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Son of a Trickster

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Son of a Trickster

Written by: Eden Robinson
Narrated by: Jason Ryll
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About this listen

With striking originality and precision, Eden Robinson, the Giller-shortlisted author of the classic Monkey Beach and winner of the Writers' Trust Engel/Findley Award, blends humor with heartbreak in this compelling coming-of-age novel. Everyday teen existence meets indigenous beliefs, crazy family dynamics, and cannibalistic river otter.... The exciting first novel in her Trickster trilogy.

Everyone knows a guy like Jared: the burnout kid in high school who sells weed cookies and has a scary mom who's often wasted and wielding some kind of weapon. Jared does smoke and drink too much, and he does make the best cookies in town, and his mom is a mess, but he's also a kid who has an immense capacity for compassion and an impulse to watch over people more than twice his age, and he can't rely on anyone for consistent love and support, except for his flatulent pit bull, Baby Killer (he calls her Baby) - and now she's dead.

Jared can't count on his mom to stay sober and stick around to take care of him. He can't rely on his dad to pay the bills and support his new wife and step-daughter. Jared is only 16 but feels like he is the one who must stabilize his family's life, even look out for his elderly neighbors. But he struggles to keep everything afloat...and sometimes he blacks out. And he puzzles over why his maternal grandmother has never liked him, why she says he's the son of a trickster, that he isn't human. Mind you, ravens speak to him - even when he's not stoned.

You think you know Jared, but you don't.

©2017 Eden Robinson (P)2017 Audible, Inc. Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Indigenous Creators Literary Fiction World Literature Witty Heartfelt Native American

Editorial Review

Jared may seem like your typical burnout high school kid, but it is not just teen angst or his messed up family that separates Jared from his peers. There has always been something a little different inside. The truth is, Jared has a secret—and even he doesn’t quite know what it is.

In this coming-of-age trilogy, Canadian author Eden Robinson, winner of the Writers' Trust Engel/Findley Award and shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, tells the tale of 16-year-old Jared, a pot cookie dealer with a deep sense of compassion. With a mother more inclined to need babysitting than be a caregiver and a dad constantly in need of rent money, Jared struggles to keep his family together while navigating life as a teenager in small town Kitimat, B.C.

But Jared isn’t just dealing with his party-loving mom, her terrifying boyfriends, his somewhat unhinged girlfriend, and the pressures of a drug-based side hustle. He is starting to see and hear things. Unexplainable things.

In her signature style, Robinson weaves sympathetic and engaging characters with ancient mythology and mysticism for a story full of raw emotion that sings with magic. Deeply rooted in Haisla culture, Son of a Trickster evokes a distinct history within a widely relatable tale of hardship, family, and self identity. British Columbia native Jason Ryll lends his voice to the audiobooks of the Trickster saga, adding continuity and local charm. This is a must-listen you won’t be able to pause, as each chapter pulls you deeper into the magic and mystery of what it is that makes Jared so very different from everyone he knows.

NOTE: This title has been re-recorded by Jason Ryll and updated on August 28, 2018. If you've already purchased Son of a Trickster and wish to access the new edition, simply delete it from your app's Library and re-download.
All stars
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Haven't read any of Robinson's other work but Jared and Jared's world were true works of art, both incredibly endearing, relatable yet immaterial. there are two reasons why you can't "put a book down" either you can't wait to find out what happens or you simply take pleasure immersing yourself in their universe, with this novel it was the later of the two. I took a whole five days pacing myself but I couldn't wait to hear the next chapter. The performance was perfection hilarious and perfectly timed.

My only criticism is that the supernatural storyline felt rushed and slightly neglected.

a coming of age protagonist to love

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Most of this book felt like a standard fiction novel, the fantasy elements are sprinkled in here and there until the end of the book when the fantasy elements become the focus. The main character, Jared, is interesting. His story is entertaining but lacks realism. I don’t believe that someone who had his hard childhood would be as well put together as he is. I have no idea where the story will go, but I will be listening to the next book in the series.

Jason Ryll had limited range in voicing the many characters in the story.

A Strange Mix of General Fiction and Fantasy

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This is a gift of a story. The narrator is unfortunately unfamiliar with the places.

Son of a Trickster is a gift

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I was caught in the spell of this magical book from start to finish. Rarely have I read a story that wove together so much detail, reality, fantasy and longing page after page. Eden Robinson is a master storyteller. Son of a Trickster is aptly named, drawing on every "trick" a great writer can pull out of their creative toolbox to woo readers to stay on for every minute, every magnificent word of the ride. Bravo!

Son of a Trickster holds you for every page

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Loved it! Can't wait to listen to more! I loved the characters and the world that the author brought to light!

Great story

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Unrelentingly bleak, but punctuated with comic moments, it's easy to see why this was book prize fodder.
It was objectively good, but at the same time, me reading it felt almost exploitative? I'm not a huge fan of misery lit, and this felt like a highbrow/intellectual example of that genre. But with magical elements. (Which were very much secondary to the theme of generational trauma, substance abuse and sobriety.) Like, as a white person, it felt voyeuristic or something reading about the little tragedies that make up the heroes life.
I'm probably overthinking it.
The protagonist is likable- you want him to succeed in his endeavors. The secondary characters are believable. I love George. The writing is great, the plotting was tight, it was a good book.

good

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take the time to curl up with this one, you won't be able to put it down.

Excellent story a must listen or must read.

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I love this book so much. I've read it three times now, this being the first on Audio. I keep coming back to it because I just love Jared. He might be a messed up kid doing things that are bad for him, but all his poor decisions come from a place of love and loyalty and I love reading characters like that.

Everytime I read this I pick up on something new that I hadn't seen before, and I love the Mythology from this Indigenous author. Please read this book.

A Favourite

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The book is wonderful and the narrator does a great job. I am excited to hear the next one. Definitely a unique work of fiction.

Wonderful Book

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I live in BC and have been to most places mentioned in the book. I thought I will like the book but I was disappointed. The plot jumped around with no real direction and the author used too many unnecessary fillers. It was very difficult to continue listening.

I would however give kudos to the author for bringing First Nations story and insights out of Northern BC. Narration was good, I felt visuals many many times

Could not enjoy.

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