Drew Hayden Taylor's 'The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel'

Although this title has been out for a while (2007), I thought to include it in my reviews of Native-related subject matter, largely because of its author. An award-winning playwright, author, columnist, film maker, and lecturer, Canadian, Drew Hayden Taylor, utilizes a wonderful sense of humor to bridge the gap between various cultures. He accomplishes it nicely in his travel appearances, far and wide, and in the pages of his novels; 'The Night Wanderer,' his first YA, being no exception. I was lead initially to his writing by way of the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards, where 'Wanderer' took Gold/First prize in the Juvenile/YA fiction category. I followed that up by watching a short video book trailer and speaking performance clip. I was hooked!

 

 

 

 

What attracts me to work like 'The Night Wanderer' is that it blends together several important themes in ways that directly appeal to young readers - much as I strive to accomplish in my own fiction projects. Themes of coming of age, ties that bind, and redemption are backdrops for his treatment of kid-important issues like bullying, suicide, prejudice, and fairness. I was impressed with how he mixed these in 'Wanderer.'

 

His depiction of life on an Anishinabe (Canada) reserve is authentic and well-supported, including Native American vocabulary and word usage. The humor he weaves into the dialogue and description is refreshingly smart, and reminded me of the clip from his speaking performance - very funny stuff!

 

Yeah, this is a vampire novel, but it is definitely 'once removed.' And by that I mean that the main characters are Native American and the plot does not follow the typical line. The protagonists are Tiffany Hunter, a 16-year-old resident of the fictional Otter Lake Reserve in present-day Ontario, and Pierre L'Errant, a mysterious man of Anishinabe ancestory who shows up from Europe. Tiffany has serious issues going with her dad, who doesn't approve of her non-native boyfriend, while her grades at school are also taking a nose-dive. Pierre is seeking an honorable end to his vampirism, drawn into Tiffany's world when he becomes a boarder in her home (Tiffany's father decides to convert the house to a B & B).

 

This novel is great escapism; a delicious blend of the real and the unreal, plus thrills and chills in the deep woods of Canada. The dark of night encounter between Tiffany and Pierre is, by itself, sufficient to make the reader rave about this novel, once they've raced through the pages to finish it. I can enthusiastically recommend this read to those looking for a different slant on the traditional paranormal.

 

Look for more reviews in the coming days. Happy reading!