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This House is Not a Home
After a hunting trip one fall, a family in the far reaches of so-called Canada's north return to nothing but an empty space where their home once stood. Finding themselves suddenly homeless, they have no choice but to assimilate into settler-colonial society in a mining town that has encroached on their freedom.
An intergenerational coming-of-age novel, This House Is Not a Home follows Kǫ̀, a Dene man who grew up entirely on the land before being taken to residential school. When he finally returns home, he struggles to connect with his family: his younger brother whom he has never met, his mother because he has lost his language, and an absent father whose disappearance he is too afraid to question.
The third book from acclaimed Dene, Cree and Metis writer Katłįà, This House Is Not a Home is a fictional story based on true events. Visceral and embodied, heartbreaking and spirited, this book presents a clear trajectory of how settlers dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their land — and how Indigenous communities, with dignity and resilience, continue to live and honour their culture, values, inherent knowledge systems, and Indigenous rights towards re-establishing sovereignty. Fierce and unflinching, this story is a call for land back.
An intergenerational coming-of-age novel, This House Is Not a Home follows Kǫ̀, a Dene man who grew up entirely on the land before being taken to residential school. When he finally returns home, he struggles to connect with his family: his younger brother whom he has never met, his mother because he has lost his language, and an absent father whose disappearance he is too afraid to question.
The third book from acclaimed Dene, Cree and Metis writer Katłįà, This House Is Not a Home is a fictional story based on true events. Visceral and embodied, heartbreaking and spirited, this book presents a clear trajectory of how settlers dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their land — and how Indigenous communities, with dignity and resilience, continue to live and honour their culture, values, inherent knowledge systems, and Indigenous rights towards re-establishing sovereignty. Fierce and unflinching, this story is a call for land back.
192 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2022
8 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 3, 2024
One of the most moving works we've read.
August 26, 2022
This House is Not a Home is the third book by Katłįà, an indigenous author from the Northwest Territories in Canada. It begins with an almost lyrical tale of a hunting expedition, as Kǫ̀ learns the ways of his ancestors from his father. They return home to find an empty space where their family home once stood. Kǫ̀ is sent off to a residential school, although he eventually returns, while the ongoing toll on his family unfolds. This all too familiar tragic saga of the dispossession of First Nations peoples is based on historical events and captures the struggle and dignity in a touching narrative with heartfelt characters. A literary fiction gem that uses the lens of the housing system to portray the dispossession of Indigenous Peoples that makes for a four star read rating. With thanks to Fernwood Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
June 30, 2023
A coming-of-age story that at times has the quality of a fable, This House is Not a Home is set in Canada and follows an indigenous family being dispossessed of their land and way of life.
Kō is taken from his family as a child and placed in a residential school where he meets the woman who will become his wife. The novel traces the trauma of that experience, to having their home destroyed and rebuilt by a corporation aiming to take their land, not being allowed to keep his mother in their home, their children straying from traditional ways, the toxicity of the land due to mining, and the intersection of financial struggles, gambling, and income limits for programs supposedly helping the poor. It covers a lot of ground in few pages, which I think is why it reminds me a bit of a fable. The ending is more positive, but coming in the wake of so much tragedy. This was excellently written and well worth a read. Thank you to Libro.FM for the audiobook!
Kō is taken from his family as a child and placed in a residential school where he meets the woman who will become his wife. The novel traces the trauma of that experience, to having their home destroyed and rebuilt by a corporation aiming to take their land, not being allowed to keep his mother in their home, their children straying from traditional ways, the toxicity of the land due to mining, and the intersection of financial struggles, gambling, and income limits for programs supposedly helping the poor. It covers a lot of ground in few pages, which I think is why it reminds me a bit of a fable. The ending is more positive, but coming in the wake of so much tragedy. This was excellently written and well worth a read. Thank you to Libro.FM for the audiobook!
November 2, 2022
This is an often upsetting book about the effects of colonisation on indigenous people, in this case the Dene in the Northwest Territories of Canada. So much is taken from them; their language and culture, forced removal of children, their names, traditions and way of life. And then they’re tricked into rental or housing agreements they can’t read, land is taken from them, someone else profits from the resources, lakes and rivers poisoned etc. The family in the book go through all these struggles, Kǫ̀ is a wonderful character, from his childhood with his father learning traditional life, his lonely time at school, then return home to his mother, another great character. Another reminder of the horrible treatment that First Nations people everywhere have suffered.
October 25, 2022
⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed this book (for the most part). The setting was beautiful and there were parts that were lyrical in the storytelling. That said, I couldn't help but feel everything was just surface level explored. Racism. Residential schools. Alcohol and drug abuse. Gambling. Suicide. The loss of land and seperation of families. All these topics are mentioned, but never given the depth they deserve. If this book was longer and these topics were fully fleshed out, this could have been an amazing 5-star read.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
I enjoyed this book (for the most part). The setting was beautiful and there were parts that were lyrical in the storytelling. That said, I couldn't help but feel everything was just surface level explored. Racism. Residential schools. Alcohol and drug abuse. Gambling. Suicide. The loss of land and seperation of families. All these topics are mentioned, but never given the depth they deserve. If this book was longer and these topics were fully fleshed out, this could have been an amazing 5-star read.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
September 1, 2022
This House is Not a Home is at the same time beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking. It quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year. It tells a tale of generational trauma, colonization, forced assimilation, and many many struggles an indigenous family had to go through spanned over three generations. It shows how the colonizers and the settlers wreaked havoc on their resources, their community, and their identity. It shows these characters' pain, suffering, and immense resilience.
The book opens with a hunting scene, a glimpse into the upbringing of Kǫ̀, the character we follow. His family and he live off of the land, and his father is teaching him the ways of his ancestors, the way they all learned. Kǫ̀’s life gets upturned one day, when he is taken to a residential school, a place that creates nothing but misery, where he and the other children were (often by physical force) made to forget their languages, adopt new names, a new religion, and new customs. When he is released, everything he once knew is foreign - his father is gone, his mother and he struggle to communicate as he forgot his native language, and he has a brother he’s never met. It follows his life as he tries to rebuild it, and has his own family all while the settler-colonial society spreads, threatening to poison every aspect of his life.
This House is Not a Home is a generational story, which in part makes it more heartwrenching, as you see that through time the family is struggling more and more and it’s taking them more strength and effort to resume. The generational aspect shows how each generation was impacted differently, but it had the same gutting effect, the bigger and bigger alienation from their culture, and their roots. The dialogue at the beginning is entirely in their native language, and throughout the book, it becomes more and more just English. There are times when it’s combined, there are times when it’s just English. It shows how Kǫ̀ loses that part of himself at the school, and then his struggle and his effort to relearn it. I think this story does a great job of showing that the genocide against many indigenous peoples wasn’t just literal, but how the culture and identity of people were completely erased and how brutal that is to experience, and how many consequences that has. I thought the way the author went about describing and showing everything was amazing, as the writing overall was.
The story we follow is as much of endurance as is of tragedy. Kǫ̀ as the central figure is someone who fights to keep his land, his home, and his culture with all he has. When brought to the school, he was old enough to remember his name and that is the driving force for him. All of the children were given whichever names the nuns thought of, but he knows that in his culture the elders choose each kid's name with purpose and with meaning. The story shows how everything was affected by the settlers - the people, the environment, the pollution of the water and the illness the mines bring, the vices that many young people fall into (such as gambling, and alcoholism), and how powerless, how defeated the people were in the face of all of those tragedies. The systemic exploitation of indigenous people is rampant. With their houses torn down for no other reason than cruelty, they were forced to live in poorly made houses they didn’t want but had to pay for, meaning they were forced into awful, low-paying jobs so they could barely make ends meet.
I am not indigenous, so of course, I am not speaking with any authority here, but I think this novel is a great starting point for someone who is maybe interested in knowing more but not knowing where to start. I think it does a great job of showing the horrors of forced assimilation into the colonizer’s culture while also showing the resilience of people in the face of all of the atrocities that were done to them. Therefore, I would highly recommend this book!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
The book opens with a hunting scene, a glimpse into the upbringing of Kǫ̀, the character we follow. His family and he live off of the land, and his father is teaching him the ways of his ancestors, the way they all learned. Kǫ̀’s life gets upturned one day, when he is taken to a residential school, a place that creates nothing but misery, where he and the other children were (often by physical force) made to forget their languages, adopt new names, a new religion, and new customs. When he is released, everything he once knew is foreign - his father is gone, his mother and he struggle to communicate as he forgot his native language, and he has a brother he’s never met. It follows his life as he tries to rebuild it, and has his own family all while the settler-colonial society spreads, threatening to poison every aspect of his life.
This House is Not a Home is a generational story, which in part makes it more heartwrenching, as you see that through time the family is struggling more and more and it’s taking them more strength and effort to resume. The generational aspect shows how each generation was impacted differently, but it had the same gutting effect, the bigger and bigger alienation from their culture, and their roots. The dialogue at the beginning is entirely in their native language, and throughout the book, it becomes more and more just English. There are times when it’s combined, there are times when it’s just English. It shows how Kǫ̀ loses that part of himself at the school, and then his struggle and his effort to relearn it. I think this story does a great job of showing that the genocide against many indigenous peoples wasn’t just literal, but how the culture and identity of people were completely erased and how brutal that is to experience, and how many consequences that has. I thought the way the author went about describing and showing everything was amazing, as the writing overall was.
The story we follow is as much of endurance as is of tragedy. Kǫ̀ as the central figure is someone who fights to keep his land, his home, and his culture with all he has. When brought to the school, he was old enough to remember his name and that is the driving force for him. All of the children were given whichever names the nuns thought of, but he knows that in his culture the elders choose each kid's name with purpose and with meaning. The story shows how everything was affected by the settlers - the people, the environment, the pollution of the water and the illness the mines bring, the vices that many young people fall into (such as gambling, and alcoholism), and how powerless, how defeated the people were in the face of all of those tragedies. The systemic exploitation of indigenous people is rampant. With their houses torn down for no other reason than cruelty, they were forced to live in poorly made houses they didn’t want but had to pay for, meaning they were forced into awful, low-paying jobs so they could barely make ends meet.
I am not indigenous, so of course, I am not speaking with any authority here, but I think this novel is a great starting point for someone who is maybe interested in knowing more but not knowing where to start. I think it does a great job of showing the horrors of forced assimilation into the colonizer’s culture while also showing the resilience of people in the face of all of the atrocities that were done to them. Therefore, I would highly recommend this book!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
November 26, 2022
*Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!*
Everything about this book took my heart, ripped it to shreds, and somehow managed to put it back together again after so much heartache. I knew what I was getting myself into from the description, but this exceeded all of my expectations, and I wound up reading the whole book in one sitting. Before I go any further, I should mention that I am indigenous too, Potawatomi and Ojibwe, so I tried really hard to read it objectively, but it spoke to my soul and endeared it to me in a way that most books do not.
Told from a 3rd person omniscient POV, we follow Kǫ̀, a Dene man, through his life, from growing up solely on the land with the ways of his people in his culture to being taken from his family and forced into residential school, and everything that comes after with further forced assimilation and settlers on the land he grew up in. Not only does this novel show what happens to him in an external sense, like the changing of his life and everything he has ever known prior to boarding school, in an internal sense and how that has an impact on his psyche, and even his family.
Every indigenous person knows the history, no matter what tribe, it is essentially all the same. That is the hard thing about this book because you know where it's going and you feel that ache deep down in your heart because you cannot stop it. That's not to say it is not fresh and invigorating, because it is, only that one knows what is to come because of where we are today. What I also loved about this is the way the use of language is utilized, because prior to his time in boarding school, the dialogue is in the native language (though the author does a good job of explaining what was said in dialogue tags/following sentences) and during different moments in his life, there becomes a mix, to becoming predominantly English. It really shows the reader, in real-time, what he was experiencing and the struggle of having your native language taken from you, then having to relearn it.
I also love that the novel also does not focus predominantly on Kǫ̀ as it also includes other members of his family and the different ways they face what has happened to them. Everyone faces things differently and as we move into newer generations in his lineage, we see the adaptation they experience that comes far easier than it does for Kǫ̀ who remembers life before such changes. It really opens up the multiple realities of colonization, assimilation, and boarding schools, because it continued culturally long after it happened in a ripple effect, and this novel highlights that wonderfully.
I believe this is a novel that non-indigenous people can read before going into memoirs/non-fiction novels to learn the history. Even if it is a piece of fiction, I would say it is quite accurate and paints a vivid picture of history. For indigenous people, I think this novel would be a hard one to face, as it is definitely heart-wrenching to have the history shared in a way that lets you visualize it while getting attached to the characters, because in truth, they really are real-life people, as mentioned how it is inspired by a family the author knows of.
Overall, I love this book and will be recommending it highly to everyone.
Content warnings: animal deaths, blood, hunting, injured animals, death, hypothermia, miscarriage, mother forcibly removed from home, bullying, racism, assault, destroyed habitats, concussions, drugs, gambling, poisoning, murder, car crash, gangs, drug dealing, cancer, suicide, incarceration, Residential school: stolen children, cutting hair, stripping of name, abuse, forced assimilation, brainwashing, refusal to eat, choking, force-feeding, unmarked graves, illness, colonization, displacement, alcoholism.
Everything about this book took my heart, ripped it to shreds, and somehow managed to put it back together again after so much heartache. I knew what I was getting myself into from the description, but this exceeded all of my expectations, and I wound up reading the whole book in one sitting. Before I go any further, I should mention that I am indigenous too, Potawatomi and Ojibwe, so I tried really hard to read it objectively, but it spoke to my soul and endeared it to me in a way that most books do not.
Told from a 3rd person omniscient POV, we follow Kǫ̀, a Dene man, through his life, from growing up solely on the land with the ways of his people in his culture to being taken from his family and forced into residential school, and everything that comes after with further forced assimilation and settlers on the land he grew up in. Not only does this novel show what happens to him in an external sense, like the changing of his life and everything he has ever known prior to boarding school, in an internal sense and how that has an impact on his psyche, and even his family.
Every indigenous person knows the history, no matter what tribe, it is essentially all the same. That is the hard thing about this book because you know where it's going and you feel that ache deep down in your heart because you cannot stop it. That's not to say it is not fresh and invigorating, because it is, only that one knows what is to come because of where we are today. What I also loved about this is the way the use of language is utilized, because prior to his time in boarding school, the dialogue is in the native language (though the author does a good job of explaining what was said in dialogue tags/following sentences) and during different moments in his life, there becomes a mix, to becoming predominantly English. It really shows the reader, in real-time, what he was experiencing and the struggle of having your native language taken from you, then having to relearn it.
I also love that the novel also does not focus predominantly on Kǫ̀ as it also includes other members of his family and the different ways they face what has happened to them. Everyone faces things differently and as we move into newer generations in his lineage, we see the adaptation they experience that comes far easier than it does for Kǫ̀ who remembers life before such changes. It really opens up the multiple realities of colonization, assimilation, and boarding schools, because it continued culturally long after it happened in a ripple effect, and this novel highlights that wonderfully.
I believe this is a novel that non-indigenous people can read before going into memoirs/non-fiction novels to learn the history. Even if it is a piece of fiction, I would say it is quite accurate and paints a vivid picture of history. For indigenous people, I think this novel would be a hard one to face, as it is definitely heart-wrenching to have the history shared in a way that lets you visualize it while getting attached to the characters, because in truth, they really are real-life people, as mentioned how it is inspired by a family the author knows of.
Overall, I love this book and will be recommending it highly to everyone.
Content warnings: animal deaths, blood, hunting, injured animals, death, hypothermia, miscarriage, mother forcibly removed from home, bullying, racism, assault, destroyed habitats, concussions, drugs, gambling, poisoning, murder, car crash, gangs, drug dealing, cancer, suicide, incarceration, Residential school: stolen children, cutting hair, stripping of name, abuse, forced assimilation, brainwashing, refusal to eat, choking, force-feeding, unmarked graves, illness, colonization, displacement, alcoholism.
July 31, 2022
Book Review: This House is Not A Home
Author: Katłįà
Publisher: Fernwood Publishing/Roseway Publishing
Publication Date: September 1, 2022
Review Date: July 31, 2022
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the blurb:
“After a hunting trip one fall, a family in the far reaches of so-called Canada's north return to nothing but an empty space where their home once stood. Finding themselves suddenly homeless, they have no choice but to assimilate into settler-colonial society in a mining town that has encroached on their freedom.
An intergenerational coming-of-age novel, This House Is Not a Home follows Kǫ̀, a Dene man who grew up entirely on the land before being taken to residential school. When he finally returns home, he struggles to connect with his family: his younger brother whom he has never met, his mother because he has lost his language, and an absent father whose disappearance he is too afraid to question.
The third book from acclaimed Dene, Cree and Metis writer Katłįà, This House Is Not a Home is a fictional story based on true events. Visceral and embodied, heartbreaking and spirited, this book presents a clear trajectory of how settlers dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their land — and how Indigenous communities, with dignity and resilience, continue to live and honour their culture, values, inherent knowledge systems, and Indigenous rights towards re-establishing sovereignty. Fierce and unflinching, this story is a call for land back.”
____
Wow! This is an exquisite book about Indigenous life up in the Coastal Pacific Northwest. Very well written, and easy to read. I was glued to the book all the way through.
It is a story about an Indigenous man and his family, about their life on the land in the Pacific Northwest, and the rape of the land and the people living out on the land. It was absolutely heartbreaking.
It is mostly a story of great, great loss. Be aware: if you have a beating heart, it may well be broken while reading this book. And l highly, highly recommend this book. Thank you to the author for this book.
This review will be posted on NetGalley and Goodreads.
#netgalley #thishouseisnotahome #Katłįà #fernwoodpublishing/rosewaypublishing
Author: Katłįà
Publisher: Fernwood Publishing/Roseway Publishing
Publication Date: September 1, 2022
Review Date: July 31, 2022
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the blurb:
“After a hunting trip one fall, a family in the far reaches of so-called Canada's north return to nothing but an empty space where their home once stood. Finding themselves suddenly homeless, they have no choice but to assimilate into settler-colonial society in a mining town that has encroached on their freedom.
An intergenerational coming-of-age novel, This House Is Not a Home follows Kǫ̀, a Dene man who grew up entirely on the land before being taken to residential school. When he finally returns home, he struggles to connect with his family: his younger brother whom he has never met, his mother because he has lost his language, and an absent father whose disappearance he is too afraid to question.
The third book from acclaimed Dene, Cree and Metis writer Katłįà, This House Is Not a Home is a fictional story based on true events. Visceral and embodied, heartbreaking and spirited, this book presents a clear trajectory of how settlers dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their land — and how Indigenous communities, with dignity and resilience, continue to live and honour their culture, values, inherent knowledge systems, and Indigenous rights towards re-establishing sovereignty. Fierce and unflinching, this story is a call for land back.”
____
Wow! This is an exquisite book about Indigenous life up in the Coastal Pacific Northwest. Very well written, and easy to read. I was glued to the book all the way through.
It is a story about an Indigenous man and his family, about their life on the land in the Pacific Northwest, and the rape of the land and the people living out on the land. It was absolutely heartbreaking.
It is mostly a story of great, great loss. Be aware: if you have a beating heart, it may well be broken while reading this book. And l highly, highly recommend this book. Thank you to the author for this book.
This review will be posted on NetGalley and Goodreads.
#netgalley #thishouseisnotahome #Katłįà #fernwoodpublishing/rosewaypublishing
August 25, 2022
"This House is Not a Home" by Katłįà is an intergenerational coming-of-age story about tragedy, loss, trauma, hope, and resilience. This historical fiction novel is an emotional tale that recounts the damage inflicted upon the Indigenous people and the vicious cycle of displacement felt throughout generations as they try to reclaim their culture, beliefs, knowledge, and way of life.
The story follows Kǫ̀ from the time when he was a young kid learning about his culture and way of life, to being forced into a residential school, the alienation of returning home, and later having kids who grow up with a different value system and life than his own. Spread throughout is the cruelty and injustice done to a culture of people who were abused and traumatized and left to grapple with the aftermath on their own. The story of Kǫ̀ and his family isn't just tragic, but an outcry against the genocide of Indigenous culture and the brutality that occurred. It's a lament as much as it is a demand for retribution, recognition, and a reclaiming of rights.
"This House is Not a Home" is a powerful, emotional tale worth reading. Kǫ̀ is a fiercely resilient character who vows never to lose sight of his cultural traditions or the life he was taught and grew up with. While he experiences a lot of heartbreak and devastation, he finds a way to endure it and to try and beat the system that wants nothing more than to wipe him out of existence. Kǫ̀ is an easy character to be enamoured with. His story is one that will enlighten many and help bring understanding and compassion to the intergenerational trauma that continues to be felt in the Indigenous community.
"This House is Not a Home" by Katłįà is a book that must be read at some point in one's lifetime. Do not miss out on an opportunity to pick this book up on its expected publication date of September 1st, 2022.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Fernwood Publishing, and Roseway Publishing for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and for the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
The story follows Kǫ̀ from the time when he was a young kid learning about his culture and way of life, to being forced into a residential school, the alienation of returning home, and later having kids who grow up with a different value system and life than his own. Spread throughout is the cruelty and injustice done to a culture of people who were abused and traumatized and left to grapple with the aftermath on their own. The story of Kǫ̀ and his family isn't just tragic, but an outcry against the genocide of Indigenous culture and the brutality that occurred. It's a lament as much as it is a demand for retribution, recognition, and a reclaiming of rights.
"This House is Not a Home" is a powerful, emotional tale worth reading. Kǫ̀ is a fiercely resilient character who vows never to lose sight of his cultural traditions or the life he was taught and grew up with. While he experiences a lot of heartbreak and devastation, he finds a way to endure it and to try and beat the system that wants nothing more than to wipe him out of existence. Kǫ̀ is an easy character to be enamoured with. His story is one that will enlighten many and help bring understanding and compassion to the intergenerational trauma that continues to be felt in the Indigenous community.
"This House is Not a Home" by Katłįà is a book that must be read at some point in one's lifetime. Do not miss out on an opportunity to pick this book up on its expected publication date of September 1st, 2022.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Fernwood Publishing, and Roseway Publishing for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and for the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
October 7, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC, in exchange for an honest review!
This book deserves so much recognition, i need more people to read it, it heavily impacts you in so many ways.
full review incoming...
It's been couple of days after reading this book, it made me want to read so much more native (american) literature, it definitely impacts you throughout the story knowing this eradication is real and still happening.
I looked at my life and saw parallels to what my government is/was doing to Sami people, the eradication of any types of people is always wrong and never right a lot of people are inhumane and the thing is i have never really thought about this so much which i thank this book so much for, so we need to uplift and raise voices that matter at this time specifically it is so important to understand and be human to others.
I would recommend this book for everyone
This book deserves so much recognition, i need more people to read it, it heavily impacts you in so many ways.
full review incoming...
It's been couple of days after reading this book, it made me want to read so much more native (american) literature, it definitely impacts you throughout the story knowing this eradication is real and still happening.
I looked at my life and saw parallels to what my government is/was doing to Sami people, the eradication of any types of people is always wrong and never right a lot of people are inhumane and the thing is i have never really thought about this so much which i thank this book so much for, so we need to uplift and raise voices that matter at this time specifically it is so important to understand and be human to others.
I would recommend this book for everyone
August 31, 2022
This House Is Not a Home is an eye-opening tale that focuses on the devastating effects of colonization on an indigenous (Dene) community/family in northern Canada. The preface provides additional context surrounding the motivation to create codified laws and prejudicial policies (now deemed unconstitutional) to (forcefully) remove both the children from their homes and the remaining families from their ancestral lands. Those familiar with the colonizer’s playbook will recognize the methodical and psychological manipulation that attempted to erase identity, family ties, and obliterate tradition, culture, religion, and language (children were punished (beaten or starved) if caught conversing in their native tongue).
Here’s an example of the forementioned in an excerpt regarding Ko’s confusion when forced into a Christian Boarding school where the abusive nuns haphazardly changed his name to Christian - which was subsequently applied to other male children because of their limited pool of approved names. Fortunately, Ko was old enough to remember his given name - so many others were not so fortunate:
The change of name was especially confusing for Kǫ̀. What he knew of names was that they were chosen thoughtfully, and often well after a baby was born. The Elders would watch a child’s behaviours, learn their character. When a name was given to a child, a feast and naming ceremony would take place. Kǫ̀ vaguely remembered the day he was named. His relatives packed into his family’s tent and sat on the ground sharing a meal. Everyone hugged him, tousled his hair, his aunties squeezed his cheeks. Kǫ̀ knew what his real name meant. It was given to him by his great-grandfather, and he was told that one day he would honour it greatly, but now all he could do was miss the meaning behind it. It was there at the school that they would try to turn him against his own family, ridicule his culture and make him forget everything he knew.
Although largely centered on Ko, who was forcefully removed from his home at a young age, the novel truly spans his entire life and shows the negative impact of these policies not only on his generation but that of his parents, sibling, wife, and children. Everyone and everything is affected. The indigenous descendants, the environment, the animals, and the elements (air, water, earth) are damaged and scarred by the encroachment of white settlers and their introduction of vices (alcoholism, drugs, gambling) which opened the door for addiction, hopelessness, despair (to the point where horrific memories are unhealthily repressed), poor education, under/unemployment – all of which were exacerbated by rampant bullying, systemic exploitation, and intentional exclusionism.
This story had page-turning qualities in that I had hope for Ko and his family and wanted to know how things would play out. Recommended for those who have an interest in the subject, the struggles of the Indigenous People of Canada.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
Here’s an example of the forementioned in an excerpt regarding Ko’s confusion when forced into a Christian Boarding school where the abusive nuns haphazardly changed his name to Christian - which was subsequently applied to other male children because of their limited pool of approved names. Fortunately, Ko was old enough to remember his given name - so many others were not so fortunate:
The change of name was especially confusing for Kǫ̀. What he knew of names was that they were chosen thoughtfully, and often well after a baby was born. The Elders would watch a child’s behaviours, learn their character. When a name was given to a child, a feast and naming ceremony would take place. Kǫ̀ vaguely remembered the day he was named. His relatives packed into his family’s tent and sat on the ground sharing a meal. Everyone hugged him, tousled his hair, his aunties squeezed his cheeks. Kǫ̀ knew what his real name meant. It was given to him by his great-grandfather, and he was told that one day he would honour it greatly, but now all he could do was miss the meaning behind it. It was there at the school that they would try to turn him against his own family, ridicule his culture and make him forget everything he knew.
Although largely centered on Ko, who was forcefully removed from his home at a young age, the novel truly spans his entire life and shows the negative impact of these policies not only on his generation but that of his parents, sibling, wife, and children. Everyone and everything is affected. The indigenous descendants, the environment, the animals, and the elements (air, water, earth) are damaged and scarred by the encroachment of white settlers and their introduction of vices (alcoholism, drugs, gambling) which opened the door for addiction, hopelessness, despair (to the point where horrific memories are unhealthily repressed), poor education, under/unemployment – all of which were exacerbated by rampant bullying, systemic exploitation, and intentional exclusionism.
This story had page-turning qualities in that I had hope for Ko and his family and wanted to know how things would play out. Recommended for those who have an interest in the subject, the struggles of the Indigenous People of Canada.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2022
"Being on the land was a different kind of vulnerability, it was the only place he felt alive."
This House is Not a Home is a devastating but charming intergenerational novel (under 200 pages) about Kǫ̀, a Dene man who grew up living on the land. We follow Kǫ̀ as a child as he is kidnapped and taken to a residential school, upon his return home, throughout young adulthood, and as he has his own children and grows old.
It is impossible not to root for Kǫ̀ and his family (both the one who grew up with and the family he creates), and it was heartbreaking to read about the trauma they endured.
After reading this book I am just in awe of the beauty of Dene culture and with the kindness and purity the community treats the land. Some of the descriptions of hunting, fishing, using traditional medicine, etc. really captured my attention and made me gain a deeper appreciation for indigenous communities.
One thing I noticed about this book was that chronology (and just time/dates in general) were not a priority in storytelling. I felt a bit disoriented trying to center myself in the story and figure out when each event was occuring on a timeline, but once I let that expectation go I was able to enjoy the book much more. There is even a passage in the story where Kǫ̀ talks about how he never paid attention to a clock as he felt there was no need for one. I thought it was really neat how the pace and writing of the story actually connected to the cultural norms in this way.
I do think this book addressed a lot of topics (residential schools, colonization, climate change, racism, gambling, suicide, etc.) in a very short number of pages. It wasn't ineffective by any means, but I do think many of those explorations were surface level due to the length. Had the book been a bit meatier, I believe it may have bit off some of these big important topics in a more memorable way.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for an intergenerational coming of age novel!!
**Thank you to NetGalley and Fernwood Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
This House is Not a Home is a devastating but charming intergenerational novel (under 200 pages) about Kǫ̀, a Dene man who grew up living on the land. We follow Kǫ̀ as a child as he is kidnapped and taken to a residential school, upon his return home, throughout young adulthood, and as he has his own children and grows old.
It is impossible not to root for Kǫ̀ and his family (both the one who grew up with and the family he creates), and it was heartbreaking to read about the trauma they endured.
After reading this book I am just in awe of the beauty of Dene culture and with the kindness and purity the community treats the land. Some of the descriptions of hunting, fishing, using traditional medicine, etc. really captured my attention and made me gain a deeper appreciation for indigenous communities.
One thing I noticed about this book was that chronology (and just time/dates in general) were not a priority in storytelling. I felt a bit disoriented trying to center myself in the story and figure out when each event was occuring on a timeline, but once I let that expectation go I was able to enjoy the book much more. There is even a passage in the story where Kǫ̀ talks about how he never paid attention to a clock as he felt there was no need for one. I thought it was really neat how the pace and writing of the story actually connected to the cultural norms in this way.
I do think this book addressed a lot of topics (residential schools, colonization, climate change, racism, gambling, suicide, etc.) in a very short number of pages. It wasn't ineffective by any means, but I do think many of those explorations were surface level due to the length. Had the book been a bit meatier, I believe it may have bit off some of these big important topics in a more memorable way.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for an intergenerational coming of age novel!!
**Thank you to NetGalley and Fernwood Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
April 12, 2023
Thank you to libro.fm for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
While this isn't an easy or a comfortable read, it's also a very important one, and it has the added benefit of conveying historical facts through an engaging story.
I knew that the treatment of Indigenous people in the US and Canada was horrific, but this one shows a whole new level of depravity in the dispossession and systematic abuses of First Nations people in Canada (although I'm sure it wasn't done too differently across the border, here in America).
In this book, after being taken away from their families and forced to attend residential schools, losing much of their language and connection to their cultures, Ko and his wife create their own family, with two children and Ko's mother. Since I listened to the audiobook, I apologize in advance for not knowing how to spell many of the names of characters. While they are away from home on a hunting trip in the far north, things are in motion that they know nothing about, and they return home to find their home gone, and an unscrupulous Indian agent ready to offer them a deal they can't refuse.
Residential schools seemed more focused on stripping Indigenous children like Ko of the things that tied them to their roots, forcing them to adopt Eurocentric names, religion, modes of dress, haircuts, and patterns of behavior, and significantly less on actual education. As a result, Ko managed to complete his schooling while remaining functionally illiterate, unable to read or understand the paperwork the Indian agents present to him while swindling his land away from him and offering a house back to him, essentially forcing him to shift from living off the land and bartering for what he needs to a money-based lifestyle, where no matter what he does, he's always teetering on the edge of poverty and crisis.
Instead of hunting, fishing, and living in harmony in nature, Ko and his family are forced to live in ways that aren't natural or healthy for them, and it has disastrous results on their entire family-physically, mentally, and socially. The story isn't a happy one, but it's one that had me incredibly outraged at the fact that this was done at all, but also that this wasn't ancient history but relatively recent. It's just another way that systemic racism has been used to oppress and subjugate a group of people that have been simply trying to live on their own terms, while the government has shifted from outright genocide to cultural genocide and enforced poverty.
This is a fantastic read, and my only critique is that while it touches on so many important aspects of the Indigenous experience in Canada, including residential schools, forced displacement, pollution, addiction, and gambling, it doesn't necessarily delve into these topics and the emotional impact that these have on the characters. But other than that, the book is absolutely worth the read, and has the added benefit of teaching readers something that is most likely not discussed outside of the communities affected. In addition, it's a great way to start learning about First Nations communities and get started on reading books about these groups.
While this isn't an easy or a comfortable read, it's also a very important one, and it has the added benefit of conveying historical facts through an engaging story.
I knew that the treatment of Indigenous people in the US and Canada was horrific, but this one shows a whole new level of depravity in the dispossession and systematic abuses of First Nations people in Canada (although I'm sure it wasn't done too differently across the border, here in America).
In this book, after being taken away from their families and forced to attend residential schools, losing much of their language and connection to their cultures, Ko and his wife create their own family, with two children and Ko's mother. Since I listened to the audiobook, I apologize in advance for not knowing how to spell many of the names of characters. While they are away from home on a hunting trip in the far north, things are in motion that they know nothing about, and they return home to find their home gone, and an unscrupulous Indian agent ready to offer them a deal they can't refuse.
Residential schools seemed more focused on stripping Indigenous children like Ko of the things that tied them to their roots, forcing them to adopt Eurocentric names, religion, modes of dress, haircuts, and patterns of behavior, and significantly less on actual education. As a result, Ko managed to complete his schooling while remaining functionally illiterate, unable to read or understand the paperwork the Indian agents present to him while swindling his land away from him and offering a house back to him, essentially forcing him to shift from living off the land and bartering for what he needs to a money-based lifestyle, where no matter what he does, he's always teetering on the edge of poverty and crisis.
Instead of hunting, fishing, and living in harmony in nature, Ko and his family are forced to live in ways that aren't natural or healthy for them, and it has disastrous results on their entire family-physically, mentally, and socially. The story isn't a happy one, but it's one that had me incredibly outraged at the fact that this was done at all, but also that this wasn't ancient history but relatively recent. It's just another way that systemic racism has been used to oppress and subjugate a group of people that have been simply trying to live on their own terms, while the government has shifted from outright genocide to cultural genocide and enforced poverty.
This is a fantastic read, and my only critique is that while it touches on so many important aspects of the Indigenous experience in Canada, including residential schools, forced displacement, pollution, addiction, and gambling, it doesn't necessarily delve into these topics and the emotional impact that these have on the characters. But other than that, the book is absolutely worth the read, and has the added benefit of teaching readers something that is most likely not discussed outside of the communities affected. In addition, it's a great way to start learning about First Nations communities and get started on reading books about these groups.
December 15, 2023
This House Is Not a Home is an intergenerational coming-of-age story centered on Kǫ̀, a Dene man raised on the northern land before being sent to a residential school. When he returns years later, he finds it difficult to communicate with his mother and to connect with his younger brother, whom he’s never met. This book is a historical fiction story based on true events. It explores the conflicting feelings and struggles that many Indigenous people experienced as a result of injustices.
I believe the engaging narrative writing style used can be a very beneficial and enjoyable way for people to learn about Indigenous beliefs. This eye-opening read covered many heavy topics such as forced assimilation, colonial abuse, etc. Through those themes, an emphasis was placed on putting family first and remaining resilient. One thing that caught my attention was– as the title suggests– how tragic it is that family members had differing perspectives of what they consider “home”. Despite living together, the definition of home changed across generations.
I was glad to find the author kept this book clean both romance and profanity-wise. I noticed the way language is skillfully shaped in this book. Some dialogue, before Kǫ̀ went to residential school, is in his native language, yet after he returns, it decreases significantly and is primarily in English. It illustrates for readers, in real-time, what he was going through as well as the difficulty of trying to relearn one’s native tongue. This book highlighted many horrors Dene People faced that the average reader may not know. For example, the trauma Elders endured being uprooted to nursing homes cannot be forgotten. I love that this book subtly teaches readers about Indigenous languages. However, I would have appreciated it if there were clearer pronunciation and translation guides included throughout.
This book presents the anguish and sorrow, but also the incredible resiliency of Indigenous People in a heartbreaking yet beautiful way. This must-read is perfect for snowy evenings.
I believe the engaging narrative writing style used can be a very beneficial and enjoyable way for people to learn about Indigenous beliefs. This eye-opening read covered many heavy topics such as forced assimilation, colonial abuse, etc. Through those themes, an emphasis was placed on putting family first and remaining resilient. One thing that caught my attention was– as the title suggests– how tragic it is that family members had differing perspectives of what they consider “home”. Despite living together, the definition of home changed across generations.
I was glad to find the author kept this book clean both romance and profanity-wise. I noticed the way language is skillfully shaped in this book. Some dialogue, before Kǫ̀ went to residential school, is in his native language, yet after he returns, it decreases significantly and is primarily in English. It illustrates for readers, in real-time, what he was going through as well as the difficulty of trying to relearn one’s native tongue. This book highlighted many horrors Dene People faced that the average reader may not know. For example, the trauma Elders endured being uprooted to nursing homes cannot be forgotten. I love that this book subtly teaches readers about Indigenous languages. However, I would have appreciated it if there were clearer pronunciation and translation guides included throughout.
This book presents the anguish and sorrow, but also the incredible resiliency of Indigenous People in a heartbreaking yet beautiful way. This must-read is perfect for snowy evenings.
June 23, 2023
This is the first book I’ve ever read by an Indigenous author, for which I’m very grateful. It’s an important story and I’m glad it exists.
That being said, the story itself didn’t really work for me. I didn’t think for once that the characters would get to be happy. The book wants you to hold out hope for them, but because they constantly face hardships (on every level) I never found it believable when they were happy. The ending felt really unrealistic because of it.
The narrative voice also didn’t help with this. The story was written down like a (very depressing) fairytale. The timeframe was long, so major events were brushed upon quickly (I would’ve liked to read more about the schools the kids were sent to for example, as it had such a big impact on these characters, but that’s only a small part of the story) and the characters themselves were described as doing things rather than acting them themselves. This meant a lot of this book centred the narrative voice telling the reader the story, rather than us hearing it from the characters themselves. We can’t make up our own minds about how we should interpret the story either, because the narrative voice favours the protagonists and dislikes the antagonists. Characters were described as ‘bravely’ doing something, even though it’s obvious they’re being brave in that moment, for instance, and the antagonists being ‘rude’ was very clear from the start. In the acknowledgements the author thanks a fellow author, who advised her to add more dialogue. This definitely helped bring the characters to life more, but I would’ve liked to see more of it.
That being said, the story itself didn’t really work for me. I didn’t think for once that the characters would get to be happy. The book wants you to hold out hope for them, but because they constantly face hardships (on every level) I never found it believable when they were happy. The ending felt really unrealistic because of it.
The narrative voice also didn’t help with this. The story was written down like a (very depressing) fairytale. The timeframe was long, so major events were brushed upon quickly (I would’ve liked to read more about the schools the kids were sent to for example, as it had such a big impact on these characters, but that’s only a small part of the story) and the characters themselves were described as doing things rather than acting them themselves. This meant a lot of this book centred the narrative voice telling the reader the story, rather than us hearing it from the characters themselves. We can’t make up our own minds about how we should interpret the story either, because the narrative voice favours the protagonists and dislikes the antagonists. Characters were described as ‘bravely’ doing something, even though it’s obvious they’re being brave in that moment, for instance, and the antagonists being ‘rude’ was very clear from the start. In the acknowledgements the author thanks a fellow author, who advised her to add more dialogue. This definitely helped bring the characters to life more, but I would’ve liked to see more of it.
September 14, 2022
This was a really good book. I just had to finish it in one day it was that good. There was certainly some rather shocking events and I thought the author did a brilliant job at dealing with these issues. I loved how this book was based in Canada and about indigenous people. It was terrible and shocking how these people were treated and this book is based on true events. I loved the story line and its medium pace felt very fitting. I loved the characters development and became emotionally involved in them. There were definitely characters you live to hate, I felt my blood boiling at one point. The author created a great sense of atmosphere and tension.
It is advertised as a general fiction adult and a young adult book. The book is short enough to work as a young adult book and it is a coming of age story for part of it. I just feel that this book would be lost as a young adult book they wouldn't appreciate the shocking story I feel its more suited to adults as they will understand the power this story holds. I certainly recommend reading this book life you like the quicker read books that are shocking and full of culture.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this shocking story and bringing these real life true events to life through fiction.
It is advertised as a general fiction adult and a young adult book. The book is short enough to work as a young adult book and it is a coming of age story for part of it. I just feel that this book would be lost as a young adult book they wouldn't appreciate the shocking story I feel its more suited to adults as they will understand the power this story holds. I certainly recommend reading this book life you like the quicker read books that are shocking and full of culture.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this shocking story and bringing these real life true events to life through fiction.
October 2, 2022
This is an amazing book of life on the land, sweeping harmful changes, and endurance through loss. But, it wraps up too prettily at the end and incongruously with character and plot development to that point. The last bit just felt way too rushed that it seemed desperate for a happily ever after that couldn't have happened. After the trauma and pain of the beginning of the story, I can understand the desire, but it breaks the story. It could have been done well with some extra pages and more exploration of the overcoming of the trauma. This is exacerbated by focusing on one character to the neglect of others, such as telling the son's story without mentioning the daughter at all until she was necessary for plot.
That said, there are definitely pieces I will be having students read to talk about Indigenous cultures in this area, as well as infliction of trauma through assimilationist policies intertwined with greed. But they will be vignettes. The larger story is so convenient as to be preachy. It also manages to undermine the injustice it depicts by inadvertently victim blaming because of the way the resolution is rushed. These characters overcame much trauma in order to create the situation at the end, and the narrative should have given them appropriate acknowledgement for that difficult work.
That said, there are definitely pieces I will be having students read to talk about Indigenous cultures in this area, as well as infliction of trauma through assimilationist policies intertwined with greed. But they will be vignettes. The larger story is so convenient as to be preachy. It also manages to undermine the injustice it depicts by inadvertently victim blaming because of the way the resolution is rushed. These characters overcame much trauma in order to create the situation at the end, and the narrative should have given them appropriate acknowledgement for that difficult work.
May 10, 2023
This House is Not a Home written by Katłįà is a raw and truthful story that follows the life of Kǫ̀, a Dene man who was growing up on the land until he was taken away to Residential School. It shows what some of the intergenerational effects of colonization of Turtle Island have been and how they affect not just the person directly involved, but also the family members of that person for generations to come.
The struggles that Kǫ̀ faces from losing his home to losing his ability to connect with his family are truly heartbreaking. As the plot progresses, just when you think things can't get worse for Kǫ̀, they do, and because the characters are so well written, the reader is not only invested, but really feels for the characters.
If you don't know about what happened in Canada's colonial past, This House is Not a Home by Katłįà will give you a really clear glimpse of what life was like for the Dene peoples living in so-called Canada's North.
I thank the publisher for allowing me to read and review this advance copy which I did voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The struggles that Kǫ̀ faces from losing his home to losing his ability to connect with his family are truly heartbreaking. As the plot progresses, just when you think things can't get worse for Kǫ̀, they do, and because the characters are so well written, the reader is not only invested, but really feels for the characters.
If you don't know about what happened in Canada's colonial past, This House is Not a Home by Katłįà will give you a really clear glimpse of what life was like for the Dene peoples living in so-called Canada's North.
I thank the publisher for allowing me to read and review this advance copy which I did voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 11, 2022
✒This coming-of-age historical fiction, took me through the life of KQ. A young man who grew up living off the land with his parents in upper Canada, as most indigenous people were living at that time.
✒Things suddenly took a drastic turn, when colonizers came and separated him from his family. KQ along with the other children that were taken, got their hair cut and names changed. After his days at the school were over, he was sent back home, to a changed community and land. His land. The land he had big plans for.
✒KQ is a fine example of the devastating effects of colonization. I loved that he was so determined to hold on to all of who he was, especially his spiritual connection to the land. We also get to see other members of his family and how they dealt with the hand that was given to them.
Katlia has inspired me to do some research about the indigenous people and the catholic church, in Canada. Before reading this novel, I had no idea.
✒WHAT I LEARNED:
I was reminded that the system was never designed to be for all people. Most importantly, that we really don't have all the time we think we have on this earth.
✒Considering the similar stories echoed on each continent, it's safe to say, that this book paints an accurate picture of indigenous history. However, KQ's story is just a tiny drop of water, in a very full bucket.
Another book that gripped my heart strings. 🤗
HAPPY READING!❤
✒Things suddenly took a drastic turn, when colonizers came and separated him from his family. KQ along with the other children that were taken, got their hair cut and names changed. After his days at the school were over, he was sent back home, to a changed community and land. His land. The land he had big plans for.
✒KQ is a fine example of the devastating effects of colonization. I loved that he was so determined to hold on to all of who he was, especially his spiritual connection to the land. We also get to see other members of his family and how they dealt with the hand that was given to them.
Katlia has inspired me to do some research about the indigenous people and the catholic church, in Canada. Before reading this novel, I had no idea.
✒WHAT I LEARNED:
I was reminded that the system was never designed to be for all people. Most importantly, that we really don't have all the time we think we have on this earth.
✒Considering the similar stories echoed on each continent, it's safe to say, that this book paints an accurate picture of indigenous history. However, KQ's story is just a tiny drop of water, in a very full bucket.
Another book that gripped my heart strings. 🤗
HAPPY READING!❤
July 25, 2022
thank you so much to fernwood publishing for sending me an ARC of this book!!
this is a wonderfully impactful introductory novel if you are trying to learn about residential schools & the horrendous dispossession that has happened to indigenous people in canada. following a Dene family who fall victim to the effects of colonisation, katłįà paints a harrowing picture of exploitation & what it means to mourn for your culture. this book serves to tell the story of the generational repercussions of this colonialism, and although it succeeds in this, i only wish it was longer, spending more time in the different stages of Ko’s life. that added intricacy would only create more insight & connection to an already impactful story.
i would absolutely recommend this for anyone looking to learn more about the systematic oppression of indigenous communities & the everlasting effects it has to this day.
this is a wonderfully impactful introductory novel if you are trying to learn about residential schools & the horrendous dispossession that has happened to indigenous people in canada. following a Dene family who fall victim to the effects of colonisation, katłįà paints a harrowing picture of exploitation & what it means to mourn for your culture. this book serves to tell the story of the generational repercussions of this colonialism, and although it succeeds in this, i only wish it was longer, spending more time in the different stages of Ko’s life. that added intricacy would only create more insight & connection to an already impactful story.
i would absolutely recommend this for anyone looking to learn more about the systematic oppression of indigenous communities & the everlasting effects it has to this day.
May 5, 2023
Great story, painful and honest. I enjoyed the writing and the way the characters were written. I felt their pain and anger, I celebrated their joys. I loved this.
August 30, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Fenway Publishing for an advanced copy of A House is Not a Home by
Katłįà. I requested it on a whim and am so glad I did! The slim novel follows the lives of a Dene family and the multitude of injustices they face across three generations. The writing is simple and straight forward, but still makes an impact. Highly recommend.
Katłįà. I requested it on a whim and am so glad I did! The slim novel follows the lives of a Dene family and the multitude of injustices they face across three generations. The writing is simple and straight forward, but still makes an impact. Highly recommend.
May 22, 2024
This books is a succinct and clear portrayal of what happened in the north. Readers, look up the Giant Mine in Yellowknife, and the briar patch article about the family who inspired this tale. 10/10. I want this taught in high schools.
November 5, 2023
3.5 stars for me.
Katlia's story is based on actual events, detailing the displacement of Indigenous people and the devastating consequences of greed, the abuse of power, and a disregard for other cultures.
Katlia's novel This House Is Not a Home is a novel of Indigenous people displaced by greedy settlers.
The story takes place in northern Canada, but the tragedy is uncomfortably and universally familiar and is based on real-life events: Indigenous children kidnapped and sent to residential schools, homes snatched, traditions erased, and a culture dismissed.
Ko is an Indigenous man who is taken advantage of time after time. He and others in his culture are made to feel less-than because the rules of the game have changed--hunting, subsisting off the land, and honoring long-held traditions are no longer respected (nor are they, in any practical sense, allowed).
The land is controlled by those who would keep moving the goalposts, obfuscating the terms of living, and cheating the Indigenous out of their familial lands. Ko and his family suffer. Their health, safety, and security are all deeply jeopardized by the circumstances of their current lives: their faulty homes, built by strangers without Indigenous people's request on the land that used to support them--homes they never desired but have been forced to take on; the mounting expenses of upkeep and maintenance costs; and the crooked manner in which they are led to sell the junk houses to free up cash for the new-to-them economy based upon it. In Ko's case, it seems he is left with nothing.
The difficult topics raised are important to explore and discuss. Katlia also explores complicated issues such as addiction, respecting elders, and family loyalty. Yet the bad guys are purely evil here, and there are few subtleties, gray areas, or character complexities presented in the story for the reader to explore.
Narrator Brianne Tucker has a cheerful tone to her voice, which at times felt out of keeping with the grim story of the horrendous abuses of power and consistent disregard for Indigenous people which lead to disastrous consequences for real-life versions of Ko and other Indigenous people.
I received an audiobook edition of this book courtesy of Libro.fm and Fernwood Publishing.
To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see This House Is Not a Home.
Find hundreds of reviews and lots of roundups of my favorite books on the blog: Bossy Bookworm
Follow me on Instagram! @bossybookwormblog
Or Facebook! The Bossy Bookworm
Katlia's story is based on actual events, detailing the displacement of Indigenous people and the devastating consequences of greed, the abuse of power, and a disregard for other cultures.
Katlia's novel This House Is Not a Home is a novel of Indigenous people displaced by greedy settlers.
The story takes place in northern Canada, but the tragedy is uncomfortably and universally familiar and is based on real-life events: Indigenous children kidnapped and sent to residential schools, homes snatched, traditions erased, and a culture dismissed.
Ko is an Indigenous man who is taken advantage of time after time. He and others in his culture are made to feel less-than because the rules of the game have changed--hunting, subsisting off the land, and honoring long-held traditions are no longer respected (nor are they, in any practical sense, allowed).
The land is controlled by those who would keep moving the goalposts, obfuscating the terms of living, and cheating the Indigenous out of their familial lands. Ko and his family suffer. Their health, safety, and security are all deeply jeopardized by the circumstances of their current lives: their faulty homes, built by strangers without Indigenous people's request on the land that used to support them--homes they never desired but have been forced to take on; the mounting expenses of upkeep and maintenance costs; and the crooked manner in which they are led to sell the junk houses to free up cash for the new-to-them economy based upon it. In Ko's case, it seems he is left with nothing.
The difficult topics raised are important to explore and discuss. Katlia also explores complicated issues such as addiction, respecting elders, and family loyalty. Yet the bad guys are purely evil here, and there are few subtleties, gray areas, or character complexities presented in the story for the reader to explore.
Narrator Brianne Tucker has a cheerful tone to her voice, which at times felt out of keeping with the grim story of the horrendous abuses of power and consistent disregard for Indigenous people which lead to disastrous consequences for real-life versions of Ko and other Indigenous people.
I received an audiobook edition of this book courtesy of Libro.fm and Fernwood Publishing.
To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see This House Is Not a Home.
Find hundreds of reviews and lots of roundups of my favorite books on the blog: Bossy Bookworm
Follow me on Instagram! @bossybookwormblog
Or Facebook! The Bossy Bookworm
October 22, 2022
This is an enormously powerful and moving story of an indigenous family dispossessed by white settlers in a remote community in the north of Canada, a damning indictment of white policies to wipe out the lives, culture and way of life of the native population. It’s a disturbing book and one which, sadly, has a far wider application than just Canada. The way indigenous peoples have been treated all over the world will shame us for ever. Here we focus on just one family, and that narrow focus works very well in engaging our empathy. The book opens with young Ko and his father on a hunting trip. When they return they find their house has been destroyed and the family are put into government housing. Gradually all that they hold dear is taken away from them as they are forced to assimilate into the wider society. We follow Ko from his early days, through his forced stay at a residential school, right through to adulthood and the forging of his own family. Thus through this one family we are shown just how damaging colonial polices were, and perhaps still are. Although it is fiction, it is firmly based on fact and this one family is emblematic of all the families who were dispossessed. It’s an important book and if it brings to the reader a deeper understanding of what happened in so many communities, then it is to be applauded. However, as a work of fiction, it is perhaps not so successful. The writing is very plain and simple, merely a chronological account of events, with little interiority, so that we rarely get any real insight into what the characters are feeling and experiencing. So from a literary point of view I found the book lacking – but perhaps ultimately this does not matter. What it describes is an essential exploration of indigenous injustice and a worthy read.
October 18, 2022
Full review on my blog at https://www.tumblr.com/blog/ya-world-...
Canada’s residential schools, which forcibly stole native children and attempted to erase their culture, have been brought to greater awareness lately. And while the schools feature in Katłıà’s work here, she focuses on an often overlooked injustice toward First Nations, that of housing.
This House is Not a Home tells the story of Kǫ̀, a Dene man who grew up on the land, was torn away from it to a residential school, and came back to reclaim his heritage only to be constantly betrayed by the Canadian government who destroys his family’s home only to give him a “free” (not free), poorly built, white man’s house that his family struggles to live in. Throughout the book we see the various consequences of the white man’s encroachment on native land: Kǫ̀‘s brother who forgot his own name at the school and never truly reconnects with his family; the proliferation of alcohol, drugs, and gambling among the indigenous people; the racism that prevents his son from following his hockey dreams; the mining pollution making the town sick; the white government’s attempts to disconnect people from the land and make them dependent.
I would very much recommend this book for an awareness of the history and current situation of native peoples, as sadly I imagine this story mirrors many tribe’s stories throughout North America.
Canada’s residential schools, which forcibly stole native children and attempted to erase their culture, have been brought to greater awareness lately. And while the schools feature in Katłıà’s work here, she focuses on an often overlooked injustice toward First Nations, that of housing.
This House is Not a Home tells the story of Kǫ̀, a Dene man who grew up on the land, was torn away from it to a residential school, and came back to reclaim his heritage only to be constantly betrayed by the Canadian government who destroys his family’s home only to give him a “free” (not free), poorly built, white man’s house that his family struggles to live in. Throughout the book we see the various consequences of the white man’s encroachment on native land: Kǫ̀‘s brother who forgot his own name at the school and never truly reconnects with his family; the proliferation of alcohol, drugs, and gambling among the indigenous people; the racism that prevents his son from following his hockey dreams; the mining pollution making the town sick; the white government’s attempts to disconnect people from the land and make them dependent.
I would very much recommend this book for an awareness of the history and current situation of native peoples, as sadly I imagine this story mirrors many tribe’s stories throughout North America.
August 20, 2022
🐾❄Sad, tragic, enlightening💔
4-4.5🌟 stars
This story delivers important insight into the way indigenous culture in Canada fought an uphill battle (and usually lost) against the encroachments of modernization. The writing style struck me as very rooted in the oral tradition of storytelling.
I found it easy to read, very appropriate for a teen or young adult reader, but also a must read for adults who want to know more about how a culture can be subdued and dismantled in the name of "progress."
The principal protagonist never forgets his father's teachings and yearns to keep his connection with tradition and the natural world. Through onslaughts of forced separation, indoctrination, prejudice, trickery, sickness and repeated setbacks, he tries to keep his family together and dreams of the day when they can return to the land.
There are a few instances of the narrative jumping around in an unexpected, nonchronological order, but they did not detract from the heartbreaking drama of this representative one family battling to survive against a powerful, unsympathetic foe.
Thanks to Roseway Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
4-4.5🌟 stars
This story delivers important insight into the way indigenous culture in Canada fought an uphill battle (and usually lost) against the encroachments of modernization. The writing style struck me as very rooted in the oral tradition of storytelling.
I found it easy to read, very appropriate for a teen or young adult reader, but also a must read for adults who want to know more about how a culture can be subdued and dismantled in the name of "progress."
The principal protagonist never forgets his father's teachings and yearns to keep his connection with tradition and the natural world. Through onslaughts of forced separation, indoctrination, prejudice, trickery, sickness and repeated setbacks, he tries to keep his family together and dreams of the day when they can return to the land.
There are a few instances of the narrative jumping around in an unexpected, nonchronological order, but they did not detract from the heartbreaking drama of this representative one family battling to survive against a powerful, unsympathetic foe.
Thanks to Roseway Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
December 7, 2022
Absolutely loved this book! I was in Yellowknife and had to get it from the Yellowknife Bookseller.
To me this gave me a good clear picture of what our indigenous people have been through, I wanted a good read with the truth and reconciliation day that followed my return from my trip. This was eye opening and very much brought me into the life and experiences that were lived. It was very heart warming at the end as well. I highly recommend this book for a good read into past events and just some of the ways that our indigenous people were affected. Our world needs to open their eyes and see who made their homes on the lands first, who lived off the creator and respected the grounds.
I say this all in past tense but I’m sure there are still similar struggles each day, but I hope this helps others feel from the first grounds and compare that to now.
All humans should be treated equal and we should all be kind to learn from one another!
Thank you Katłįà for writing this! 😊😍
To me this gave me a good clear picture of what our indigenous people have been through, I wanted a good read with the truth and reconciliation day that followed my return from my trip. This was eye opening and very much brought me into the life and experiences that were lived. It was very heart warming at the end as well. I highly recommend this book for a good read into past events and just some of the ways that our indigenous people were affected. Our world needs to open their eyes and see who made their homes on the lands first, who lived off the creator and respected the grounds.
I say this all in past tense but I’m sure there are still similar struggles each day, but I hope this helps others feel from the first grounds and compare that to now.
All humans should be treated equal and we should all be kind to learn from one another!
Thank you Katłįà for writing this! 😊😍
December 14, 2022
( I received an e-arc of this title, courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher.)
To me, this book read like a series of snapshots of a family's life through multiple generations.
Yet even through these small glimpses and time jumps you see such full and rich images of life.
I read this book in one sitting, I just found myself so enraptured. Even though I knew from the premise of the book at the author's introduction that many parts of this story were going to be heart breaking, part of me still flew through the pages hoping that there wouldn't be 'one more thing' added to make this family's life harder.
The author writes such rich and loving bonds of family and the surrounding landscape. It was truly atmospheric. As the reader you can sense the deep respect both the protagonist and the author have for the land.
For me this was a truly humbling experience to read and I hope many more people read this story.
To me, this book read like a series of snapshots of a family's life through multiple generations.
Yet even through these small glimpses and time jumps you see such full and rich images of life.
I read this book in one sitting, I just found myself so enraptured. Even though I knew from the premise of the book at the author's introduction that many parts of this story were going to be heart breaking, part of me still flew through the pages hoping that there wouldn't be 'one more thing' added to make this family's life harder.
The author writes such rich and loving bonds of family and the surrounding landscape. It was truly atmospheric. As the reader you can sense the deep respect both the protagonist and the author have for the land.
For me this was a truly humbling experience to read and I hope many more people read this story.
December 4, 2022
*Disclaimer: The author is a good friend and I got to read a very early draft of this work.
This book covers some very difficult topics, and is a thought-provoking read. Katłıà's works are story-teller style, and I feel you will miss out if you don't approach them like you would that kind of oral tradition: you need to know not everything will be given to you and you will need to draw from it. That said, I do feel there are places where Katłıà could have probed deeper and pushed the reader a little more. The themes are challenging and steeped in the dark stain colonial practices have left - and continue to leave - on society, regardless, and I think this makes this book an important read. The lyrical and descriptive style are also quite beautiful, even in the midst of the daunting subjects. I hope more people will add this to their TBR lists, especially other Canadians.
This book covers some very difficult topics, and is a thought-provoking read. Katłıà's works are story-teller style, and I feel you will miss out if you don't approach them like you would that kind of oral tradition: you need to know not everything will be given to you and you will need to draw from it. That said, I do feel there are places where Katłıà could have probed deeper and pushed the reader a little more. The themes are challenging and steeped in the dark stain colonial practices have left - and continue to leave - on society, regardless, and I think this makes this book an important read. The lyrical and descriptive style are also quite beautiful, even in the midst of the daunting subjects. I hope more people will add this to their TBR lists, especially other Canadians.
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