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The Strangers

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The Strangers

Written by: katherena vermette
Narrated by: Michaela Washburn
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About this listen

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE ATWOOD GIBSON WRITERS' TRUST PRIZE FOR FICTION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022/2023 FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES READ AWARD, 2022 MANITOBA BOOK AWARDS’ CAROL SHIELDS WINNIPEG BOOK AWARD, MARGARET LAURENCE AWARD FOR FICTION, AND MCNALLY ROBINSON BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE
A GLOBE & MAIL BEST BOOK

From the bestselling author of The Break comes a staggering intergenerational saga that explores how connected we are, even when we’re no longer together—even when we’re forced apart.


Cedar has nearly forgotten what her family looks like. Phoenix has nearly forgotten what freedom feels like. And Elsie has nearly given up hope. Nearly.

After time spent in foster homes, Cedar goes to live with her estranged father. Although she grapples with the pain of being separated from her mother, Elsie, and sister, Phoenix, she’s hoping for a new chapter in her life, only to find herself once again in a strange house surrounded by strangers. From a youth detention centre, Phoenix gives birth to a baby she’ll never get to raise and tries to forgive herself for all the harm she’s caused (while wondering if she even should). Elsie, struggling with addiction and determined to turn her life around, is buoyed by the idea of being reunited with her daughters and strives to be someone they can depend on, unlike her own distant mother. These are the Strangers, each haunted in her own way. Between flickering moments of warmth and support, the women diverge and reconnect, fighting to survive in a fractured system that pretends to offer success but expects them to fail. Facing the distinct blade of racism from those they trusted most, they urge one another to move through the darkness, all the while wondering if they’ll ever emerge safely on the other side. 

A breathtaking companion to her bestselling debut The Break, vermette’s The Strangers brings readers into the dynamic world of the Stranger family, the strength of their bond, the shared pain in their past, and the light that beckons from the horizon. This is a searing exploration of race, class, inherited trauma, and matrilineal bonds that—despite everything—refuse to be broken.
Fiction Genre Fiction Indigenous Creators Literary Fiction Women's Fiction World Literature Inspiring Heartfelt

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this is not an easy book to read, but it's an important one. it tells the story of a family woman struggling with sorrow, guilt and anger. it illustrates the intergenerational trauma that touches so many lives. at the same time, this is a book about love and hope. You won't be sorry you read it.

one of the year's best!

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An important story to be told and to hear. I enjoyed it even when it was hard to hear. Thanks

Important story to be told

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This was an incredible story and the narrator was so good that I did not speed up the reading like I usually do.

Best narrator I’ve ever heard.

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I loved this story so much. I didn’t want it to end. The narrator is by far one of the best I’ve listened to. Highly recommend.

One of my favourite listens

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Great narration and story. Thanks! I loved the interesting characters and could really empathize with several of them. Stories are medicine. Maarsii

Worth a listen.

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