Who Would Like This Book:
This post-apocalyptic tale stands out with its gorgeous, careful storytelling and a unique focus on community, tradition, and Indigenous culture. Waubgeshig Rice weaves Anishinaabemowin into the narrative, immersing you in a world where survival means more than just staying alive - it's about keeping culture and hope alive, too. If you love character-driven stories with slow-building tension, emotional depth, and a contemplative look at family and identity, this one will definitely resonate - especially for fans of Indigenous literature and thoughtful science fiction.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you prefer fast-paced plots and constant action, this book’s slower, more meditative pace might not be your thing. Some readers found the narrative too gentle and the story less suspenseful than expected, and a few felt it leaned a bit heavily on 'politically correct' themes. If you're looking for high drama or classic dystopian tropes, you may not be as captivated.
About:
Moon of the Turning Leaves is a post-apocalyptic novel set in a world where a group of Anishinaabe people is trying to survive. They embark on a journey south, seeking their ancestral homeland as they navigate through dangers like hunger, environmental challenges, and hostile groups. The writing is characterized by its cinematic quality and deep respect for nature, providing a rich insight into Indigenous culture through the use of traditional language.
The plot unfolds slowly, focusing on character development and interpersonal relationships rather than conventional dramatic structures. Key moments of birth and death are framed with ceremonial significance, highlighting the importance of family and community. The story is hopeful, depicting resilience and togetherness as the characters face their uncertain future. This novel can be enjoyed on its own, but reading the first part, Moon of the Crusted Snow, adds depth to the unfolding narrative.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains medium-level content warnings related to themes of loss, violence, and grief in a post-apocalyptic context.
From The Publisher:
"Waubgeshig Rice's stories are good medicine. Moon of the Turning Leaves is a restorative balm for my spirit." - Angeline Boulley, New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter
In this gripping stand-alone literary thriller set in the world of the award-winning post-apocalyptic novel Moon of the Crusted Snow, a scouting party led by Evan Whitesky ventures into unknown and dangerous territory to find a new home for their close-knit Northern Ontario Indigenous community more than a decade after a world-ending blackout.
For the past twelve years, a community of Anishinaabe people have made the Northern Ontario bush their home in the wake of the power failure that brought about societal collapse. Since then they have survived and thrived the way their ancestors once did, but their natural food resources are dwindling, and the time has come to find a new home.
Evan Whitesky volunteers to lead a mission south to explore the possibility of moving back to their original homeland, the "land where the birch trees grow by the big water" in the Great Lakes region. Accompanied by five others, including his daughter Nangohns, an expert archer, Evan begins a journey that will take him to where the Anishinaabe were once settled, near the devastated city of Gibson, a land now being reclaimed by nature.
But it isn't just the wilderness that poses a threat: they encounter other survivors. Those who, like the Anishinaabe, live in harmony with the land, and those who use violence.
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Moon of the Turning Leaves?
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