The MARROW THIEVES

 

The MARROW THIEVES, a novel by Cherie Dimaline. Cormorant, 2017

The Marrow Thieves was featured on Canada Reads, won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction among other prestigious prizes, and was a #1 national bestseller. Many people loved it, so my hesitancy to read it at the time matters not. Although I prefer to read Canadian writers whenever possible, I was not that interested in this one because: 1) I seldom choose to read Sci-Fi. This story is speculative fiction, set in a dystopian future, some time after 2066. Frenchie, the 16-year old narrator, is part of a small “unhoused” group living in a post-climate change country, somewhere northeast of Toronto. 2) I am also not a fan of YA, young adult stories of coming-of-age which usually involve first love/sex and developing independence. I am old. I’ve read too many coming-of-age stories; my personal challenges are different. 3) Finally, the “concept” of the book, capturing Indigenous people in order to harvest their bone marrow, reminded me too much of British Nobel Prize-winner Kazuo Ishigaro’s novel Never Let Me Go, also about “harvesting” but different organs. That said, I am glad that my last book club selection was The Marrow Thieves and that I have read it now, and discussed it at book club on October 15. .

My hesitations above tell you what you need to know about the story. Frenchie is hiding out, moving from camp to camp in the bush with Miig, the older leader, Minerva, the Elder, Wab and Chi-Boy, an emerging couple, Rose, the love interest, and RiRi, one of four children. Frenchie has lost his brother Mitch and their father; Miig has lost his husband Isaac. Coincidence does play a part in the plot more than once. The group feels like “prey”, “hunted” by government Recruiters. They fear being captured and sold to the “schools” where the harvesting labs are located. Fear of the unknown and suspicion dominate. Which strangers can be trusted? Individuals are angry at what has caused climate change which has destroyed life as it was known. They cope with their grief by telling “coming-to” stories about what they have lost and how they arrived where they are now. There are some beautiful poetic descriptions and the plot is engaging. Will they or won’t they be captured? Will he or won’t he get the girl? Well worth reading.

As part of my Substack newsletter One Lonely Writer, my series on RECONCILE THIS1, I look at how The Marrow Thieves contributes towards RECONCILIATION.