Lightfinder

by Aaron Paquette

From acclaimed artist Aaron Paquette comes a new novel that will enchant you, grab you and pull you into a world you thought you knew but have never truly seen...

Aisling is a young Cree woman who sets out into the wilderness with her Kokum (grandmother), Aunty and two young men she barely knows. They have to find and rescue her runaway younger brother, Eric. Along the way she learns that the legends of her people might be real and that she has a growing power of her own.

The story follows the paths of Aisling and Eric, siblings unwittingly thrust into a millennia old struggle for the future of life on earth. It deals with growing up, love and loss, and the choices life puts in our path. Love and confusion are in store, as are loss and pain. Things are not always what they seem and danger surrounds them at every turn.

Will Raven''s mysterious purposes prevail? With darkness closing in how will they find the light to guide them? Will Aisling find Eric in time?

Genres: Fantasy, Indigenous, Young Adult, Canada, Fiction, Native American, Mythology

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2014

About the author

At the age of three, Aaron Paquette was terrified and enchanted by his Mother’s impersonation of Gollum while reading The Hobbit. It was then that he knew he wanted to tell stories. As an artist, his work has gone around the world. As a speaker he is in great demand for his powerful messages. Lightfinder is Aaron’s first novel. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife and children.

Reviews

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool action and mythology! I didn't know anything about Cree legends before reading this book but the integration of them into the fantasy quest narrative was great. And a chilling message about disrespecting our earth. I wished there had been more character focus. I didn't quite feel like I knew them after an entire book. They felt just out of reach.

[Jalilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful novel! It is refreshingly original and creative! Even though there is a type of "save the world" plot, it is so unpredictable that I never knew what was going to happen next from page to page. The author is Metis from Alberta and he makes good use of First Nations mythology. The fact that he is also a visual artist is also apparent. This book is supposed to be the first in a trilogy and I already can't wait to read the next one!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lightfinder by artist Aaron Paquette is a stunning debut novel, an enthralling first instalment of what promises to be an exciting series of novels for young adults (and all sorts of other readers). Comparisons will inevitably be made (I'll do it myself in a moment), but unlike authors of some of the popular novel series for young adults of the recent and not-so-recent past, Paquette has firmly rooted the adventure in our real world: no Ministry of Magic, no post-Apocalyptic Panem, and although there are magical journeys, they are not to some aborted Medievalist fantasy called Narnia or anything else. Lightfinder is an adventure in the landscape and geography - and political economy - of Canada - specifically Alberta - today. . . .

the rest of my thoughts are here: http://wp.me/p2bqoo-qB

[Jolie]

Very much looking forward to reading this. Aaron is a very eloquent writer, I love his inspiring Facebook posts. He is a man with an amazing spirit!

[SeeAmandaRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting, but also very confusing. I liked the format of the book in how the chapters were short and went back and forth between the two main characters: Aisling and Eric. There was often a “cliff hanger” at the end of a chapter which kept me reading - making it an easy read. I found it really cool how Aisling could see “Mother Earth” and I liked the concept of humans being able to turn into their totem animal forms .

Throughout the book, however, I kept saying to myself “what the heck?!” and am still saying that after finishing the book. There was a lot of build-up (which was great), but then the ending was very quick. I’m hoping there is more struggle/challenge in the next books to justify the journey these characters have been on and will continue to go on.

I guess I just didn’t get it and was left with more questions than answers:
Why/how did the fox turn into a human? Is a human Skia’s totem form or does Eric have the power to turn animals into humans? Why would the Raven want to destroy the worlds – wouldn’t he die as well if the worlds were destroyed? Why did Aisling and the others spend so much time walking in the woods when they could conveniently transport themselves to Eric through Dreaming? How could the Raven be so easily defeated (temporarily) by some teenagers who just found their powers?

[Frank Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lightfinder is the first of an amazing new saga from breakout author Aaron Paquette. It tells the story of two Cree youth who are divided by a broken home. The legacy of colonization and the crippling social effects of the Residential School era are apparent when the youth began to discover mystical powers their parents had chosen to ignore. Aisling, the older sister is identified by her extended family as a carrier of the power and begins to be indoctrinated into her long forgotten birthright. Her younger brother Eric begins the downward spiral of neglect, abuse and isolation all too common in the First Nations/Native American community. He is befriended by a strange youth who seems all to eager to lead him astray. Aisling and her family begin a desperate race against time to find Eric and lead him back to the right path before the forces of evil can bend his gifts for a darker purpose.

[Carrie Guay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent first book! Thank-you Aaron Paquette for sharing your story with us. I am greatly looking forward to book 2. I must admit that I was a little slow to get into the book as I am definately not the target age. But it did not take long for me to get engrossed in the story. The story starts as a young woman who goes on a journey with her grandmother and a few other people to find her run away brother. The heroine of the book learns that the stories she heard as a young person are in fact real. The book then becomes a journey to save not only her little brother but also civilization. The ending takes a curve which makes book number two eagerly anticipated!

[Bailey Olfert · Rating 1 out of 5]

For me, this was a "should read." If it wasn't a Canadian indigenous work, I wouldn't have stuck it out to the end. The characters felt one-dimensional, in place only to drive the story.

[Raine Zhao · Rating 1 out of 5]

Below mid

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a lot of potential. It is a fantasy blend of Cree legend and modern save-the-world action. The writing is pretty good, with some really excellent bits of imagery and fantasy elements. I particularly liked the concept of moving between worlds. It probably needed to be developed a bit more, with some strong editing. The book starts relatively slowly, and begins building, but there is a disjointedness about the story that becomes more and more of an issue as the story progresses. By the last third of the book, things are moving so fast and jumping around so much that it's a little off putting. The characters need more development. Some elements feel random (dead father appears in bear form, Aboriginal man found in dream-time who joins the Cree family) and awkward. Other elements are so deliberate and preachy, it's just annoying. Good fantasy usually allows the hero/heroine to develop their powers to some extent before thrusting them into battle, so when the kids in this story have to sort of learn on the run, either on their own or in sudden chunks of HERE'S SOME INFORMATION NOW, it's harder to suspend belief, IMO. Then things go from engaging with the enemy to all wrapped up in a matter of just a few pages. A mixed result for me. Not awful, but not great.

[ANg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lightfinder is the first novel of this author, and not his last as this is a saga. which I LOVE
85% of this book was a wonderful slow climb, great character development, wonderful story. A eloquent look into the ways of the Cree heritage. Delicious in every sense of the word, A wonderful story line.
This book made me want to read up on Native heritage. Learn more about the old ways.
Once you find out one of the characters aren't who they portray to be, that is when I felt disappointment. I felt the ending was rushed and wished it had been the slow climb of the rest of the novel. When I say slow climb please don't think it was boring , it wasn't. The novel was about a teenager brother and sister, sister sets out with her grandmother, her aunt and some other friends, to find her brother, along they way they met many different people, from this world and from the dream world. It was such a glimpse to feel Mother Earth.
Many different turns , many trials, and a great story.
I was very disappointed when I got an email stating buy my book and I will send you high resolution art. now in the beginning the author said he had hundreds just lying around , I think what happened so many bought the book that he gave everyone the same three artist prints or rather the e files. that was just wrong! if I had known that I would NOT have preorded and borrowed it.

[Kelila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaways.

First off, this book would make in fantastic movie (get it, because it's a fantasy book.) As I'm sure all you fantasy lovers know, there are not enough fantasy movies out there! Let's get this thing to a director, quick!

Paquette's artwork is absolutely stunning. It was always a treat coming across in image every so often as I made my way through the work.

The author did a great job making the lore of the Cree people relevant to young adults. I hope this gets into the hands of many indigenous youth! A vivid picture of everything was easily painted in my mind: foxes frolicking in a summer forest, dark wings at the edge of your vision, a grove in the forest living in forever-springtime!

Very imaginative and fun fantasy. The chapters a very short so it makes you whip through the book quite quickly; the content is definitely quality over quantity!

I can't wait to learn more as the series continues! Good luck, Aaron!

[Fischwife · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best stories I've read recently.

This book is aimed at young adults, but older adults who like fantasy will enjoy it, as well. This is fantasy with an Indigenous twist, incorporating elements of First Nations worldviews.

I liked that the protagonist was not only Indigenous but also female. That's rare these days. The story is told both from her viewpoint and her brother's, so those young men who don't want to read "girl" books should enjoy this, also.

This is the first in a series, and I look forward to reading the next one.

[Paula Matikainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a division II teacher I have many students who enjoy reading fantasy, but many of them are tired of the same type of mythical characters. Lightfinder is refreshing as it incorporated First Nations mythology and important cultural elements. I know many middle school readers will enjoy this first book in the Lightfinder Saga.

[Paula Kirman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Aaron's artwork, and was not let down by his first novel. Written for young adults, it explores themes of Aboriginal traditions, legends, family, and coming of age. It's a multifaceted work by a multi-talented author.

[Sapna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intricate web of a tale that gets more and more engaging the deeper you get. Once I picked up this book I couldn't put it down and silently wished that I had waited for all three books to have been out before I started reading, so that I could read them back-to-back!

[mrics17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the 2 narrarators of this book. A great book about good and evil and all the gray areas in between. I wish there was a readers guide to help me with some of the aboriginal symbology and meaning. A powerful book for humanity and youth.

[Shay E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn in by the story, but I think the writing would have benefited from some more aggressive editing. I would mostly feel great about giving this book to a ~young adult~ in my life, though, which is one of my main metrics for YA.

[Leonicka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Canadian YA fantasy that centres entirely on Native (Cree) traditions. Yes.

[Evonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not very "literary" (in my humble opinion) but the characters lived in my mind for sure and I loved the interplay between mythology and current culture.

[Silencia · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I quite liked this one, but it's not going to be for everyone. What follows is, of course, strictly my opinion.

The good: the plot of this story is fantastic. It weaves a number of Indigenous traditions into the heart of the story, rather than having them as set dressing--probably a result of having Indigenous characters written by an Indigenous author. (Who'd have thought that would make a difference? /s) The characters are charming, even the villains, and the relationships between family members are beautiful. Paquette takes on the legacy of colonialism, racism, and other heavy modern-day issues without turning his story into a Heavy-Handed Moral Fable, which is a really hard line to walk! Also that final page was just mean, and I mean that in the best possible way.

The bad: This book is clearly written by a debut author in that Paquette alternately trusts his audience not enough and too much.
Not enough: I got really tired of being told how characters felt about every. single. thing. I don't need to be told that Aisling feels scared when something scary is happening! I can work that out myself!
Too much: there were a couple of plot twists that didn't really work for me because there wasn't enough foreshadowing--on going back and reading again, I still didn't understand where they'd come from. Jake being an Agent of Evil all along, for example. I mean, I figured something had to be up because a Standard White Male Protagonist was very out of place here, but I just figured he was going to die or something, or turn out to be a whiny burden they'd have to dump on a city along the way. His about-face was just...too sudden for me? I dunno.

So three stars, because it's an excellent concept and story that could use just a touch more polish to make it really shine. I'll probably pick up the sequel(s) when they're out (are they already out?), but I don't feel the need to rush out for them right now at 1:00 AM on a Sunday.

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has all the potential to be a great series, although perhaps with a less obvious take from The Hobbit. With the kind of mind I have I couldn't help but wonder the fate of the other planets, if they could be considered similar to Mars and the Moon. I think that was one of the best parts of the book, however, even that reading seemed familiar to me from somewhere else (maybe Ferngully minus the planet part or something else?). The other was the truth about Jake, mind you, a little forced near the climax of his moment of truth. Well having said that I am sufficiently curious to know about the other sequel or sequels. I know it's a bit nit picky but I could wrap my head around Aisling being shortened to 'Ais' when I think a more accurate shortening of her name, at least in pronunciation would be 'Ash'. I think once Aaron Paquette steps away from a very apparent influence from another popular work of fiction he may well be another of Canada's greatest writers and certainly illustrators.

[Amanda B.V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit hard to put my thoughts into words for this book. I was intrigued by the plot once it was revealed and continued to be interested until the very end. The action part of this book is great and loved a lot of aspects the books implements.
But I also didn't enjoy a lot of things. I didn't feel as attached to Aisling as I thought and was actually enjoying Eric's point of view way more. I felt like some characters weren't fleshed out well as they could have been. Also Aisling has no development of character until the end of the book which frustrates me.
Also it ends on a cliffhanger but I don't see any updates on a book 2 which makes the overall book very frustrating since there's so many questions I need answered.
It's hard to pinpoint all the things I didn't like and things i did like since I just finished this book but these are the thoughts that first came to mind when thinking of what to write.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lightfinder is about a girl who discovers her own image powers after embarking on a journey to find her brother. With her aunt, kokum’s, and a strange man’s guidance she is able to learn more about the world and her family.

I thoroughly enjoyed your lore that is explored throughout the book. The battle between family and an all consuming force sets for a solid story. Despite all the opportunity the characters feel flat and poorly developed. It relies to heavily on stereotypes for teenagers that do not do justice to the potential of these characters.

I would recommend this for teens and young adults looking for a light read. Overall would say it’s a good book, not great and not necessarily worth the accolades it’s been given.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is the second book I've read recently with foxes as significant characters. I found this book very interesting and engaging. It introduces the young adult reader to the native culture and the myths related to our earth. It also sends a message that we have to care for nature and address man's overwhelming greed and inherent drive to destroy all that is beautiful. I am looking forward to the second book in the series.

[Nico · Rating 4 out of 5]

The is an urban fantasy YA based on Cree lore and it only has 177 ratings on GRs! I think it’s underrated because it’s a small indie press in Canada and the book is not broadly available in the US, which is really too bad. My personal enjoyment was meh, but I think it is an excellent book for both pre-teens and teens since it has great themes for the age groups and good pacing to keep young readers engaged.

[Alana Haeuser · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started very slowly and if it hadn't been a school assignment I wouldn't have continued reading it. The writing style was good but the chapters had a tendency of ending with a cliff hanger and a short sentence almost every time. It got predictable and slightly boring. The characters were likable but the plot could've been more interesting.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really do not appreciate the "all white people hate the environment" vibe this book gives. I would be okay with no caucasian characters, but having all of them turn out to be evil is a little off-putting. There are a ton of us who recycle, compost, and vote green.

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this fantasy first novel with Indigenous characters! Aisling and her brother Eric are thrown into a world they never expected and must learn new magical skills to cope. Looking forward to Book 2!

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA: Interesting imagery and characters. Depth of plot development fits YA category, but I will read the next in the series, if written. This should work well with my 9th grade class.