot. That said, I appreciated the complexity of the plot and the lyrical quality of the prose.

Real Rating: 3.75* of five

I Pearl-Ruled <i>There There</i>. I almost Pearl-Ruled this book. The reason I didn't, in spite of the irksome meandering of the plot, is that I liked Mitch and didn't like the coruscating cloud of people in Orange's book. I think there's a deeper...difference...in these stories than I am accustomed to. The characters in Tommy Orange's novel never felt distinctive or differentiated as I read that first segment. Hickey's characters, Mitch in particular, were more fleshed out, which allowed me to get into the twisty story. But both novels share a similarly alienating absence of interest in building tension for all they're both stories about identity-forming in the crucible of interpersonal conflict.

I am all over stories of power addicts misusing their hits of the drug. It feels evergreen and timely at the same moment of storytelling..."this could be 1888, 1988, 2008, and I'd be in the same rooms among the same people" says my headliner note...so I'm better able to get past the messy, not-obvious-why-they're-happening PoV shifts. I was sometimes a little fuddled about Mack's hold over Mitch, a lawyer who's cynical yet still young enough to believe the law has force of its own. Mack has no such illusions (nor does his political opponent Gloria) so he's, um, pragmatic and elozable. Mitch? Not sure if he's willfully blind to Mack's, um, character traits or simply prefers him to other political animals because Mack's familiar to Mitch. Mitch uses his lawyerly (though not legal) skills to fix events in Mack's favor but he's not crossing his personal ethical boundaries.

I felt immersed in the Passage Rouge Nation. I felt I understood why people love the place. I was on board for the ways and means Mack adopted to effect change, so truly *got* how he lost his moral way. I mistrusted his political opponent/loudly activist Gloria. While believing she was at least half sincere in her desire to reform the world, I felt it was not so much it wouldn't line her pockets. My evil little inner cynic got a good outing among these people.

As to why there are not-quite four full stars, I never fully bought into the plot to retain power Mack set in motion, as it seemed out of proportion thus guaranteed to blow up and cause him worse problems. Mitch saw this, I think, as a failing but he and Mack want the same outcome and share so much history; now how much sense of self does he care to put on the line to achieve a goal? Mitch is a perpetual outsider, which I relate to deeply, as well as a carrier of nasty generational trauma. It was clear to me as I read past the point I nearly tapped out that Author Hickey gets something profound about Mitch. He is among the few who is capable of making his trauma into a source of power.

I think the real reason I found this story so powerfully involving all comes down to my sense of connection to Mitch. Yeah, I'd've liked less muddling through the plot's interesting intertwining strands; I might've enjoyed Mack more had he not possessed what felt like a convenient penchant for making own goals. In the end I allowed this debut novel its imperfections because I feel, and I hope, Author Hickey will be back on our shelves soon with an even more accomplished story for us.

Jon Hickey's debut novel, Big Chief, explores the themes of power, identity, and the complexities of Native American politics within the Passage Rouge Nation of Lake Superior Anishinaabe. Set against the backdrop of a contentious tribal election, the narrative delves into the moral ambiguities faced by those in power and the personal costs of political maneuvering.​

The story centers on Mitch Caddo, a 30-year-old law school graduate who serves as the tribal operations director for his Wisconsin-based tribe. As the election for tribal president approaches, Mitch finds himself torn between loyalty to his longtime friend and current president, Mack Beck, and his growing disillusionment with Mack's leadership tactics, which include banishing members who encounter legal troubles. Mitch's internal conflict intensifies as he engages in ethically questionable activities on Mack's behalf, to try to get him to win the tribal election, which prompts him to reevaluate his values and past decisions. ​

It's a bit long winded and there are several side bar stories that are not related to the main plot but still an interesting account of how tribal politics are not much different at all than what goes on between democrats and republicans in a high stakes election.

Hickey's narrative is both timely with what's going on in today's administration, and thought-provoking, drawing parallels between the microcosm of tribal politics and broader themes of corruption and integrity in contemporary society. Rather than expanding the narrative from there, he concentrates on how these actions effect the community and people individually.

A tragedy. Framed over the course of a week before the election of Tribal President of the Passage Rouge Anishanaabe, it's the story of Mitch, an attorney who came back to the reservation at the urging of Mack's adoptive father Joe, and Mack who Mitch got elected last time around. It's not entirely linear-we learn Mitch's back story in bits and pieces. Mack is an angry man, a man who has been angry since he was adopted by Joe as a child. His sister Layla, Mitch's one time love, is working for Gloria who is running against Mitch. And under it all is corruption, some of which trails back to Joe. The atmospherics are vivid, the characters well rounded and wholly believable. The image of Mack sitting by the fire will stick with you. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a terrific read.

DNF
I’m 30% in and I still can’t get a true sense of Mitch. Just a lot of boring, confusing internal dialogue and there doesn’t seem to be any acceleration of the pace of the story. I had to stop because I really wasn’t enjoying it.

I just couldn’t get into this book at all. The beginning is super slow and the characters didn’t stand out to me.
I had high hopes starting out because the premise sounded interesting, but there just wasn’t enough for this to be a compelling read.

I liked the beginning quarter of this but then it just seemed to go off the rails. I didn't understand Mitch. He made me sad. And I hated the ending. I was hoping this would be more of a mystery but it was just sad. Hope you have better luck!

Big Chief comes out next week on April 8, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

The season's first shiver comes on Thanksgiving morning, five days before the election.

It starts with a slight shudder when I see the dead leaves and pine needles standing defiantly through the soft snow that blankets the Passage Rouge Indian Reservation and builds as I scrape the frost glaze off my windshield. I drive through what's left of the Old Village, where my grandparents and ancestors once survived the harsh winters. By the time I drive past the blind corner outside the Chippewa Super, where ten years ago my mother eased her car onto Highway 92 and into the path of four high school kids with a handle of E&] brandy and a stolen 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix, the shiver is chattering my teeth together. Then I'm standing in the parking lot looking up at the log cabin façade of the Golden Eagle Casino and Resort, briefcase in hand. The outward tremor passes, and I think of a question my mother never lived long enough to ask me: Mitch Caddo, what, exactly, are you doing here?

Think big in Big Chief. After all, Big Chief is a mighty Ford Super Duty F-350 monster of a truck. Plenty of power held by the owner behind the wheel.

Jon Hickey creates quite the atmosphere here. We're taken to the Passage Rouge Indian reservation in Wisconsin. We'll settle in the midst of the Anishinaabe people of the Chippewa tribe. There's an election for tribal president in the coming days. Two candidates will be locking eyes in the wings.

Hickey introduces us to Mitch Caddo, a thirty year old who has just recently mastered his law degree. Mitch is returning to his tribal roots. He's torn between these two candidates whom he has known since childhood. But Mack Beck has hired Mitch to head his campaign. Mitch and Mack grew up together. They have a long history.

And that includes the fact that the Beck Family raised Mitch when he was a boy. We'll find out more about his Native mother who was killed in an auto accident years before. The Beck family wields power in this part of the country. One Beck in particular, Layla, has a hold on Mitch's heart. That hold has cooled over the years.......or has it?

In walks Gloria Hawkins, an activist at the core. She's running for president of the tribe opposing the incumbent Mack. Now Mack, once a shoe-in, is being questioned by his fellow people as times change and so does its members. People no longer trust the government and that will have a great impact on this upcoming election.

I enjoyed Big Chief. My only concern was with the writing style of Jon Hickey at times. There was a ton of characters to keep track of. The writing, alongside the descriptors, tended to meander quite a bit which interfered with the flow of the storyline. But, all in all, Big Chief has a great message in the scheme of things.......and timely as well. Looking forward to more from Jon Hickey.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to Jon Hickey for the opportunity.

The plot of the book revolves around a tribal election at the Passage Rouge reservation, where Mitch, a young law school graduate and political fixer for his childhood friend Mack, is working to secure his reelection against the nationally known activist and politician, Gloria. The story delves into the corruption, hypocrisy, and cutthroat nature of politics, showing how shifting loyalties and betrayal can emerge even when you know your opponents personally, or have grown up with them. At its core, the book also explores Mitch’s grief, particularly his sorrow over the loss of his mother. While some elements, like the contrast between Mitch's mother's altruism and his own ambition, his complicated relationship with the Becks—a family that supported him after his mother's death—and his struggle with feeling like an outsider on the reservation, were thought-provoking and well-executed, I ultimately found it hard to connect with any of the characters, most of whom came across as annoying. The book also felt overly long and meandering for what it was trying to convey. The book has been compared to "There There", probably for its exploration of Native American experiences. However, while "There There" successfully weaves together a diverse cast of characters in under 300 pages, making you care about each one, this book introduces a similar number of characters but struggles to make any of them truly compelling by the end.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author (Jon Hickey), and the publisher (Simon & Schuster) for an advanced copy. Thoughts and review are completely my own.

John Hickey's novel 'Big Chief,' set on the fictional Passage Rouge Indian Reservation in Wisconsin, meticulously unravels the complex fabric of tribal politics through the eyes of Mitch Caddo, the tribe's operations director. Hickey, himself a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Chippewa Indians, crafts a narrative deeply entrenched in the realities of tribal sovereignty and the personal conflicts that arise from it.

The novel's strength lies in its vivid portrayal of the reservation, the internal political turmoil, and the character of Mitch, whose struggle with his identity and moral dilemmas form the crux of the narrative. Hickey's prose is straightforward yet effective, rich with the subtleties of political maneuvering and the personal sacrifices they necessitate. His descriptions of the north woods of Wisconsin and the daily lives of the tribe members add a layer of authenticity that grounds the tale in a palpable reality.

However, 'Big Chief' does not escape its flaws. The pacing sometimes feels uneven, with sections delving deeply into political intricacies at the expense of narrative momentum. For instance, extended discussions of tribal governance can overshadow the emotional development of key relationships. Additionally, while Mitch Caddo is a well-rounded character, many secondary figures lack the same depth, appearing more as political foils than fully realized individuals with their own complex motivations.

Despite these issues, the novel tenaciously addresses the pressures facing modern tribal communities, from questions of identity and belonging to the stark realities of power and corruption. Hickey's handling of these themes is commendable, offering a window into the complexities of life on a reservation that is both enlightening and thought-provoking.

While 'Big Chief' presents a rich tapestry of culture and conflict, it falls short of the mark set by seminal works to which it is compared—Tommy Orange's 'There There' and Louise Erdrich's 'The Night Watchman.' Where Orange's novel offers a kaleidoscopic view of urban Native American experiences through multiple perspectives, and Erdrich's work achieves a seamless blend of historical significance with poetic prose, Hickey's narrative, though compelling, doesn't quite reach the same emotional depths or literary innovation.

Ultimately, 'Big Chief' is a noteworthy exploration of Native American life and politics, presenting a narrative that is as challenging as it is significant. I was particularly drawn to Hickey's unflinching portrayal of the moral compromises political power demands. Readers interested in contemporary Native American literature who appreciate complex political narratives will find much value in Hickey's work. However, those seeking the transcendent storytelling of Orange or Erdrich may need to adjust their expectations.

This review is of an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster. It is scheduled to be released on April 8, 2025.

<u>Big Chief</u>
Jon Hickey

It is November, and incumbent Mack Beck is running for reelection as Tribal President of the Passage Rouge Indian Reservation in Wisconsin. The story is told from the POV of young lawyer, Mitch Caddo, who is part of Beck’s campaign. The election is heated, against political activist Gloria Hawkins, especially after secrets are unearthed, leading to allegations of graft and corruption.

<i>Big Chief</i> has intrigue and betrayal. It is about loyalty, family and community. It gives us a glimpse into Native American sovereign government and reservation politics. It starts off interesting enough, but gets lost in multiple side stories and flashbacks, and suffers as most debuts do in being unable to tie everything together while maintaining a cohesive plot. Despite the subplots, the secondary characters are not well fleshed out, with only Mitch’s character being well-developed.

ARC courtesy of Simon & Schuster and NetGalley.

This novel just wasn’t for me. The synopsis hooked me but unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with the protagonist at all. He was annoying and too self absorbed. I liked that he was ambitious with his political ideologies. I also liked the election process, but the overall story was like pulling teeth. The prose was too long-winded and too much exposition which made for a draggy storyline. I had high hopes for this book but ultimately fell flat.

The author did a nice job of creating vivid and complex characters. It certainly seemed like there were some parallels to our current American political scene. I kept reading because the intrigue of the election kept me going.

Mitch Caddo is a recent law school grad who has moved home to Wisconsin. He doesn’t necessarily feel like he belongs in his home reservation, Passage Rogue Nation along his Anishinaabe people.

Mitch is the brainpower behind Tribal President, Mack Beck, who is also a longtime, childhood friend. Mack “looks” the part, and Mitch “knows” the part.

The whole book takes place in the few days leading up to Mack’s re-election, which has been bumpy to say the least. They are running against nationally known activist, Gloria Hawkins.

There is lots of small town, political drama and rivalry, there’s corruption and through it all, we can feel Mitch’s urgent need to feel a part of something.

Something just fell short for me.. Mack was an annoying character to me and maybe Mitch’s association and loyalty towards him played a big part in me not enjoying the book as much as I wanted.

It also felt like we never fully got to know any of the characters to accept them even with their flaws.

One thing for sure, this literary debut was compared to There, There and Louise Erdrich’s The Nightwatchman and if you’ve been here for a while you know those are two of my favorite authors.

That’s a really high standard to put for anyone.. and for me it didn’t quite reach it. Maybe if I hadn’t gone in with that comparison in mind, my expectations would have been different.

Thanks to #netgalley, the publisher and the author for this e-arc! It’s out on 4/8!

really interesting concept that is used to tell a really good story about identity, control, and indigenous. would definitely recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Mitch Caddo is a young lawyer and fixer for the Passage Rouge reservation in northern Wisconsin. Mack Beck is the tribal president, and he was Mitch’s childhood friend. Gloria Hawkins is challenging Mack in the upcoming tribal election, with the help of Layla Beck … Mack’s sister and Mitch’s ex-lover.

The campaign becomes heated as evidence of corruption is revealed and violence takes hold. All of this causes Mitch to begin to sort out what his values are and what that might mean. The concepts of family, friendship, love, loyalty, and simply doing what is right become challenging.

As a reader, I found Mitch was hard to like … even when he was able to get glimpses of his failings and worked to put things right. In fact, Layla seemed to be the only righteous character in the book.

I loved the themes of the complexities Native politics, pride, and family in this book. The story is interesting, at times perplexing (in the best way), and the prose used to tell it is beautiful. I can't wait to read more from Jon Hickey!

Thank you to the publisher for the early review copy!

This was disappointing to say the least. I was initially excited because it's described as There There meets The Nightwatchman, but I did not get that vibe from this book. It started off really strong, but honestly? The main character, Mitch, is super insufferable. I know he's a man with political goals, but his inner thoughts are really annoying. If he'd been more likable, I might have enjoyed this more. All the best to the author as he does have a strong voice, this book was just not it for me.

Thanks to Net Galley, who gave me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me a while to get into, but once I was locked in to protagonist/antihero's Mitch Caddo's story I stayed up late to finish it.

Taking place in an Anishinaabe reservation, the events of the book unfold during both election season and a brutal winter. Much of the environmental imagery is set in alternatingly a dark and snowy wood, warm private homes, or around the impersonal lights and noise of a casino. In many ways the contrasts between these vastly different spaces drive the narrative and conflict.

I especially appreciated the diversity in the Native American characters, who span from complacent or corrupt politicians, to traditional practitioners of medicine and culture, to passionate activists, to those questioned for their degree of belonging to the rez. No one is rendered two-dimensionally, and that innate nuance and complexity of human nature is beautifully depicted. Understanding and claiming one's own identity is also a major theme.

Without naming spoilers, a few decisions the main character made and motivations about the actions of his father figure were a little unclear. I suppose it's anchored in realism that way--we don't always know why others and even ourselves choose the paths we do.

I had to look up and research some words and phrases (Shout out to Sault College's let's start Ojibwe YouTube series) but was very grateful for the knowledge.

Recommended for anyone interested in novels about self-discovery, grief, and identity, and folks looking to read more indigenous writers. I can't wait to see more from John Hickey and will look for author events in our shared neighborhood of the Richmond in SF!

Review also posted to goodreads.