Anne reviewed Wolf's Trail by Thomas D. Peacock
Review of "Wolf's Trail" on 'GoodReads'
4 stars
The Wolf's Trail is ostensibly a story about wolves, but in reality it's so much more than that. It's many tales woven into one, largely about how the Ojibwe people's and the wolves' lives are intertwined, how their lives affect each other's, and about their past and their origins.
Zhi-shay', Uncle, is an old wolf at nine years old, and is his pack's story keeper. The pups all come to him with questions, and in the evenings, they talk story. The stories begin with the world's creation and the naming of all things, and even at the beginning, Zhi-shay' makes clear that the wolves and the Ojibwe are connected. After all, in the beginning, the Creator appointed First Human and Ma'iingan, first wolf, to name everything on earth, creating a deep bond. Zhi-shay' then tells stories of the migrations of the first people in what is now North …
The Wolf's Trail is ostensibly a story about wolves, but in reality it's so much more than that. It's many tales woven into one, largely about how the Ojibwe people's and the wolves' lives are intertwined, how their lives affect each other's, and about their past and their origins.
Zhi-shay', Uncle, is an old wolf at nine years old, and is his pack's story keeper. The pups all come to him with questions, and in the evenings, they talk story. The stories begin with the world's creation and the naming of all things, and even at the beginning, Zhi-shay' makes clear that the wolves and the Ojibwe are connected. After all, in the beginning, the Creator appointed First Human and Ma'iingan, first wolf, to name everything on earth, creating a deep bond. Zhi-shay' then tells stories of the migrations of the first people in what is now North America, and how the Ojibwe came to Madeline Island. He continues with stories of what happened when the new humans (white missionaries and immigrants) arrived, how the Ojibwe's lives were forever changed, and the injustices that occurred, including the boarding school system. But in the end, the wolves' stories are hopeful that good change is coming, that people are going back to the old ways.
One element of the book that surprised me but that I appreciated was that before each chapter, Peacock includes a short nonfiction excerpt relating to the story to come. It's a good reminder that even though this book is fiction, the events are based on history and reality.
Peacock is a wonderful storyteller. He doesn't shy away from painful realities, but he also includes the good, the small moments of peace and love. For anyone interested in Ojibwe stories and history, I would recommend The Wolf's Trail as an addition to your reading lists.