I Am Algonquin

Algonquin Quest #1

by Rick Revelle

An exciting journey seen through the eyes of the Algonquin people.


This book paints a vivid picture of the original peoples of North America before the arrival of Europeans. The novel follows the story of Mahingan and his family as they live the traditional Algonquin way of life in what is now Ontario in the early fourteenth century. Along the way we learn about the search for moose and the dramatic rare woodland buffalo hunt, conflicts with other Native nations, and the dangers of wolves and wolverines. We also witness the violent game of lacrosse, the terror of a forest fire, and the rituals that allow Algonquin boys to be declared full-grown men.


But warfare is also part of their lives, and signs point to a defining conflict between Mahingan’s nation, its allies the Omàmiwinini (Algonquin), Ouendat (Huron), and the Nippissing against the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). The battle’s aftermath may open the door to future journeys by Mahingan and his followers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Indigenous, Canada, Historical

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2013

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an interesting read because it portrays the life of an indigenous tribe through a series of adventures, but the writing style wasn't for me. I liked that I learned so much about the tribe, but I feel like it was more anthropology than literature.

I do want to read the sequel, since Mahingan thought he his wife Wabananang is dead, but she's just been taken captive.

[Jim Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! An exciting read, right down to the last page. A good story, well told and as exciting to read as The Last of the Mohicans, which says a lot.

[Thea N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about the Algonquin in the 1300’s, I found myself googling different things mentioned in the story. 1st of four in the series.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Through Library Thing, I was provided with an Advance Reading Copy of this novel by the publisher, Dundurn in return for an honest review.

The information at the beginning of this ARC states “This book paints a vivid picture of the original peoples of North America before the arrival of Europeans.” Actually, I would venture to say that this book paints a rather bland picture. I found it dry and tedious to get through; it read like a text book to me rather than like an exciting story of the Algonquin peoples.

We were told that the target group for this novel is young readers at the elementary school level as part of their curriculum on Native History. My sons both studied Native Canadians in Grade 4 and I could not imagine them having enjoyed this book as it is written. It seems to be a series of incidents rather than a story and perhaps would have been better as a series of short essays rather than an attempt at a novel.

Like many of the previous reviewers I found that the book cries out for proper editing. I was immediately worried when I read the third sentence in the author’s note which reads “Out of ignorance and lack of information a lot of people have no idea who we are as Natives.” This seemed redundant and it sent me off to my dictionary to confirm that ignorance is lack of information or knowledge.

The book is filled with grammatical errors. One sentence reads “Hochelagans never usually wander far from their fortified village.” It is my understanding that never is an absolute. Never means never, not usually. There is also frequent misuse of pronouns eg. I and me, (“At first light me and Oazawa Onik split the camp into two groups”) and spelling errors like “boar” instead of “bear”. From paragraph to paragraph the tenses change, one moment Mahingan is speaking in the present tense, the next paragraph in the past tense, sometimes in the same sentence (... he crawled into our shelter, lies beside me, and whimpered…”.) It was very confusing. Hopefully these grammatical errors were corrected before this actually went to print.

Many details are repeated just a few pages apart and this was glaringly obvious to me and eventually became quite annoying which distracted me from the story. For example on pg. 16 the author states “The dogs were brought along to help run down any game we found, to guard the camp, and also to help carry what we killed back on a travois when we had enough for our needs. As a last resort the dogs were also used for food if our hunt turned out to be unsuccessful.” Then on page 33 he states “Dogs are an important companion for the Omamiwinini because they serve many purposes for us: beasts of burden, hunters, camp guards, and food in times of near starvation.”

There are also some oddities like “Mitigomij led Wagosh and I with Ishkodewan following on a rope to the river. We had to be careful in our haste, so Mitigomij could keep up.” If Mitgomij was leading then he would not be ‘keeping up’. And one that really made me laugh was ‘”Kag was a fierce warrior and had a dent in his head from a Haudenosaunee (Iroquios) war club many years ago. The wound had long since healed, but he still suffered at times from unexplained head pain.” Really, I think maybe I have an explanation!

The other thing that I found extremely distracting was the authors use of actual Algonquin words for many things and yet not for others. This also became very annoying to me. Why translate squirrel and rabbit and not fruit and nuts? Then there was the inconsistent use of the Algonquin or the English words from then on.

Having said all of the above, I did find that I learned quite a bit about the Algonquins and that was quite enjoyable. Learning details about the hunts, the games of lacrosse, the partnerships of different tribes was all interesting information.

This has the potential to be a good book but it isn’t quite there yet.

[Kazia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a unique story, mostly in that there aren't that many stories focused on Canadian Native peoples. As such, it was fascinating – and I enjoyed it. There were all these tidbits of information – of these peoples' history, language, way of life, relationship with nature; however, some of the information was undigested and thus didn't blend completely with the story's narrative. Some parts were a tad repetitive, that is, the same phrasing was repeated in short succession. I'm not overly fond of the writing. Nonetheless, overall, I enjoyed this novel, and I already have my hands on the second one!

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

powerful story of the Algonquin tribe in Ontario. Great information about First Nation people. Author points out that the life of the clan depends on the health of the women.
Interesting facts about animals and hunting and the lifestyle of the people who are part of Turtle Island. Great glossary and a website for a talking dictionary of the Algonquins.This book should be in all school libraries. Great research.

[Eva McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling read: Little House on the Prairie meets Blood Meridian. Family structure, tribal culture and tasks of daily life are described in fascinating detail, permeated by death in the form of game hunts and warfare with competing tribes. A vivid portrait of aboriginal life before the arrival of Europeans.

[Ampersand Inc. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody, gory, and totally fascinating. A gripping story about the Algonquin in the 1300’s. Perfect for teenage boys!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good book for anyone who wants to know more about some of the indigenous people of the northeast American continent before white contact without reading history books. Much of the book is historical information that the author dusted with fiction. This book is also a good reminder to those who romanticize the pre-contact life as an easy and romantic one. Although the author packs in the fighting for dramatic purposes, it is certainly true that survival was a central issue that required hard work for food, safety, housing, battles with enemies, etc. "The simple life" has rarely been simple.

The writing is a bit stilted and repetitive. However, it is hard to find decent books that are respectful of indigenous life-ways, and I found it just engaging enough to continue on to the second in the trilogy. Let's support more native authors!

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more, but the flow was a bit episodic and the writing and dialogue a bit too wordy and sometimes stilted. There were also a lot of names to remember, so readers who have a hard time tracking a large cast of characters might find it challenging or a bit distancing ("Who is this guy again?"). It seemed a bit inconsistent how some characters' names were translated into English when most others were not. I also rolled my eyes a bit at the addition of Sensational Fabulous Pets (pet wolf! pet black cougar!) who acted more like fantasy animal sidekicks than real animals.
That said, there were interesting glimpses into the First Nations ways of life pre-European contact, and a glossary of Algonquin words in the back. It's worth a look for those points, but I didn't find the story to be a gripping read.

[Tessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because of the plot, information, and writing style. There are not a lot of novels based off of the Canadian indigenous people, and I think that this was a refreshing take. There was a good variety of events, which let the reader go through the Algonquin life, and always kept them engaged. The characters were somewhat two-dimensional, but worked for the purpose of the novel. The scattering of Algonquin language didn't inhibit the reader's enjoyment, but rather enhanced it culturally. I think this was a beautiful book, by a talented indigenous author, and as an Ontario local, I greatly appreciated learning about my area's native history. I would highly recommend.

[Steven Buechler · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I found this book in the “teen” section, it certainly could easily be included in any adult’s reading list. The story deals with Mahingan raising his family in the early 14th century in what is now Ontario. Through the story, a reader can learn about how the Algonquin people lived. We are given details about: hunting, family life, living conditions, and much more. Revelle uses great details and gives great insight by telling the story through Mahingan’s eyes and thoughts.

http://tinyurl.com/y8okjoww

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very fun and interesting read, sprinkled with Algonquin vocabulary, including a glossary and a bibliography. Unfortunately, it wasn't that well written. The perspective and changes thereof made our relationship with the protagonist feel very distant. There were some anachronisms in the stilistic devices that I really didn't like (once, for example, the narrator says that something provided the characters with "comic relief" which I think is just odd to use for this setting).

[Alan Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started slow but picked up and was surprisingly entertaining and educational by the end. It provided a wonderful window into the brutal life and times of the natives in early Canada, their many challenges with nature and other First Nations bands and developed a story line and characters that you wanted to follow by the end of the book.

[Luke-George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking you through over a year and a half in the life of an Algonquin man in the early 1300's, it was incredible to see all the different situations, the action and excitement, grief and revenge and feasting and competitions...I couldn't put this down.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book!! Rick Revelle is also a great story teller so I couldn't put this one down for a couple of days

[Wayne Inkster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book... a glimpse into portions of what a traditional lifestyle may have been like, while in a plausible storyline.

[Sally906 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Synopsis: Mahingan and his family live the traditional Algonquin way of life in what is now Ontario in Canada in the 1300s. Life is not easy as they hunt for food, get involved with violent and bloody conflicts with other Native Nations, undergo rituals and survive a forest wildfire.

My Thoughts: Author Rick Revelle is a member of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and he wrote I AM ALGONQUIN to try and stem the continued ignorance about the First Nations people. His aim was to be as historically accurate as possible as he wrote about his ancestor’s lives in the early 1300s. There are certainly lots of interesting facts, which unfortunately read like a text book on one or two occasions but there was enough of a connecting story to keep me interested and I do like learning new things. The author is right in thinking that there is misinformation out in the community; thanks to Hollywood the average person in the street think that if you’ve seen one First Nation group then you’ve seen them all and that all of the tribes lived by the same rules which is very disrespectful. I AM ALGONQUIN clearly demonstrates that this isn’t the truth, The Algonquin, like their allies, the Nippissing and Huron nations, were nomadic nations – and while there were certainly some similarities in their traditions, there were many differences. The Nippissing and Algonquin did battle over traditional hunting grounds but they eventually came to a peaceful agreement after a ceremonial lacrosse match. It was a different story with their mutual enemy, the Iroquois, who lived in a permanent settlement and sent out raiding parties to the surrounding nations to bring back food, women and children. There were no discussions with this group – it was war.

The flow of the story was a bit disjointed – the plot was propelled along by a series of different incidents which may have worked better if each chapter had been short stories rather than try and work them into one novel. I also found I struggled a bit remembering the what the Algonquin words meant when they were repeated later on in the story – there is a glossary at the end but I had an e-book version so was unable to flick back and forth, in fact to be perfectly honest I didn’t discover the glossary until I finished the story. I ended up just guessing the meaning of the word so felt I may have misunderstood some of the action. I am not sure what the answer is to this, using the authentic language is part of the learning experience but maybe the use of fox and bear with the Algonquin word as a footnote may have been smoother to read. Other than that the only other problem for me as a read was that there was no clear beginning or middle before the abruptly ended finish that left me hanging. Instead the story started with a battle and ended with a battle with a series of mini-adventures on the way which is why I suggested maybe a book of short stories rather than a novel may have been easier to read. Revelle did manage to divide the drama filled events with the quieter moments which balanced the story out some; and his writing was so evocative that when he described the wolverines attacking an elderly moose, what it means to run the gauntlet, scalping in battle and trapping and slaughtering buffalo you felt that you were actually there.

Despite the few minor difficulties I had, I really enjoyed learning about another culture, one that does not exist in its entirety any more, how they did their hunting and processed the animals after, such respectful hunting. Then there were the ceremonies such the marriage ceremony and when the twins became men, I do love to look at these social traditions and couldn’t help wondering how the modern Algonquin youths become men nowadays. I played lacrosse at school as a young girl but never a game such as this – a ceremonial all day non-stop event where the team members could not stop to eat or drink. I also enjoyed the fact that despite the harshness of the way of life there were strong family ties and time for fun and laughter which brought the tribe alive for me.

For more about Ardoch Algonquin First Nation visit here: http://www.aafna.ca/history.html

Rating: D – Average – it was OK, a bit of a struggle to finish whatever redeemable aspects there were to this book, they were not fleshed out enough for me to truly enjoy it.

[R.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like to delve into native culture you will enjoy this book. It takes you back several hundred years before the arrival of the Europeans to the 14th century to the territory of the Algonquin along what is known today as the Ottawa River or Kitcisipi, meaning Great River in Algonquin. I have a special interest myself in the Algonquin, so found this book particularly informative.

As told through the voice of the chief, Mahingan, the story follows a small band of Kitcisipiriniwak over the course of a year along their nomadic routes as they follow their food supply, game and fish. It takes you into the harshness of their daily lives, where they must defend themselves against not only the rigours of their natural environment, but also against other tribes who wish to avenge themselves for past wrongs and steal their women and children.

Even though this is a fictional account, it could also be considered a history of the Algonquin at that time. The author could’ve even derived much of it from oral histories that would’ve been passed down from story teller to story teller. Though some readers may find the style of writing somewhat dry, I liken it to the style used in traditional story telling. So when reading it, imagine you are sitting around the fire listening to Mahingan tell you the story of his people.

[Judith Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found I Am Algonquin by Rick Revelle to be a fascinating look at the life style of the Algonquin Indians during the 14th century. The story follows a war leader called Mahingan and his small tribe as they hunt game, meet and make peace with their allies of the Nippissing and Huron nations, and battle their fiercest enemies, the Iroquois.

Told in a straight forward, factual style the reader gathers a lot of information about this tribe whose territory consisted of large parts of the eastern woodlands that today make up Ontario and Quebec. Unlike the Iroquois who lived in large towns and raised crops, the Algonquin were nomadic and most of their time was taken up in hunting and gathering supplies for the winter. But their strong family bonds come across during the telling of the story, and they did take time out for enjoyment and laughter.

I was a little disappointed with the abrupt ending of the book as it left the reader hanging, but I suspect the author plans on writing further books about this warrior and his family. I Am Algonquin is a YA historical fiction story that I think would appeal to anyone who is interested in the North American history.

[Spencer Julien · Rating 2 out of 5]

A historical fiction story that focused too much on the history and not on the story. It was very slow moving for most of the book and a story arc was almost nowhere to be found. I feel that it could have been better published as a collection of short stories, the way it is, there are chapters of inane details in between the small exciting parts. Integration of Algonquin words were interesting, however took away from the story. With the Algonquin words being used so frequently, it made the story hard to follow. Paragraph structure towards the end of the book was confusing and made you wonder who was dictating the story. The ending is not satisfying because, as I mentioned earlier, there was no story arc to begin with. Overall, this book had a very messy and unorganized writing style and I found it hard to follow.

[Darius Jung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rick Revelle’s first novel in the Algonquin Quest series has a number of flaws, but a plodding, slow-moving plot is definitely not one of them. Despite the story taking place over several months, the action almost never stops, driving home the constant sense of struggle that Mahingan and his tribe of Omàmiwinini (Algonquin) deal with, whether against wild animals, the elements or other tribes and nations. Although hampered by a flat writing style and lack of emotional heft, the novel packs in meticulously detailed descriptions of Algonquin life before the arrival of Europeans. It’s a lesson in culture and history told through action, whether that involves hunting, playing lacrosse or warfare and makes for a fast-paced read.

[Pegi Eyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very impressed with Rick Revelle's ability to capture the authenticity of a pre-colonial era and the worldview of the Algonquin people. "I Am Algonquin" is a fast-paced and very informative novel. I was unaware of the extent of the invasion cycles and struggles for territory between the Haudenosaunee and the Algonquin. One warning would be the high level of violence graphically depicted. At the end, I was thinking "sequel" (!!!) and sure enough, there are 2 more additions to this series in the works. I look forward to reading more ~ these books are a fantastic addition to Canadian literature and the much-needed alternative narratives from Turtle Island First Nations. Thank you ~

[Wayne Inkster]

Though the book was an easy read, I found it to lack the depth to call it a novel. It is a great learning tool for language and culture and think it would be a great resource to a genealogical or anthropological study.

[Margaret Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishingly realistic with compelling characters.