Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

5 STARS!

When catastrophe hits the modern world and there is no longer electricity and communications, society breaks down quickly. More so in a small, isolated northern First Nations reserve. Two of the community return home from school to describe the breakdown and desperation in the south. The community has to work together to survive a harsh winter. But a stranger has followed the young people and inserts himself into the community. He has his own agenda and soon begins dividing members of the town.

Following the old ways, Evan Whitesky knows that to survive, the citizens of his reserve must go back to the old ways to hunt, survive, and work together. But the white man’s ways have made many soft. By his own example, he quietly begins to lead his people.

This is an entertaining and interesting story. If society did falter, we would have no choice but to go back to the land. The First Nations people and their way of life might be the only thing that might work. The stories of the Elders might hold a key to our survival. I look forward to the sequel, out in the fall of 2023.