Scars and Stars: Poems

by Jesse Thistle

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A beautiful and moving collection of poems and stories from the author of the #1 bestselling memoir From the Ashes .

Fans of Jesse Thistle’s extraordinary debut From the Ashes have already had the pleasure of reading his poetry, which is sprinkled throughout this bestselling memoir. In Scars and Stars , he digs deeper into the poetic form, which is especially close to his heart.
 
Charting his own history, the stories of people from his past, the burning intensity of new and unexpected love, the complex legacies of family and community, and the beauty of parenthood, this collection is a profound mediation that expands his engagement with the ideas and experiences that have shaped his body of work thus far.
 
Throughout the collection, prose pieces complement the poems, and to bring readers into Jesse’s life with greater intimacy than ever before. The result is an unforgettable furthering of his singular story, one that is sure to delight his many readers, but also serve as a perfect entry point for those new to the work of one of our most thrilling and honest writers.

Genres: Poetry, Indigenous, Nonfiction, Canada, Audiobook, Adult, Mental Health

184 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2022

About the author

Jesse Thistle is Métis-Cree, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He teaches Métis Studies at York University in Toronto, where he lives. He won a Governor General’s Academic Medal in 2016, and was a Pierre Elliot Trudeau Scholar and a Vanier Scholar.

Reviews

[Emma Griffioen · Rating 4 out of 5]

my last book of 2022! this was very impactful, especially after attending the KPL event with jesse thistle a couples weeks ago! there were a handful of poems i marked as favs but i actually enjoyed the writings introducing each chapter a lot too.

i know jesse thistle’s story but haven’t read from the ashes yet, and i think his poems would be better to read following the memoir!

[Mery ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Jesse Thistle's second book is heart felt and certainly worthy of many re-reads. Somehow i can't help but wish that both his books were required reading in our educational system.

[kelseyandherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning collection of poetry. I loved each part included poems that called to a certain time in his life, and I especially loved listening to the poems about his wife and daughter.

I am also so pleased to see how much Thistle’s audiobook narration improved from From the Ashes to now. His voice was so full of life and once again, I loved hearing his words directly from him.

[Brandon Forsyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way Thistle blended his love poetry with riffs on classical antiquity and street wisdom. Not only did I feel love, anger, and resilience in these poems - I also felt something new and vital.

[Rebekah Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few weeks ago, I participated in a @tandemcollectiveglobal‘s readalong for Jesse Thistle’s recently published collection of poetry, Stars & Scars—which was an absolutely incredible reading experience.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read poetry, and even longer since I’ve read an entire collection from front to back. I’ll be honest and say that poetry is not usually a genre that I gravitate towards. However, there was something just so honest about Jesse’s words that captivated me and kept me completely glued to them. When I wasn’t reading them, I was thinking about them, repeating them, and hoping for a few minutes to sit down and read them some more. Poetry can be hard to read sometimes, but Jesse’s writing is so accessible and I loved reading the introductions to each section and hearing the stories that help give context to his poems.

Scars & Stars is an emotional, powerful and deeply moving collection of poetry. Broken up into five sections, each focusing on a different time in Jesse’s life—from being homeless and suffering from addiction, to being in recovery, to eventually getting married and becoming the father to a beautiful little girl. I found ways of connecting with poems from each section, and am still thinking about several of them.

“Please Remember My Name,” “Zoltan,” “Berry Picking,” & “Dust” are some immediate favourites, but this entire collection is one I will return to time and time, again. There is so much truth to these words.

I haven’t yet read From the Ashes, Jesse’s first book and memoir, but I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. I know that his story will make me appreciate his poems even more than I already do.

[Reb · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars!

Beautifully written piece of poetry mixed with exerts of the real life story of Jesse and how his past struggles and trauma; turned into hope, healing and gestures of faith for those dealing with similar situations.

[Cortney Murchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you review someone’s life stories and experiences?

Scars & Stars is an outstanding and impactful blend of storytelling and poetry written throughout different stages of Jesse’s life.

Each section of the book I was convinced was my favourite. The feelings he evokes with his brilliant and beautiful writing connects with you in a way you didn’t think it would. I have not had the same life experiences as Jesse, but I felt the pain. I felt the loneliness. I felt the joy.
Honestly, of all sections of this collection, the last one when he becomes a father - I connected with that the most. As a new mom, I knew these feelings. I had the experience of a c section, I know the joy from just witnessing the small things with your child(ren), and I found myself smiling just reading this part.

I cannot recommend this enough. It’s beautiful, vulnerable and raw.

Thank you again to @tandemcollectiveglobal @mcclellandstewart and @czechmet for my #gifted copy for this read along.

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[Care · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I didn't really enjoy the poems much in this. They are ardent and sincere but not my style though I did appreciate the mythological allusions. But the real winner is the stories about his life and his relationship with his wife. I enjoyed that storytelling part quite a bit.

[❀ Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

How lucky was I to score a signed edition of this collection? Having read From the Ashes, meeting Jesse and Lucie at Canada Reads event and hosted Jesse at bookclub, I have a special spot in my heard for this author. I admire his resilience, his strength and will forever think of his story when I see other individuals who are struggling... he is the reason that I have granola bars and hot pockets in my car to share with others.

This book is heart wrenchingly honest as he weaves his past story with the beauty of his present times with his wife and daughter. Thank you Jesse Thistle for sharing your life, your story and your hope!

[Roslin Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of poetry and prose.

I read From the Ashes: My Story of Being Indigenous, Homeless, and Finding My Way years ago and I loved it, so I was very exited when I heard about this book and bought it as soon as it was released. Since my TBR list is ridiculously long, it took me a while to get to it but I just finished it in one sitting - I'm not one for poetry really, but I enjoyed this book very much. I also really liked the little introductions in each section with Jesse telling you what the inspiration behind the poems was.

I would recommend that you read "From the Ashes" first; it definitely isn't necessary but almost all of the poems relate to stories that are written about in more detail in his first book. You just might get more out of it if you read the books in the order they were published.

[Jaime M]

I took my time reading through the stories that the Métis author, Jesse Thistle expresses through poetry and a linking narrative from his first book. This book is really a companion piece to his last book and gives insight into Jesse’s healing journey. One thing that struck me is how the capacity for love can change a person’s life completely in a relatively short period of time. Love definitely but also the grit, dedication and commitment he has to the rest of his life.

[Stephanie AM · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5–I hate rating a work that has so much soul and took so much courage and growth to write, but I found a lot of stuff corny, and some other poems just downright not great. However, I enjoyed the section where we meet the different characters that made up the author’s life. I just don’t think contemporary poetry is for me

[Rebecca Os · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving follow up from his debut From the Ashes

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly, I don’t read poetry often and cannot remember my English classes from eons ago about how to view poetry on a deeper level. With that said, Jesse Thistle’s newest book, Scars & Stars spoke to me in a way I could understand and connected with. This is not to say that I have a similar background to Jesse-that I most certainly do not but I have demons in my past and am proud of how I have accomplished life at times.

Introducing each set of poems is some prose about what the section is talking about. I really enjoyed this unique combination of storytelling. It is not necessary to have read Jesse’s novel From the Ashes although it enhances the experience of Scars & Stars. Just as Scars & Stars enhances From the Ashes.

Beginning with his ankle injury received after falling from a house, through active addiction and recovery, to finding love, reconnecting with his Métis-Cree heritage and to becoming a father, Jesse is vulnerable in what he shares with the reader.

I look forward to reading what this author has ahead for him.

[Paul]

I’m not qualified to “rate” a book of poems, but some of these are so beautiful and moving, and others are just devastating and harrowing, and to pack all that feeling into such a slim volume means that for me, it can only be seen as a successful piece of work.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Jesse Thistle's since reading his memoir, From The Ashes in July 2020. Within the pages of his life story, he included some of the poetry he had written throughout his life. His latest book, Scars & Stars is a unique blend of poetry and storytelling.

Poetry is beautiful, cathartic and a creative outlet for many but it is not a genre that I have been drawn to as a reader. However, after reading this book I may have to rethink my feelings about poetry.

Thistle uses his poetry as a creative outlet but also a way for him to make the physical and emotional scars he's accumulated more bearable. Last night I attended an event for him at a local library. With humour, candor and vulnerability, he shared the impact poetry has had on his life and how it continues to help him deal with the physical and emotional scars from addiction, physical injury, homelessness and reconnecting with his Metis-Cree heritage.





There are also poems in the collection that are an ode to the two most important women in his life - his wife Lucie and their 1-year-old daughter Rose. The beautiful and heartfelt way Jesse spoke of his wife elicited wistful sighs from the audience and I'm sure many (like myself) headed home in the hopes that their spouse had a hidden cache of poems.

You don't have to be a poetry aficionado to enjoy this beautiful collection of poems about life's struggles, joys, and everything in between. And while it isn't necessary to read From the Ashes beforehand, I think readers will get more out of Scars & Stars if they have read Jesse's memoir ahead of time.

[Selina Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one I will reread again and again. I wanted to read more poetry this year so of course I had to read this. Jesse’s words are beautiful and powerful. Found the poems relatable and I’ve never been homeless or incarcerated or in rehab. Loved the evolution of the poems, the themes if you will on the journey. The Bison 🦬 Stampede, What Reconciliation Looks Like & The Reciprocal Onion were three faves in a sea of wonderful words. Kischi marsii Jesse for sharing with us.

[belles_bookishlife]

I don’t think it’s right to rate such a personal and non fiction piece, but if I were to it would be 5 stars. This was such a beautiful little book about depression, addiction and how the author found his way to the other side through the help of his now wife and daughter, and most of all, stories. This was a hook that had me grabbing for my annotation stuff because I couldn’t help but mark it up. Incredible

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a journey. There are secrets revealed here and a poetic reckoning of the journey in From The Ashes and beyond. The poems evolve from classically referenced disconnection to immediate moments of lively beauty. And the Jesse Thistle that emerges is stronger and more resilient though so less surprised by the turns of his life.

[Bailee Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful and meaningful collection of poems, I definitely have a few favorites like Sea Glass, a lover’s trifle spelled out, when we were invincible, and Supernova! Definitely was glad that I had read From the Ashes first for more context, but I loved the paragraphs of context before each section of poems and the illustrations.

[Cassandra Henrichsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very powerful story! You can tell how real all these experiences and emotions are!

[Darby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated reading Jesse's poetry after watching one of his lectures. I look forward to reading his memoir and acamedic works.

[Katsmewsings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful. But didn’t quite work for me in the same way his memoir did.

[Emily Ricketts · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Ashes was a beautiful story and I was ecstatic to discover that Thistle created a collection of poetry. Beautifully written and incredibly inspiring.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful. Real.

[Danielle Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry isn’t usually my jam but I really appreciate and love all of Jesse thistles writing. It’s nice to see the change in tone of his writing change as things get better

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

i dont think ill ever shut up about this book. i love it.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Karen Sokoloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Jesse Thistle! 👏👏👏. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for surviving. Thank you for inspiring. Your gift of authentic story moved me so much when I read From the Ashes, and continues with Scars and Stars. More poetry, more honesty. A must read.