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Moon of the Crusted Snow

A Novel

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Moon of the Crusted Snow

Written by: Waubgeshig Rice
Narrated by: Billy Merasty
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A daring post-apocalyptic novel from a powerful rising literary voice

With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. 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. Soon after, others follow.

The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. 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. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision.

Blending action and allegory, Moon of the Crusted Snow upends our expectations. Out of catastrophe comes resilience. And as one society collapses, another is reborn.

©2018 Waubgeshig Rice (P)2018 ECW Press Dystopian Fiction Genre Fiction Indigenous Creators Literary Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction World Literature Native American Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Scary
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What the critics say

“Perfect for those who read Iain Reid’s Foe this summer and are looking for something in the same vein.” (The Globe and Mail)

“The creeping tension and vividly drawn landscapes make Waubgeshig Rice’s characters’ choices all the more real.” (Toronto Star)

“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. For other characters, when the food runs out, all options are on the table, no matter how gruesome. 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. Chilling in the best way possible." (Eden Robinson, award-winning author of Monkey Beach and Son of a Trickster)

Go Behind the Scenes of Moon of the Crusted Snow

''What I hope people take away from Moon of the Crusted Snow is that there is hope,'' author Waubgeshig Rice shared with Audible in a conversation held at the 2019 Festival of Literary Diversity in Brampton, Ontario. ''Despite all the darkness that we endure even in modern society, there are things to be hopeful for.''
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I struggled with the narration at the beginning but once I adjusted to the rhythm I ended really enjoying the performance. The story moves fast and I very much enjoy learning and listening to traditions and perspectives through the lens of our first nations. A great first novel from one of my favorite CBC journalists.

Enjoyed the story

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It's been years since another book was able to hook me like this one did! Throughout the entire book I felt like I was right there, seeing what the characters were seeing, feeling what they were feeling, smelling what they were smelling. The story was perfect and the dialogue throughout the book was incredibly realistic. Having Billy Merasty narrate was the cherry on top.

I cannot wait to start reading Moon of the Turning Leaves! (I hope Waubgeshig Rice is already working on the next book in the series!)

Absolutely Spellbinding!

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The story is captivating!! So good I couldn’t put it down!! The characters and narrative voice was such good storytelling

Fantastic story

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Wow, what a story! No wonder this was on the Canada Reads long list. A story about resilience, survival, and family. Great narration as well.

beautifully eerie

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This book was enchanting. From the small events of daily life to large community concerns the Indigenous way of being was demonstrated. Concepts of community are made clear and values reinforced. It reflects the strength of First Nations communities and the humanity in their traditions of living on and with the land.
The narrator's voice was perfect.
Highly recommended.

Incredible

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