Those Who Run in the Sky

Those Who Run in the Sky #1

by Aviaq Johnston, Toma Feizo Gas (Illustrator)

This teen novel, written by Iqaluit-based Inuit author Aviaq Johnston, is a coming-of-age story that follows a young shaman named Pitu as he learns to use his powers and ultimately finds himself lost in the world of the spirits.

After a strange and violent blizzard leaves Pitu stranded on the sea ice, without his dog team or any weapons to defend himself, he soon realizes that he is no longer in the word that he once knew. The storm has carried him into the world of the spirits, a world populated with terrifying creatures---black wolves with red eyes, ravenous and constantly stalking him; water-dwelling creatures that want nothing more than to snatch him and pull him into the frigid ocean through an ice crack. As well as beings less frightening, but equally as incredible, such as a lone giant who can carry Pitu in the palm of her hand and keeps caribou and polar bears as pets.

After stumbling upon a fellow shaman who has been trapped in the spirit world for many years, Pitu must master all of his shamanic powers to make his way back to the world of the living, to his family, and to the girl that he loves.

Genres: Fantasy, Indigenous, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Canada, Mythology

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2017

About the author

Aviaq Johnston is a young Inuk author from Igloolik, Nunavut. Her debut novel Those Who Run in the Sky was released in the spring of 2017. In 2014, she won first place in the Aboriginal Arts and Stories competition for her short story “Tarnikuluk,” which also earned her a Governor General’s History Award. Aviaq is a graduate of Nunavut Sivuniksavut, and she has a diploma in Social Service Work from Canadore College. Aviaq loves to travel and has lived in Australia and Vietnam. She spends most of her time reading, writing, studying, and procrastinating. She goes back and forth between Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Ottawa, Ontario.

Reviews

[Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my 9-year-old. He was rather affronted by killing animals (being the city kid that he is), and grossed out by characters eating raw meat, but these provided excellent teachable moments. There are some very scary moments (the qallupilluit are terrifying) that may be a bit much for a more sensitive child, but mine was fine.

There's a chapter late in the book where Pitu, the main character, gets into a screaming match with his mentor, Taktuq, about respect and morality. It was fantastic. My child LOVED the idea that a student can challenge his teacher and that respect for one's elders can be conditional. I loved that it grappled with some very profound ideas about morality and responsibility. Again, it was a fantastic teachable moment.

This was a book that had my child BEGGING for storytime every night, and he made us start the first chapter of _Those Who Dwell Below_ as soon as we were done. I struggled a little with pronunciation, but there is a guide at the back of the book to help. I highly recommend this for family reading. There's a lot for adult readers to get out of the book as well, even though it is clearly geared toward a younger audience.

[Wendelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very engrossing, quite moving novel that introduces readers to the culture of the Inuit, and elements of their way of life, providing readers a chance to situate themselves within a young shaman boy's development and experiences

[Katie]

This was a kind of middle of the road read for me, but interesting nonetheless.

This is an own-voices, Inuit based fantasy/historical fiction that follows our main character Pitu, a young Inuit shaman as he ends up trapped in the spirit world and discovers how to use his powers.

The writing in this is really what brought my enjoyment down. I thought the pacing was good, as well as the descriptions of places, but when it came to events, and actions of the characters, they felt stilted and rushed and at times drew me out of the story. So my enjoyment was definitely impacted by that.

The plot was fine. It's basically what I mentioned above. Pitu is a shy Inuit boy living with his family when it comes out that he is a shaman. He ends up getting trapped in the spirit world and having to figure out his powers before he can attempt leaving. It was a fun enough plot, but there were events and things that happened I would've loved to see expanded upon. Everything happened so quickly and we just jumped from event to event without much explanation or in between.

The characters were interesting and I enjoyed them and seeing the dynamics between them. I didn't connect with Pitu properly until a little over halfway through the book and most of the other characters didn't have much agency either. But they were all interesting enough.

Finally, the worldbuilding/setting. This is really what I loved the most about the book. I absolutely loved learning about Inuit culture and the language. I loved learning the mythology and seeing the spirit world and the traditions of the tribe. All of that was really well done and I really enjoyed it.

All in all, a middle of the road novel with great world building/setting and intriguing characters and I'll be interested to check out the second book.

TW/CW: animal, death, grief, violence, death

[Rachel Ashera Rosen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting and innovative middle grade storytelling. I don't read a lot of MG so I might be biased in that regard. I was overjoyed to see a qalupalik (well, at least three) as that's my favourite Inuit monster, and in general the links to Inuit storytelling and cosmology were really fascinating. I just didn't quite bond with the characters, which might be a me thing. One aspect I liked about it was its unwillingness to condescend to the audience. Not only did it not really stop to explain any of the Inuktitut terms (though there's a helpful glossary in the back) but it's incredibly gory and ends on a rather bleak note. So, promising start to a series overall.

[Audrey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the way this story was told - it felt like it would be done so well through oral storytelling or that the audiobook of this would take it to a whole new level.

also, I very much did get jump scared by some of the art - so kudos to the artist lol

[Chris Mercado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, even though I believe it's intended for a YA audience, I still enjoyed it...

It's a great blend of Indiginious Alaskan living (even though it's fiction), and what feels like fantasy, although that may just be to someone not familiar with Inuit culture. You relate immediately with the protagonist and he has a clear character arc through his journey.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of Pitu, an Inuit hunter who is moving from a boyhood to manhood and becoming not only a "Great Hunter" but also a leader and shaman for his people. This story incorporates many stories and mythologies of Indigenous peoples in the north.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this for a book challenge. I had to read a fantasy book which, shocker, is not my preferred genre. I thought something Indigenous works soften the blow, and it did. Although I will NEVER forgive the author her ending, I surprised myself by really getting into it as it went on. Again, not being a fantasy reader, I was really confused for a while until I figured out that these unusual events weren't so unusual when reading fantasy. Anyway, was a solid read for me, kept me going and my emotions rolling up and down.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This coming of age story centres around a young Inuit hunter named Pitu. One day he gets caught up in a violent snowstorm and loses his way. He discovers he has left the world he knows and has entered into a spiritual world of demonic mythological creatures that want to destroy him and prevent him from ever returning to his beloved home and the girl he loves.

He battles savage black wolves who stalk him non-stop and ugly, hideous water creatures that want to submerge him in the icy waters and end his life. He encounters a solitary giant women who keeps t native caribou and polar bears for pets. She is delighted to included Pitu into her menagerie.

He discovers a bitter fellow shaman, named Taktuq, who has been trapped in the spirit world for many years. He lives like a hermit and tries to shun Pitu. He only wants to be left alone nursing his misery and grief. Pitu manages to confront the old shaman and convince him to teach him all his shamanic powers so together they can leave that God-forsaken, evil wasteland and go back to the world of the living where his family is waiting for his return and so to his beloved girlfriend, Saima.

"Those Who Run in the Sky" unveils Inuit culture and customs.
The illustrations are such an enrichment to the story bringing the text alive. There is a glossary of Inuit words at the end of the book to help you understand some of the native language. The book is a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature - text. The writing is very well done. This novel can be used in both junior and intermediate classrooms and opens up wonderful dialogue to a deeper understanding of Inuit life. I highly recommend this book.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those Who Run in the Sky incorporates traditional Inuit folklore and legends into this coming-of-age tale. Pitu is a talented young hunter who has been identified as possessing the skills to be a shaman. However, while Pitu is out on a hunt, he becomes stranded without supplies in a blizzard and realizes he is in the spirit world. He has many lessons to learn there, with many unique teachers, before he can make his way back home.

The authentic Inuit voice represented in this novel makes it valuable. However, I didn't fall in love with the novel and, unfortunately, suspect many young readers won't either. I had a hard time getting into the story and for a while I found myself losing track of the storyline. Also, the text-heavy format of the pages will stop many readers before they even begin. All in all, I appreciated the Inuit details and legends and I think Those Who Run in the Sky is an important book to include in a school library collection, serving middle years (grades 6-9) students.

Short-listed for the 2019 Northern Lights MYRCA.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

ETA: May 21, 2019
When I told my students that my initial review was only 3 stars, they all gasped in horror that I would give it such a low rating. They did not find it wordy at all and loved how the descriptions moved the story along, building the suspense in Pitu’s story. I have never had a class of grade 7 students so excited about a novel before. Thank you Aviaq for your amazing storytelling.

Sept 2018
The story is great with lots of fantastic creatures from the spirit world but it is quite wordy. I was thinking of using it as a read-aloud but I may look for something else. Not sure this will capture my audience’s attention.

[AStar Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. I loved the setting of this book. I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships. I felt that Pitu's personality was well described and I was able to connect with his character quite early on. The folklore elements and stories were lovely and I enjoyed learning more about the Inuit culture. I felt that the story was a little stronger at the beginning; somewhere in the middle it slowed down a little too much for my taste, however it picked right back up again and I was charmed.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find my thoughts on this great novel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0oW4...

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5

Aviaq Johnston's Those Who Run the Sky is an exciting, coming-of-age story that should be read by every fifth-grader on the North American continent.

Pitu is a young Inuit boy. He is out hunting when a storm hits and he becomes lost, without his dogs or weapons, and the strange storm takes him to a spirit world where he faces some of the toughest tests imaginable - from terrifying, red-eyed wolves to a giant who wants to add Pitu to her zoo ("Ah! You are so cute!" she laughs at him "Even your voice squeaks like a little lemming!"). When he gets away, it is in to the hands of Taktuq, a grumpy, bitter old Shaman who has also lost his way and hasn't been able to leave this spirit world. Pitu comes to recognize that he is meant to be a shaman himself, but it will only be a worthwhile realization if he can find his way back to his land and his people.

This coming of age story is tremendously powerful. I don't know the Inuit mythologies or customs at all (though after reading this I feel as though I am maybe beginning to understand some of it), but the reader gets the sense that Pitu's journey has deep meaning to him and his culture and that there is some strong metaphors at work here. I wish I understood more of them! The young Inuit reader will likely pick up on this intuitively. The rest of us will get a sense of the power at work here, and we'll still understand the basic tenets of over-coming fears and the fight to survive and finding/forging your own path.

There is a lot of action here and at times we even get the 'out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire' rapid challenge after challenge which certainly keeps the reader turning pages, but I found the encounter and lessons from Taktuq quite interesting. While he's certainly painted as a bit of a curmudgeon, at his core he's still decent (he took Pitu in and helped him recover). But his bitter attitude is poisonous to Pitu who recognizes that this could be him if he doesn't find his way.

The adventure aspect will keep youngsters reading, but the message will sneak in and provide a thoughtful experience. This is 'Gary Paulsen' for a new generation of young readers.

Looking for a good book? Those Who Run in the Sky by Aviaq Johnston is a powerful coming of age story that reaches beyond the Inuit community and offers a strong message to all youngsters looking to find their place in the world.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those Who Run in the Sky is a middle grade, fantasy novel about a young Inuk man, Pitu, who learns that not only is he to be the next leader of his igluit, his village, but also is to become a powerful shaman. But when he is swept into the spirit world, he has to struggle with more than he bargained for.

This novel is, to my unlearned mind, a great first representation of Inuit culture and mythology, told by an author who is herself Inuk. She also uses this story to teach Inuk words, which is part of the reason I enjoyed and plan on keeping this book. The other reason is that the story, while not so plot-oriented, is full of imagery, culture, and tons of character development, making this the ideal coming-of-age story. I could see the Northern Lights in the sky, and imagine the harsh cold of the arctic winter. I could feel the emotion as Pitu becomes lost in many ways.

I have only a few criticisms of this book. The main one is that the writing and language tend to be a bit juvenile, but that is expected in many middle grade books. The other, less prominent criticism is that there are no real turns or climaxes to the plot, making the story feel more like a journey than a singular, linear tale. Which is not a bad thing, just different from what I am used to.

I recommend this book to everyone, even if it's only to learn some Inuk words.

[A Rush Of Emotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I enjoyed this book. It was a fun little journey with a young Native boy, his community, and the things that tie them together. Often in rough, rural places you have to rely on those around you to help build you up, and this book beautifully portrayed that.

Pitu is just trying to survive, hunt for his family, and slyly impress the girl he's crushing on. He hunts, protects, dreams...then does it all over again the next day. I like how he's relatable and has faults. And just like all of us, he doubts the future that's being paved ahead of him. Something has been presenting itself to him in his dreams, and one day, when he's on the cusp of finally claiming the girl he's grown to love, he falls head first into an intense spiritual journey.

Pitu meets a lot of interesting, often scary creatures along the way. These things are what nightmares are made of. Even the quirky giant who means him no harm is a little eerie. I enjoyed the rich descriptions in this book! It made each creature, character, environment, and experience easy to imagine.

This book is about following your destined path, sacrificing oneself, and fighting through the perils of life. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I would categorize this book as middlegrade or YA. It is a story of Inuit folklore, with lots of information about their lives. Pitu is a young man who will become the tribe Shaman, and this is the story of his coming of age, mystical journey and what he learns from others. Pitu ends up in the spirit world where he meets an older Shaman who is trapped there. They work together to pass some tests and find their way back to the world of the living. They are guided back by loved ones and others who make up the "Northern Lights" thus the title, Those Who Run in the Sky.

I've not read many stories about the Inuit people, their customs, beliefs and spirituality. This story is a great one to read with younger children to assist them in learning about the Inuit people. It also shares the coming of age of Pitu, the decisions he made, his family and how they support him, his hunting skill and more. This is a book that would be a great addition to a school library and when teaching themes of multiculturalism, as well as the Native People in Canada.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short Inuit fantasy/paranormal story, first in a trilogy. A nice change for anyone who likes fantasy or paranormal stories but is tired of everything being set in England, France, or New York. I enjoyed the glimpse into traditional Inuit life, particularly the fluid nature of families with the way adoptions were done. The first few chapters mostly just show everyday life in a pre-European-contact Inuit community, with the protagonist starting to make a name for himself in his village and a few relationships starting to take form; the paranormal part only comes up about a third of the way through, when he gets stranded out on the ice and has to find his way home past dangerous creatures of folklore. This novel has a more leisurely pace, so it might be enjoyed most by patient readers or those who enjoy exploring the setting and mood.

[Jenn P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't quite deliver. I was expecting an Inuk Hobbit or Lord of the Rings type story, mixed with some Game of Thrones elements. Unfortunately, it didn't quite get there for me. This book was a quick read, but I had a hard time getting into it. The beginning was slow and I thought a bit characteristic of "info dumping". The journey portion that makes up the largest chunk of this book was good. The ending was disappointing. All that said, I am all there for the Inuk representation and the preservation of Inuit storytelling.
adventure
magical realism

[Harpalus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down. I really loved this story and it's paceing is perfect.

I also found the values refreshingly non self oriented. I also appreciate how the events aren't overly dramatized or sugar coated. The events just happen, the book doesn't try and tell you how to feel about them or how to interpret them. This leaves for a clean, streamline, impactful story. The way the characters have imperfections and the fact that harsh things happen also adds to the books charm. It makes things feel relatable and real. Love this book and look forward to a reread.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A northern coming of age story of a young Inuit shaman where the second half was better than the first. The in-your-face reality of sustenance hunting might be too much for some, and the traditional names might make it hard to follow. A glossary of terms in the back is helpful.

I would read more of Johnston's work. I would love to read more stories of Pitu, or of the ones who run in the sky.

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is set in a culture and about a mythology that I really know very little about, so I found it so interesting to learn more about it.

This is a story about a young man growing up and becoming the shaman he is destined to be. There is a lot about the traditional hunting and life of the Inuit people as well as journey through the land of the dead.

Trigger warning: graphic descriptions of hunting and violence to and by animals.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dark and grotesque creatures. A land of snow and ice. Everything points towards an enjoyable read, but I had trouble getting into it. The names, while I appreciated the use of traditional language, made it hard for me to remember and relate. I would still recommend it though.

[Megan Carper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It felt very heartfelt and was intriguing. There was something about the pacing or writing that I had trouble connecting with though. The description of the timeline was a bit confusing.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so not what I was expecting. It was part of the indigenous horror reading circle for 2025 but really felt more like a spiritual coming of age story. I liked it. It was different and I don’t know that I’ve read any Inuit lit in the past.

[Mary-Esther Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inuit myths and customs are the inspiration behind Johnston's fantastical novel, which commemorates a lost way of life. Mysterious, thoughtful, and emotional, it deserves a wide readership.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

[Eelai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read.

[Charlotte Helgeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The look into folklore and culture of the far north was fascinating. The names were tough to pronounce, but the story flowed smoothly around them. I'd love to read another title by this author.

[Jessica Sultan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book recommended to me by my 10 year old son. It was surprisingly good!