Jennifer Dance's Red Wolf is a heartrending, relentlessly compelling novel about the impact of the Indian Act of 1876 and the residential schools system upon indigenous cultures.
* Canadian Materials *
Although
Red Wolf is marketed as juvenile fiction, it is a book that will appeal to all ages. Poignantly written from the perspective of both boy and wolf, it brilliantly encapsulates the fear, alienation and hopelessness felt by a child who is powerless against a system which seeks to annihilate his heritage, spiritual beliefs and family ties. * Stouffville Free Press *
While the topic is a difficult one, [Red Wolf] covers the realities faced by First Nations in the late 1800's in a realistic and broad-minded manner. * Anishinabek News *
Red Wolf depicts an unquestionably shameful part of our history about which today's children should be informed. The novel serves that purpose while reinforcing our feelings of outrage and disgust. * Quill & Quire *
Dance's first novel addresses a horrific historical period and details Red Wolf's harsh awakening in painful, hard-hitting scenes . . . readers will finish with a strong sense of the abuses suffered by natives at the hands of settlers. * Publishers Weekly *
The Dickensian world of any nineteenth-century boarding school, particularly a Canadian Indian residential school with the agonizing clash of indigenous and British cultures, is excellent fodder for Dance's powers of portrayal, and she gives a memorable picture of those who worked in these institutions. * Resource Links *
Children and young adults alike will want to read Jennifer Dance's novel on the intertwined stories of a wolf and a First Nation boy. It is exactly the sort of story I loved when I was a boy. * James Bartleman, Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario *
This book could make a big impact on the way that non-aboriginals look at First Nations people.... I strongly believe it also has a place in healing the legacy of the residential schools within First Nations communities where lack of self identity and self respect still endure. * Judith Ennamorato, author of Sing the Brave Song *
Dance puts a human face to the history books by portraying the terror and confusion of a young boy ripped away from his family and forced to conform to the rules of a cruel and bigoted world he doesn't understand. What is especially impressive is how Dance manages to capture the internalized self-hatred forced upon the students of the residential schools. * Bookshelf Reviews *
Dance imbues the novel with lyrical prose and lilting rhythms, and the essence of what we've come to recognize in First Nation storytelling. * Canadian Children's Book News *
Told with great empathy and careful research, Jennifer Dance has done a good job of making us feel alienated, lost, and in between worlds ... an important book for young readers about the sad history of Canada's residential school system. * Philippa Dowding, author of The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden *
This book should be placed in every classroom in Canada. It is informative of our cultural way of life, and respectful of all creation. There are things that non-natives do not understand about our culture. This book will help with the understanding. * Chief Arnold General, Confederacy Chief from the Onondaga tribe, Six Nations *
With
Red Wolf, Jennifer Dance has come howling out of the wilderness ... and I'm deeply impressed. * Joseph Boyden, Giller Prize-winning author *
