With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2019-2020 resource list as being useful for grades 10 to 12 for English Language Arts.Ĭontains strong language and mature subject matter relating to violence and death.A daring post-apocalyptic novel from a powerful rising literary voice Chilling in the best way possible.” - Eden Robinson, award-winning author of Monkey Beach and Son of a Trickster

As the tensions between those surviving the end of modern civilization build to a harrowing conclusion, Rice deftly weaves tender family moments with his brutal survival scenes in the unforgiving northern Ontario winter. For other characters, when the food runs out, all options are on the table, no matter how gruesome. “ Moon of the Crusted Snow asks how do we live in a good way during the collapse of the infrastructure that supports modern life? For Evan Whitesky, the answer lies in rekindling Ojibwe, the old ways, language and culture. “The creeping tension and vividly drawn landscapes make Waubgeshig Rice’s characters choices all the more real.” - Toronto Star “Perfect for those who read Iain Reid's Foe this summer and are looking for something in the same vein.” - The Globe and Mail This title will appeal to fans of literary science fiction akin to Cormac McCarthy as well as to readers looking for a fresh voice in indigenous fiction.” - Booklist 'Rice seamlessly injects Anishinaabe language into the dialogue and creates a beautiful rendering of the natural world. “This slow-burning thriller is also a powerful story of survival and will leave readers breathless.” - Publishers Weekly And as one society collapses, another is reborn. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision.īlending action and allegory, Moon of the Crusted Snow upends our expectations. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south.

Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. Cut off, people become passive and confused. A daring post-apocalyptic novel from a powerful rising literary voice.