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The Night Wanderer: A Graphic Novel
A mesmerizing blend of vampire thriller and coming-of-age story—now available as a graphic novel. Newcomers to the Otter Lake native reserve don’t go unnoticed for long. So it’s no surprise that 16-year-old Tiffany’s curiosity is piqued when her father rents out her room to a complete stranger. But little do Tiffany, her father, or even her insightful Granny Ruth suspect the truth about their guest. The mysterious Pierre L’Errant has a dreadful secret. After centuries roaming Europe as a brooding vampire, he has returned home to reclaim his Native roots before facing the rising sun and certain death. Meanwhile, Tiffany is deeply troubled—she doubts her boyfriend is being faithful, has escalating disputes with her father, and her estranged mother is starting a new life with somebody else. Fed up and heartsick, Tiffany threatens drastic measures and flees into the bush. There, in the midnight woods, a chilling encounter with L’Errant changes everything as Pierre introduces Tiffany to her proud Native heritage. For Pierre, though, destiny is fixed at sunrise. In this stunning graphic version of the award-winning novel first developed as a play in 1992, artist Mike Wyatt brings a brilliant story to visual life.
104 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
About the author
Drew Hayden Taylor
60 books307 followersDuring the last thirty years of his life, Drew Hayden Taylor has done many things, most of which he is proud of. An Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario, he has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada's premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. He has been an award-winning playwright (with over 70 productions of his work), a journalist/columnist (appearing regularly in several Canadian newspapers and magazines), short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and has worked on over 17 documentaries exploring the Native experience. Most notably, he wrote and directed REDSKINS, TRICKSTERS AND PUPPY STEW, a documentary on Native humour for the National Film Board of Canada.
He has traveled to sixteen countries around the world, spreading the gospel of Native literature to the world. Through many of his books, most notably the four volume set of the FUNNY, YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE series, he has tried to educate and inform the world about issues that reflect, celebrate, and interfere in the lives of Canada's First Nations.
Self described as a contemporary story teller in what ever form, last summer saw the production of the third season of MIXED BLESSINGS, a television comedy series he co-created and is the head writer for. This fall, a made-for-tv movie he wrote, based on his Governor General's nominated play was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Movie. Originally it aired on APTN and opened the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, and the Dreamspeakers Film Festival in Edmonton.
The last few years has seen him proudly serve as the Writer-In-Residence at the University of Michigan and the University of Western Ontario. In 2007, Annick Press published his first Novel, THE NIGHT WANDERER: A Native Gothic Novel, a teen novel about an Ojibway vampire. Two years ago, his non-fiction book exploring the world of Native sexuality, called ME SEXY, was published by Douglas & McIntyre. It is a follow up to his highly successful book on Native humour, ME FUNNY.
The author of 20 books in total, he is eagerly awaiting the publication of his new novel in February by Random House as "One of the new faces of fiction for 2010", titled MOTORCYCLES AND SWEETGRASS. In January, his new play, DEAD WHITE WRITER ON THE FLOOR, opens at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay. Currently, he is working on a new play titled CREES IN THE CARRIBEAN, and a collection of essays called POSTCARDS FROM THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. More importantly, he is desperately trying to find the time to do his laundry.
Oddly enough, the thing his mother is most proud of is his ability to make spaghetti from scratch.
He has traveled to sixteen countries around the world, spreading the gospel of Native literature to the world. Through many of his books, most notably the four volume set of the FUNNY, YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE series, he has tried to educate and inform the world about issues that reflect, celebrate, and interfere in the lives of Canada's First Nations.
Self described as a contemporary story teller in what ever form, last summer saw the production of the third season of MIXED BLESSINGS, a television comedy series he co-created and is the head writer for. This fall, a made-for-tv movie he wrote, based on his Governor General's nominated play was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Movie. Originally it aired on APTN and opened the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, and the Dreamspeakers Film Festival in Edmonton.
The last few years has seen him proudly serve as the Writer-In-Residence at the University of Michigan and the University of Western Ontario. In 2007, Annick Press published his first Novel, THE NIGHT WANDERER: A Native Gothic Novel, a teen novel about an Ojibway vampire. Two years ago, his non-fiction book exploring the world of Native sexuality, called ME SEXY, was published by Douglas & McIntyre. It is a follow up to his highly successful book on Native humour, ME FUNNY.
The author of 20 books in total, he is eagerly awaiting the publication of his new novel in February by Random House as "One of the new faces of fiction for 2010", titled MOTORCYCLES AND SWEETGRASS. In January, his new play, DEAD WHITE WRITER ON THE FLOOR, opens at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay. Currently, he is working on a new play titled CREES IN THE CARRIBEAN, and a collection of essays called POSTCARDS FROM THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. More importantly, he is desperately trying to find the time to do his laundry.
Oddly enough, the thing his mother is most proud of is his ability to make spaghetti from scratch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
December 15, 2013
Cross-posted at: http://mgbookreviews.wordpress.com/20...
Synopsis
Pierre L’Errant is an Anishinabe man who has been away from home for centuries. When the desire to come back becomes too much to bear, he flies to Otter Lake to deal with his inner demons. However, when he arrives, he finds himself embroiled in the problems of the family that he is staying with. Tiffany, the teenager of the house, is struggling. Her parents are separated, her boyfriend isn’t treating her well, her grades are dropping at school, and her dad refuses to understand her difficulties. By intervening, Pierre not only helps Tiffany start to sort through her issues, but he comes to a conclusion about his own struggles.
The Good
The Night Wanderer is a great story for young adults from an Aboriginal author who fills the narrative with Indigenous characters and themes, issues that are solely lacking in literature, particularly in the young adult genre. It’s a great coming-of-age tale for teens. Tiffany is struggling with her boyfriend, her grades are slipping, her parents are divorced, and she just can’t handle everything that is happening to her. These are all very realistic problems facing youths, but the narrative also lets readers explore Indigenous culture, and engages in questions about racism. Consequently, I think this book would be a fabulous addition to school curriculums or library reading programs. The story even has a paranormal hook to draw readers in.
The vampire angle of this story is also interesting and unique. Pierre was an Anishinabe man who left his community and travelled to Europe several hundred years ago. However, his new life was not as fantastic and enlightened as he thought it would be, and he soon fell ill. Just as he was about to die, he was visited by a strange man who turned him into a vampire. For three hundred years, he stalked Europe, feeling as if he no longer deserved to go home. His return to Otter Lake is a story about his struggle to reconcile his monstrous being with his cultural values and beliefs. Unlike many current vampire stories, Pierre is not portrayed as a sexy anti-hero who just needs the love of a good woman. Instead, Pierre gives himself to the sun when he realises that if he wants to embrace the good that he was taught to aspire to, he can’t continue being a monster. This is certainly not the way most YA vampire novels have been ending, and I thought this different conclusion was powerful and thought-provoking.
The Bad
Perhaps the most glaring issue that readers may take issue with is the art. The illustrations in The Night Wanderer are not bad. In fact, the art is better than a lot of what I see in current DC books at the moment. However, it is a very different style with distinctive weaknesses. Wyatt is fond of thick line art, and his work is not always very fluid. There are some pages where the action is not quite as believable because of the stiffness of the illustrations, but overall, I thought the art showed a good command over anatomy, expression, and background. In fact, the illustration style grew on me as I read the book, and the thickness to the lines reminded me of some styles of Indigenous art. While I will definitely admit that Wyatt is not yet a master at his craft, I enjoyed this different style, and I did not find the flaws to be so distracting that I could not enjoy the book.
One of my personal complaints was I thought the story would have been stronger if it was longer. Pierre’s emotional journey would have been more effecting had readers gotten to explore his emotions and why he was feeling them. Extending the narrative may also have helped with the topic I discuss below.
The last issue I want to touch on is not “bad” at all, but readers may find it challenging to engage with the book if they lack a particularly lens for understanding. The Night Wanderer is best read with some knowledge of Indigenous perspectives, or some the deeper themes of the narrative may be difficult to fully comprehend. For example, in other reviews online, I noticed that some people thought that the coming-of-age part of the story was overdone, and that Tiffany was just being an insufferable teenager who needed to get over herself. However, Tiffany isn’t just a normal North American teen. She’s a First Nations youth living on a small reserve in Canada. Her boyfriend wasn’t just being a generic, thoughtless teenage boy; he was engaging in some very hurtful racist behaviour. Many of Tiffany’s fears and insecurities were grounded in the fact that she felt excluded and discriminated against when she was among the non-Indigenous teenagers from her area. While readers never see her being called derogatory terms, the narrative hints at quieter types of oppression, much of which are probably largely unconsciousness. Additionally, Pierre’s actions are also largely motivated by his Indigenous identity, and the story’s power comes from the cultural lessons that influence his choices. Consequently, for those who really want to get the most out of this book, you have to be ready to think about the story from a different perspective (and doing so makes the book that much stronger!).
Final Thoughts
The Night Wanderer is an absolutely fantastic graphic novel that I would definitely recommend to readers interested in a unique take on vampires and teenagers. It is not on the level of some of the graphic novel greats that I have featured on this blog, but as an independent piece produced by individuals who are not big names in the literary and comic worlds, I thought this was a very strong volume. It also represents a very important addition of Indigenous perspectives in a genre that is woefully lacking in these voices. I liked this book enough that even though I received a copy on NetGalley, I will be seeking out a hardcopy for my personal collection.
Synopsis
Pierre L’Errant is an Anishinabe man who has been away from home for centuries. When the desire to come back becomes too much to bear, he flies to Otter Lake to deal with his inner demons. However, when he arrives, he finds himself embroiled in the problems of the family that he is staying with. Tiffany, the teenager of the house, is struggling. Her parents are separated, her boyfriend isn’t treating her well, her grades are dropping at school, and her dad refuses to understand her difficulties. By intervening, Pierre not only helps Tiffany start to sort through her issues, but he comes to a conclusion about his own struggles.
The Good
The Night Wanderer is a great story for young adults from an Aboriginal author who fills the narrative with Indigenous characters and themes, issues that are solely lacking in literature, particularly in the young adult genre. It’s a great coming-of-age tale for teens. Tiffany is struggling with her boyfriend, her grades are slipping, her parents are divorced, and she just can’t handle everything that is happening to her. These are all very realistic problems facing youths, but the narrative also lets readers explore Indigenous culture, and engages in questions about racism. Consequently, I think this book would be a fabulous addition to school curriculums or library reading programs. The story even has a paranormal hook to draw readers in.
The vampire angle of this story is also interesting and unique. Pierre was an Anishinabe man who left his community and travelled to Europe several hundred years ago. However, his new life was not as fantastic and enlightened as he thought it would be, and he soon fell ill. Just as he was about to die, he was visited by a strange man who turned him into a vampire. For three hundred years, he stalked Europe, feeling as if he no longer deserved to go home. His return to Otter Lake is a story about his struggle to reconcile his monstrous being with his cultural values and beliefs. Unlike many current vampire stories, Pierre is not portrayed as a sexy anti-hero who just needs the love of a good woman. Instead, Pierre gives himself to the sun when he realises that if he wants to embrace the good that he was taught to aspire to, he can’t continue being a monster. This is certainly not the way most YA vampire novels have been ending, and I thought this different conclusion was powerful and thought-provoking.
The Bad
Perhaps the most glaring issue that readers may take issue with is the art. The illustrations in The Night Wanderer are not bad. In fact, the art is better than a lot of what I see in current DC books at the moment. However, it is a very different style with distinctive weaknesses. Wyatt is fond of thick line art, and his work is not always very fluid. There are some pages where the action is not quite as believable because of the stiffness of the illustrations, but overall, I thought the art showed a good command over anatomy, expression, and background. In fact, the illustration style grew on me as I read the book, and the thickness to the lines reminded me of some styles of Indigenous art. While I will definitely admit that Wyatt is not yet a master at his craft, I enjoyed this different style, and I did not find the flaws to be so distracting that I could not enjoy the book.
One of my personal complaints was I thought the story would have been stronger if it was longer. Pierre’s emotional journey would have been more effecting had readers gotten to explore his emotions and why he was feeling them. Extending the narrative may also have helped with the topic I discuss below.
The last issue I want to touch on is not “bad” at all, but readers may find it challenging to engage with the book if they lack a particularly lens for understanding. The Night Wanderer is best read with some knowledge of Indigenous perspectives, or some the deeper themes of the narrative may be difficult to fully comprehend. For example, in other reviews online, I noticed that some people thought that the coming-of-age part of the story was overdone, and that Tiffany was just being an insufferable teenager who needed to get over herself. However, Tiffany isn’t just a normal North American teen. She’s a First Nations youth living on a small reserve in Canada. Her boyfriend wasn’t just being a generic, thoughtless teenage boy; he was engaging in some very hurtful racist behaviour. Many of Tiffany’s fears and insecurities were grounded in the fact that she felt excluded and discriminated against when she was among the non-Indigenous teenagers from her area. While readers never see her being called derogatory terms, the narrative hints at quieter types of oppression, much of which are probably largely unconsciousness. Additionally, Pierre’s actions are also largely motivated by his Indigenous identity, and the story’s power comes from the cultural lessons that influence his choices. Consequently, for those who really want to get the most out of this book, you have to be ready to think about the story from a different perspective (and doing so makes the book that much stronger!).
Final Thoughts
The Night Wanderer is an absolutely fantastic graphic novel that I would definitely recommend to readers interested in a unique take on vampires and teenagers. It is not on the level of some of the graphic novel greats that I have featured on this blog, but as an independent piece produced by individuals who are not big names in the literary and comic worlds, I thought this was a very strong volume. It also represents a very important addition of Indigenous perspectives in a genre that is woefully lacking in these voices. I liked this book enough that even though I received a copy on NetGalley, I will be seeking out a hardcopy for my personal collection.
February 2, 2023
I read this for a vampire lit class, it was good and the art is cool I just think it was very predictable and spent more time on the girl being angsty than it did a vampire which is misleading given the title and advertised as primarily a vampire story
June 5, 2020
it's indigenous history month so i picked this up from my local library's online resources. it was pretty good, i liked the art and the spin on a classic vampire story was cool. however, i wish it had been a little longer. i know it's a graphic novelization of an actual book so technically, yeah, i could read the original, but they still could have included more of the story.
September 23, 2014
I received this review copy through NetGalley from Annick Press. This review is also posted on my blog and on NetGalley.
I will definitely use this as a text for First Peoples English. First of all, I'm intrigued by the use of genre--I think the story suits the graphic novel format particularly well given that the narrative relies on atmosphere. The illustrations are clear, crisp, and make good use of contrasts (dark/light areas). The book tells a simple story and tells it well--Tiffany Hunter is an Anishnaabe teenager living on the Otter Lake Reserve who is clashing with her dad, not doing well at school, and experiencing the pains of young love. Pierre L'Errant is a mysterious European stranger whom the Hunter family take in as a boarder to help with the rent since Tiffany's mother left.
Even though the book is short and we don't get to know Tiffany or Pierre particularly deeply, Drew Hayden Taylor does a good job of revealing their personalities and circumstances through current events and flashbacks. The narrative provides opportunities to discuss various aspects of Indigenous storytelling as well as social issues like prejudice and racism.
My only issue with the book is that I wish it were longer! It seemed to end a bit abruptly.
Recommended for young adult audiences or anyone interested in a good fast read that combines a look at Indigenous culture and...vampire lore.
-------
The program I teach in uses a lot of Drew Hayden Taylor's plays as required reading, so I am eager to check out this graphic novel to see if it would be suitable for our new First Peoples English course. It is a graphic novel adaptation of The Night Wanderer: A Gothic Novel. As far as I know, there aren't a lot of vampire novels set on First Nations reserves! So far, I'm enjoying it.
I will definitely use this as a text for First Peoples English. First of all, I'm intrigued by the use of genre--I think the story suits the graphic novel format particularly well given that the narrative relies on atmosphere. The illustrations are clear, crisp, and make good use of contrasts (dark/light areas). The book tells a simple story and tells it well--Tiffany Hunter is an Anishnaabe teenager living on the Otter Lake Reserve who is clashing with her dad, not doing well at school, and experiencing the pains of young love. Pierre L'Errant is a mysterious European stranger whom the Hunter family take in as a boarder to help with the rent since Tiffany's mother left.
Even though the book is short and we don't get to know Tiffany or Pierre particularly deeply, Drew Hayden Taylor does a good job of revealing their personalities and circumstances through current events and flashbacks. The narrative provides opportunities to discuss various aspects of Indigenous storytelling as well as social issues like prejudice and racism.
My only issue with the book is that I wish it were longer! It seemed to end a bit abruptly.
Recommended for young adult audiences or anyone interested in a good fast read that combines a look at Indigenous culture and...vampire lore.
-------
The program I teach in uses a lot of Drew Hayden Taylor's plays as required reading, so I am eager to check out this graphic novel to see if it would be suitable for our new First Peoples English course. It is a graphic novel adaptation of The Night Wanderer: A Gothic Novel. As far as I know, there aren't a lot of vampire novels set on First Nations reserves! So far, I'm enjoying it.
October 15, 2018
I gave this three stars because it is in a format that many young people enjoy, and I was curious.
I will give it to my granddaughter to read, because she does enjoy scary vampire stories.
That said, it is not really very scary. It is basically a story about a 16 year old girl with family and boyfriend problems. As such it is a universal theme that should resonate with an adolescent audience.
If I were a bookseller or librarian I would purchase it for my shelves.
As an adult I found the teenage girl to be a stereotype rather than an individual.
What saves the book is the unusual pairing with First Nations lore.
This is the part that can be new and fascinating.
Good to see that girls from yet another culture than English can find themselves reflected in popular literature.
I missed the humour usually found in stories by Drew Hayden Taylor.
For adults there are better graphic novels, but it may be good for its intended audience.
I will give it to my granddaughter to read, because she does enjoy scary vampire stories.
That said, it is not really very scary. It is basically a story about a 16 year old girl with family and boyfriend problems. As such it is a universal theme that should resonate with an adolescent audience.
If I were a bookseller or librarian I would purchase it for my shelves.
As an adult I found the teenage girl to be a stereotype rather than an individual.
What saves the book is the unusual pairing with First Nations lore.
This is the part that can be new and fascinating.
Good to see that girls from yet another culture than English can find themselves reflected in popular literature.
I missed the humour usually found in stories by Drew Hayden Taylor.
For adults there are better graphic novels, but it may be good for its intended audience.
Read
January 29, 2023high school drama x vamp coming to visit
October 5, 2021
Too short. Guess I need to go read the book it’s based on!!! This was a really cool telling of an indigenous vampire. I loved it.
September 5, 2013
The Night Wanderer tells the story of a vampire who returns home after hundreds of years. His people lived as Native Americans off the land. He is on a self imposed fast during his journey. He takes a room with a broken family.
Tiffany, her father and grandmother are still feeling the effects of Tiffany's mother leaving the family behind for a white man. Tiffany is also having trouble with her boyfriend. She finds a strange friendship with the new boarder, Pierre. A friendship she can't seem to make with her own father.
The story began life as a play by Drew Hayden Taylor, then became a graphic novel. The art by Michael Wyatt is not my favorite. It's a little over digital, so it lacks a bit on shading and warmth, but it serves the story well. The art is black and white, except when Pierre is fighting hunger or anger, then his eyes glow red. It's a better told tale than other contemporary teenage vampire stories. Tiffany and Pierre are both sympathetic in their own ways.
Tiffany, her father and grandmother are still feeling the effects of Tiffany's mother leaving the family behind for a white man. Tiffany is also having trouble with her boyfriend. She finds a strange friendship with the new boarder, Pierre. A friendship she can't seem to make with her own father.
The story began life as a play by Drew Hayden Taylor, then became a graphic novel. The art by Michael Wyatt is not my favorite. It's a little over digital, so it lacks a bit on shading and warmth, but it serves the story well. The art is black and white, except when Pierre is fighting hunger or anger, then his eyes glow red. It's a better told tale than other contemporary teenage vampire stories. Tiffany and Pierre are both sympathetic in their own ways.
February 14, 2014
What a beautiful book. I don't think they ever meant for this book to be described that way, but I don't know how else to describe it. The story is of a man coming home to Canada after being gone for 300 years. He originally left after being enticed by the fancy white men who introduced him to the larger world. While coming home, he stays at an Indian reservation with a broken family. The novel starts to focus on the family's teenage daughter's problems. The daughter and "wanderer" bond in a unique way, which leads to the final scene and climax of the graphic novel. The last page is why my word for this book is "beautiful," and if you read it and find a better word for it, let me know.
May 6, 2014
This graphic novel The Night Wanderer is an adaptation by Alison Kooistra of Drew Hayden Taylor’s novel The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel. Since it’s a vampire novel — a genre of which I’ve about had my fill — I almost passed it by. But I was very interested in the Native American angle. I’m glad I picked this up — the book is only using the vampire genre to tell a Native American tale and make us look at an all-too-familiar tale in a new light. In other words, the Native American element isn’t added... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
June 27, 2020
A good quick read.
A Native American vampire graphic novel! I love the idea behind this book (graphic novel)
I liked the idea and the characters, but i felt like there should have been more depth to the story. Pierre is mysterious vampire, returning home to Otter Lake. Yet you only get a quick glimpse of his life through his story, that he tells Tiffany on the last few pages. Tiffany is your typical teen. Messing up school, crappy boyfriend, and a broken home.
I know there's a novel written about this story. I'd like to read that to see if there's more background and depth to it.
A Native American vampire graphic novel! I love the idea behind this book (graphic novel)
I liked the idea and the characters, but i felt like there should have been more depth to the story. Pierre is mysterious vampire, returning home to Otter Lake. Yet you only get a quick glimpse of his life through his story, that he tells Tiffany on the last few pages. Tiffany is your typical teen. Messing up school, crappy boyfriend, and a broken home.
I know there's a novel written about this story. I'd like to read that to see if there's more background and depth to it.
November 9, 2022
‘The Night Wanderer’ by Drew Hayden Taylor is about a 16 year old girl named Tiffany and a strange man who moves into her home named Pierre. Tiffany goes through some struggles in her life and Pierre ends up coming to the rescue giving his own advice from his life
I enjoyed this novel a lot for its way of using anishinaabe words and indigenous stories but changing them a bit to add more of the fairytales we have now into it. I liked the way they used flashbacks to show off meaning full messages from the elders in the past. I did enjoy how they portrayed the subtle racism, like in media racism is usually not talked about at all or layed on so thick. I also really enjoyed how they showed Tiffany and her anger. I know a lot of people have a different opinion and say that she overreacted and things like that, but i felt like it was an honest good reaction. Yes she could have dealt with her feelings better but she's a teenager and she's going through a lot, her reaction felt realistic. I didn't like how rushed it felt, we barely got to actually meet any characters properly, we never had the chance to get attached to anyone so when things happened the reader didn't feel much emotion.
The quotes that i like the most is very long but has a good message. “One wolf is evil- he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow,regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego” then “the other wolf is good– he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, wisdom, friendship, empathy, compassion, and faith” this quote is referring to another quote that states ”inside of me, A fight is going on. It's a terrible fight between two wolves” i find these quotes true because you do have two sides inside of yourself that fight and you decide which you will be. You will either follow the evil wolf and take on all that greed, pride, anger, envy, etc. on the other hand you can choose the good wolf and have joy ,love ,kindness ,and humility. But they will always be there and always fighting because even if we want to always just be the good wolf we still have anger and we will still have fears or guilt. We just have to learn how to feed the good wolf more. “Grandfather, which wolf will win? Which one is stronger?” “The one you feed”.
If I was able to change anything with this novel, I would definitely make it longer. I would give it more time to get attached to the characters and be able to have the storyline but in greater detail so it doesn't feel like they forced a really big good story down into 3 acts. Having a longer novel would probably make tiffanys reactions more justifiable and have it look less like an over reaction. Another way I would like to change the book is having more Pierre, like more of his story, more Pierre alone time. It felt that he was more of a side character in Tiffany's story. The only time we would get Pierre time or development is when he was with Tiffany or talking about tiffany. This would also slightly tie into making this a longer novel.
This is a good novel with some good messages,I would recommend it to another person if they liked vampires.
I rate this story a 4 stars out of 5.
I enjoyed this novel a lot for its way of using anishinaabe words and indigenous stories but changing them a bit to add more of the fairytales we have now into it. I liked the way they used flashbacks to show off meaning full messages from the elders in the past. I did enjoy how they portrayed the subtle racism, like in media racism is usually not talked about at all or layed on so thick. I also really enjoyed how they showed Tiffany and her anger. I know a lot of people have a different opinion and say that she overreacted and things like that, but i felt like it was an honest good reaction. Yes she could have dealt with her feelings better but she's a teenager and she's going through a lot, her reaction felt realistic. I didn't like how rushed it felt, we barely got to actually meet any characters properly, we never had the chance to get attached to anyone so when things happened the reader didn't feel much emotion.
The quotes that i like the most is very long but has a good message. “One wolf is evil- he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow,regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego” then “the other wolf is good– he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, wisdom, friendship, empathy, compassion, and faith” this quote is referring to another quote that states ”inside of me, A fight is going on. It's a terrible fight between two wolves” i find these quotes true because you do have two sides inside of yourself that fight and you decide which you will be. You will either follow the evil wolf and take on all that greed, pride, anger, envy, etc. on the other hand you can choose the good wolf and have joy ,love ,kindness ,and humility. But they will always be there and always fighting because even if we want to always just be the good wolf we still have anger and we will still have fears or guilt. We just have to learn how to feed the good wolf more. “Grandfather, which wolf will win? Which one is stronger?” “The one you feed”.
If I was able to change anything with this novel, I would definitely make it longer. I would give it more time to get attached to the characters and be able to have the storyline but in greater detail so it doesn't feel like they forced a really big good story down into 3 acts. Having a longer novel would probably make tiffanys reactions more justifiable and have it look less like an over reaction. Another way I would like to change the book is having more Pierre, like more of his story, more Pierre alone time. It felt that he was more of a side character in Tiffany's story. The only time we would get Pierre time or development is when he was with Tiffany or talking about tiffany. This would also slightly tie into making this a longer novel.
This is a good novel with some good messages,I would recommend it to another person if they liked vampires.
I rate this story a 4 stars out of 5.
Read
November 9, 2022The book begins and we’re introduced to one of our main characters, Pierre L’errant. He travels to a place called Otter Lake where we meet our second main character, Tiffany Hunter. Throughout the book, we watch as they deal with their own problems and face challenges within themselves.
The characters are.. interesting to say the least. Pierre I found to be a little odd and creepy, and his whole plot didn’t really make much sense to me up until the end, but he was a very cool and mysterious character.
Tiffany had a little more depth to her character, which I found interesting. Something I didn’t like though was her and her dad's arguments (“Listen! I’m the father. You’re the daughter. Do as I say for once! Go put your stuff in the basement.” pg.4, “Tiffany, you are grounded! Go to your room and stay in your room! For once in your stupid life, do what you’re told!” pg.68), and the way her dad reacts (“Don’t talk like that. You’re overreacting.” pg.69). I feel bad for Tiffany because she resorted to wanting to end her life due to everything that has happened to her and I related to that. I’m fine now but there was a time when I felt like that. However their arguments and disagreements do build on Tiffany’s character
Although I found the book odd and confusing at times, it wasn’t all that bad and I quite enjoyed it. I think I’d change Pierre and his whole ordeal, and maybe add some colour into the story. Overall I enjoyed the book, a little confusing at times, but Tiffany and Pierre are good characters.
I’d give this book four bowls of noodles.
The characters are.. interesting to say the least. Pierre I found to be a little odd and creepy, and his whole plot didn’t really make much sense to me up until the end, but he was a very cool and mysterious character.
Tiffany had a little more depth to her character, which I found interesting. Something I didn’t like though was her and her dad's arguments (“Listen! I’m the father. You’re the daughter. Do as I say for once! Go put your stuff in the basement.” pg.4, “Tiffany, you are grounded! Go to your room and stay in your room! For once in your stupid life, do what you’re told!” pg.68), and the way her dad reacts (“Don’t talk like that. You’re overreacting.” pg.69). I feel bad for Tiffany because she resorted to wanting to end her life due to everything that has happened to her and I related to that. I’m fine now but there was a time when I felt like that. However their arguments and disagreements do build on Tiffany’s character
Although I found the book odd and confusing at times, it wasn’t all that bad and I quite enjoyed it. I think I’d change Pierre and his whole ordeal, and maybe add some colour into the story. Overall I enjoyed the book, a little confusing at times, but Tiffany and Pierre are good characters.
I’d give this book four bowls of noodles.
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June 15, 2023The Night Wanderer Review
by Drew Hayden Taylor
This graphic novel is a clear representation of how Indigenous people struggle with many issues since a very young age, even now in the present.
This is a misterious novel where Tiffany, a 16 year old is our protagonist and a creepy character which would be the antagonist for most of the novel, appears in her life and her family’s. This clearly causes some trouble because of the guest. As readers we are in constant suspense because of the misterious actions both characters do and some crazy random desicions they make.
I feel like the author really wanted to make an emphasis on Tiffany’s problems and how a total stranger that is not related at all helps her somehow, which I found really interesting. And besides the fact that she adapted her novel into a graphic novel really shows the effort to get to more people. I believe that this novel is ideal for teenagers but mostly girls who can relate to Tiffany’s issues, so at the end the audience feels captivated.
I highly recommend this novel, is very easy to read and ideal for beginners at reading and could really help getting closer to the reading world.
by Drew Hayden Taylor
This graphic novel is a clear representation of how Indigenous people struggle with many issues since a very young age, even now in the present.
This is a misterious novel where Tiffany, a 16 year old is our protagonist and a creepy character which would be the antagonist for most of the novel, appears in her life and her family’s. This clearly causes some trouble because of the guest. As readers we are in constant suspense because of the misterious actions both characters do and some crazy random desicions they make.
I feel like the author really wanted to make an emphasis on Tiffany’s problems and how a total stranger that is not related at all helps her somehow, which I found really interesting. And besides the fact that she adapted her novel into a graphic novel really shows the effort to get to more people. I believe that this novel is ideal for teenagers but mostly girls who can relate to Tiffany’s issues, so at the end the audience feels captivated.
I highly recommend this novel, is very easy to read and ideal for beginners at reading and could really help getting closer to the reading world.
November 25, 2021
https://celebrityreaders.com/2021/11/...
3 stars — I know I read in the back that it was based on a play, but I didn’t realize there was also a novel. Perhaps that format would be better. Unfortunately, while the art was wonderful, the story felt short and was lacking emotion and connection. It also read younger than I had been expecting.
I just found I didn’t care about any of the characters, or what they were going through. Tiffany does not come across sympathetic necessarily. I did love the grandma though.
One of the things that bothered me was the way the mental health issues were dealt with, and perhaps that’s where it being too short really burned it. I guess it fits with the time it was written, where people didn’t quite understand depression and such, and so it felt like it was a bit trivialized. Kind of a bummer, but I’m also sensitive to it.
So yeah. Not my fave. But I’m also not a graphic novel reader, so not sure if that might have helped?
3 stars — I know I read in the back that it was based on a play, but I didn’t realize there was also a novel. Perhaps that format would be better. Unfortunately, while the art was wonderful, the story felt short and was lacking emotion and connection. It also read younger than I had been expecting.
I just found I didn’t care about any of the characters, or what they were going through. Tiffany does not come across sympathetic necessarily. I did love the grandma though.
One of the things that bothered me was the way the mental health issues were dealt with, and perhaps that’s where it being too short really burned it. I guess it fits with the time it was written, where people didn’t quite understand depression and such, and so it felt like it was a bit trivialized. Kind of a bummer, but I’m also sensitive to it.
So yeah. Not my fave. But I’m also not a graphic novel reader, so not sure if that might have helped?
May 4, 2021
I read this and will potentially read the novel as well looking for a novel that will appeal to 15/16 grade 10 English students. The story has more potential than anything. Often, a graphic novel will have the art that builds the detail lacking in the dialogue or narrative, but this was not the case here. While the use of black and white flecked with red is an effective tonal choice for the art, the images themselves are quite literally what's happening in the moment without much to understand symbolically or to tell a bigger picture (except the final frames which I found to be beautiful and worthy of their own separate tale). This is a fast read, and the idea of Pierre the Indigenous vampire is an interesting one, even if it is under-developed.
April 28, 2024
After reading this graphic novel, I would like to read the original story. The graphic novel is actually quite cool and has some nice art and is quite symbolic in its use and absence of colour, but this story was so focused on a teenager and her frustration with her life and less on the cool vampire twist that I’m curious how accurate this adaptation is.
I feel like the graphic novel must have missed something from the original novel. I’ll have to read it to find out. I wanted the Indigenous gothic story… not the teenager story.
I feel like the graphic novel must have missed something from the original novel. I’ll have to read it to find out. I wanted the Indigenous gothic story… not the teenager story.
October 21, 2025
The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor is an interesting addition to the comic vampire genre. It centers the story of a native vampire who has returned to his homeland. This move is something he has thought about his whole life. His purpose is complex and his thoughts and struggles of his young life mirrors that of Tiffany, a teenager of the family he is temporarily staying with. This crossing of paths illuminates the complications of life in the present and possible futures for both of them. What meaning will their actions bring?
August 4, 2025
I read the book about ten years ago, and when I saw there was a graphic novel, I had to read it.
The art was good, and it's quite good as a graphic novel, but it felt shorter than the novel. Because of its length, it didn't convey everything in the story. You don't get a full view of the characters and who they are.
The graphic novel was good, but I highly recommend the book.
The art was good, and it's quite good as a graphic novel, but it felt shorter than the novel. Because of its length, it didn't convey everything in the story. You don't get a full view of the characters and who they are.
The graphic novel was good, but I highly recommend the book.
February 7, 2022
I think I’d like to read the full text of this. This definitely has some really great themes like family dynamics, broken hearts, and identity. It doesn’t go into much depth in this graphic novel format, so I didn’t really feel like I got a sense of the entire story.
September 12, 2024
Beautiful gothic story about homecoming and family with a vampiric twist. I wish we had learned a bit more about L’Errant’s backstory throughout the book, but I guess that’s what the full-length novel is for!
September 28, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up. I wish this book was longer - I barely got to know the characters before it was done. I feel like I read a chapter in a much longer graphic novel that I would be very interested to read.
November 6, 2021
Grade 8+
October 19, 2022
An effective story, if a little simplified.
November 18, 2022
Way too rushed. Turning a book into a graphic novel will always make it rushed or cut out important details but this moved confusingly quickly. good story but the full book is 10x better.
March 29, 2023
too short!
July 25, 2023
Interesting short graphic novel.
December 31, 2023
I enjoyed this. Indigenous vampire stories; I’m here for it.
February 17, 2024
The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My first ever graphic novel! Hayden Taylor incorporates the European vampire creature with an indigenous Anishnaabe spin. This novel makes both the legend of the vampire and the Wendigo accessible to people from many cultures. My only complaint is the lack of details that the graphic novel provides. However I would definitely be interested in reading the book version of this story. Very quick and fun little read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My first ever graphic novel! Hayden Taylor incorporates the European vampire creature with an indigenous Anishnaabe spin. This novel makes both the legend of the vampire and the Wendigo accessible to people from many cultures. My only complaint is the lack of details that the graphic novel provides. However I would definitely be interested in reading the book version of this story. Very quick and fun little read.
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