My Indian Summer: A Novel

"Alternating in tone between bitter and humorous My Indian Summer is a multifaceted coming-of-age story . . . Family doesn’t always mean blood, and blood doesn’t always mean family – 12-year-old Hunter, who is desperate to follow his older sister out of the tiny British Columbia town of Red Rock and escape his abusive mother and elder brother, knows that better than most. By the end of Labour Day weekend, 1979, he’ll also learn that you can understand someone without forgiving them." Quill & Quire

"He breathes life into his characters at their first mention and draws you into the gossamer web of his vibrant storytelling, from which there is no escape other than to read a story through to its end." Darrel J. McLeod

"The first time I heard Joseph Kakwinokanasum read, I knew I was hearing the voice of a born storyteller . . . This is a story of intergenerational pain, brought on by details of the history we keep learning about – history that’s left such a terrible legacy. It’s a story that’s believable as being based in personal experience, as the author is from James Smith Cree Reserve, a place that was recently too prominent in Canadian news. But even more importantly, the novel is a story of resilience, and one that’s bound to linger in mind." Heidi Greco, The Miramichi Reader.

"With chapters that share titles with huge seventies radio hits by the likes of ABBA, Kenny Rogers, Nick Gilder, and Captain & Tennille, My Indian Summer appears to point readers in the direction of a wholly feel-good feast of nostalgia . . . In Kakwinokanasum’s story, though, there’s misery in copious amounts at home and danger on the streets; and the future is anything but bright. We may wish for the possibility of a pure, summery nostalgia for Hunter, the author’s immensely likeable and dogged protagonist. In the Sooke, BC resident’s tale unadulterated bliss isn’t altogether realistic." Brett Josef Grubisic, The BC Review.

It''s the summer of 1979, and Hunter Frank is desperate to escape both his monstrous mother and his small northern town. With the help of three elders, a man named Crow, his two best friends, and a drug dealer, the twelve-year-old may be getting out of Red Rock sooner than he hoped.

• | Author: Joseph Kakwinokanasum
• | Publisher: Tidewater Press
• | Publication Date: Sep 27, 2022
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9781990160127
• | ISBN-10: 1990160123