Wake the Stone Man

Set in a small northern town, under the mythical shadow of the Sleeping Giant, Wake the Stone Man follows the complicated friendship of two girls coming of age in the 1960s. Molly meets Nakina, who is Ojibwe and a survivor of the residential school system, in high school, and they form a strong friendship. As the bond between them grows, Molly, who is not native, finds herself a silent witness to the racism and abuse her friend must face each day.

In this time of political awakening, Molly turns to her camera to try to make sense of the intolerance she sees in the world around her. Her photos become a way to freeze time and observe the complex human politics of her hometown. Her search for understanding uncovers some hard truths about Nakina’s past and leaves Molly with a growing sense of guilt over her own silence.

When personal tragedy tears them apart, Molly must travel a long hard road in search of forgiveness and friendship.

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average rating is 4 out of 5, based on 1 votes, book lovers sharing their thoughts

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Hidayah Al-Kanz

Location:

Atlantic Canada

average rating is 4 out of 5

Time Published

A Heart-Wrenching Read

This novel follows the complex friendship of two girls in the 1960s. Readers meet Nakina, who is Ojibwe and a survivor of the residential school system, and Molly, who is caucasian. This coming-of-age book is set in a small northern town in Canada and illustrates the rollercoaster that is their lives. As their friendship deepens, each girl faces many challenges. This fictional story depicts one friend’s long road to healing as well as one friend’s heavy weight of silence.

This book, spanning many years of the girls’ lives, was powerful and well-written. However, I do wish that the book's use of profanity was more restrained. I think this book was unique in the fact that one of the protagonists is more privileged and her search for understanding uncovers some tough truths about her friend’s past, leaving regret over her silence. The book highlighted how back in the 1960s, almost the entire country was indifferent to Indigenous people’s suffering, let alone supported their genocide. It painfully brought to my mind the current destruction happening across the globe today.

This was a heartbreaking read. The book addressed several difficult subjects, including colonial mistreatment, assault, death, and much more. On the other hand, the positive themes emphasized—accepting responsibility for mistakes, speaking up when something is wrong, and inclusivity—lit a path for readers to follow suit. Readers will not only see the abuse towards Indigenous people through a sharper lens but may also finish this read propelled to make the world a better place.

This heart-wrenching book is a harsh reminder to not take things for granted, to be compassionate, and to always speak up against injustices. I recommend this book to those looking for a powerful, tragic, yet inspiring read.

I recommend this book.