Those Pink Mountain Nights: An Indigenous YA Novel About Three Teens and the Connections That Hold Them Together

by Jen Ferguson

In her remarkable second novel following her acclaimed debut, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, which won the Governor General’s Award and received six starred reviews, Jen Ferguson writes about the hurt of a life stuck in past tense, the hum of connections that cannot be severed, and one week in a small snowy town that changes everything.

Over-achievement isn’t a bad word—for Berlin, it’s the goal. She’s securing excellent grades, planning her future, and working a part-time job at Pink Mountain Pizza, a legendary local business. Who says she needs a best friend by her side?

Dropping out of high school wasn’t smart—but it was necessary for Cameron. Since his cousin Kiki’s disappearance, it’s hard enough to find the funny side of life, especially when the whole town has forgotten Kiki. To them, she’s just another missing Native girl.

People at school label Jessie a tease, a rich girl—and honestly, she’s both. But Jessie knows she contains multitudes. Maybe her new job crafting pizzas will give her the high-energy outlet she desperately wants.

When the weekend at Pink Mountain Pizza takes unexpected turns, all three teens will have to acknowledge the various ways they’ve been hurt—and how much they need each other to hold it all together.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Indigenous, LGBT, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook

334 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 2023

About the author

Jen Ferguson (she/her/hers) Métis (on her father's side) and Canadian settler (on her mother's side) is an activist, a feminist, an auntie, and an accomplice armed with a PhD. She believes writing, teaching and beading are political acts. She is represented by Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Her debut young adult novel, THE SUMMER OF BITTER AND SWEET, is forthcoming from Heartdrum / Harper Collins in the summer of 2022. Her first book for adults, Border Markers, a collection of interrelated flash fiction stories, is out now with NeWest Press.

She lives and works in Los Angeles.

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Visit her website to subscribe to News from the Michif Creamery, an occasional (seasonally or less) newsletter, for a chance to win The Summer of Bitter and Sweet themed prizes!

Open international, prizes will be drawn from among all subscribers when we reach 200, 300, 400, and 500 subscribers respectively. Grand prize is a Scream Pretty dinosaur-themed necklace or set of earrings in gold or silver (winner’s choice). Other prizes will support BIPOC, queer, trans, and otherly marginalized creators. Sign up for News from the Michif Creamery today for a chance to win (and get very occasional news from Jen)!

Reviews

[Leni ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐
Forest of Reading 1/5
Content Warnings: Animal death, racism, adult/minor relationship, anti-Blackness, anti-Indigenous discrimination

What I Liked
I listened to this on audiobook so I was immediately drawn in by the narration. I thought that the four narrators did a good job voicing the characters and conveying their emotions. I also felt that the author wrote a pretty realistic depiction of the struggles of a Canadian teenager. I could relate to Berlin’s strive to be academically perfect and her breakup with her best friend. Though I couldn’t relate to Cameron, I know people who are like him. People who aren’t “school smart” but are smart nonetheless. Finally, I could relate to Jessie, not necessarily to her relationship with her family (though other people can relate), but to her mistakes and to the fact that people make assumptions about her based on what they know.

Other than characterization, I liked how before each section, there is a little epigraph giving context to the story. For example, there might be an epigraph from CBC News or something. I think that it makes the story feel more realistic, given that teens today are pretty tech-savvy and draw from many different sources. Oh and, speaking of CBC news, this book is set in Canmore, Alberta! And as a Canadian, I was pretty happy because I enjoy reading Canadian stories by Canadian authors set in a Canadian setting.

Finally, I loved how Jen Ferguson used this story to speak on some pretty important issues. One of the most important is that of the treatment of BIPOC individuals, especially Black and Indigenous people. I am neither Black nor Indigenous but I think that it’s important to speak up about these issues. Anyway, this entire story centres around the disappearance of an Indigenous teen girl and many comments are made about how people dismissed her case. And the owner of Pink Mountain Pizzas is a Black man. And how people react to his business decisions (whether with ill intent or not) shows systematic racism. Also, the main characters of this book are BIPOC. Berlin is Métis, Cameron is Indigenous, Jessies is Black (I’m pretty sure), and Kiki is both Black and Indigenous (I think). Anyhow, I just really liked how Ferguson addressed these issues in her book.

What I Disliked
The book is told from three main perspectives. Though it can be helpful, it can also hurt the narration. I felt that sometimes, the story didn’t connect as well because there were three perspectives. There were certain things that I thought could be fleshed out more, or needed to be explored more, yet the story swapped into another perspective. Then some sections felt like they were just “filler” sections because I felt like the author felt that the story was “unequal” and so she switched to another perspective. Anyway, that’s just my opinion.

Also, another thing was that I felt like some parts of the middle of the story felt slow and “there felt like there wasn’t too much happening.” However, perhaps it was just because I listened to this audiobook mostly before I slept. And honestly, I can’t complain too much.

Overall, not too much I disliked this book.

Resources
I am not Black or Indigenous but I encourage people to learn more about those issues if they can. Below, I have left some resources mentioned by the author or that I found online. :)

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S): https://www.csvanw.org/mmiw/

FNMISA (Mentioned in the Book): https://sfss.ca/first-nations-metis-i...

Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Racism (Ontario Human Rights Commission): https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/racial-disc...

We Need Diverse Books: https://diversebooks.org/

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

No worries about a Sophomore slump for this latest from Canadian YA author Jen Ferguson!!

I LOVED her debut, The summer of bitter and sweet and think her latest is equally as good (if not better!). This story follows a group of Indigenous teens who work at their local Pizza Parlor and are worried about the disappearance of one of their friends.

Tackling some heavy topics, including violence against Indigenous women, sexual assault, teen pregnancy and more. I enjoyed that this story revolved as much around the break up and reconciliation of platonic relationships as it did romantic ones.

Full of found family, queer teens that care and a relatable diverse cast of characters. This is another standout YA story that was also great on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

[Rhys · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review*

Oh. My. God. This is in the top runners for my favourite book of the year. I LOVED THIS. The prose? The message behind the story? The POEMS? 10/10 YES YES YES.

As someone who lives in Alberta (near Edmonton) and has visited Canmore a few times, I loved this. There’s not many books set in Alberta, and this was a nice change. And the message behind the story about MMIWG2S is one that needs to be in books more. MMIWG2S is something that every Canadian, and to be honest every person, should know about and understand *why* it’s such a big problem. The Canadian Government may seem like it’s less racist than our neighbours the USA, but trust me and this book that the government is better at hiding its racism. Lots of people that aren’t Canadian don’t know about Residential Schools and the history of how the government treats Indigenous people of Canada. And I think Those Pink Mountain Nights is a book that SHOULD be talked about more because it brings awareness to MMIWG2S and the racism Indigenous people face here.

[Gary Anderson]

Those Pink Mountain Nights is Jen Ferguson’s atmospheric novel forthcoming from Heartdrum/HarperCollins in September, 2023. Ferguson is a biracial (Michif/Métis and white) author with ties to the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Her familiarity with and empathy for the Native population and other marginalized people provide an empassioned voice and perspective to this story about Pink Mountain Pizza, a small-town, independent restaurant threatened by a coroporate takeover.

Three characters are at the center of Those Pink Mountain Nights. Berlin, the academic superstar who is also a lead employee at Pink Mountain Pizza, is a skilled organizer currently flustered by her best friend’s recent decision to turn against her. Cam, a high school dropout who knows everything about Pink Mountain Pizza but doesn’t take anything too seriously, is traumatized by the disappearance of his cousin Kiki, another case in the wave of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, America, and Mexico. Jessie, the new Pink Mountain Pizza employee, is a cancer survivor and the independent-minded daughter of a developer seeking to take over Pink Mountain Pizza and any other independent businesses he can grab.

The story begins just after closing at Pink Mountain Pizza on a ferocious winter night when Berlin thinks she glimpses the missing Kiki leaving the convenience store across the road. The winter weather hampers her view, but it’s enough to make Berlin and Cam doubt the official police position that the case is closed because … sometimes Natives just run off. That opaque winter view is just one example of haziness in Those Pink Mountain Nights. At other times, characters have difficulty with clarity because of being misled, overwhelmed, or because of murky physical surroundings. Ferguson skillfully transfers this blurred vision from characters to reader through sections of poems that we eventually realize were written by Kiki but can’t fully understand until the end of the book.

Like most high school-age students, Berlin, Cam, and Jessie are inspirationally idealistic. In addition, while intersectionality isn’t a thematic focus in Those Pink Mountain Nights, each character is navigating more than one identity path. Berlin, Cam, and Jessie each bring a unique set of strengths and perspectives to the greed, corruption, prejudice, and victimizing in their school, community, and society. When Berlin’s idealism turns into activism, things start to happen with solving Kiki’s disappearance and saving Pink Mountain Pizza.

As with Jen Ferguson’s award-winning debut novel The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, this novel includes complex family and friend relationships, deep respect for Indigenous values and outlooks, attention to the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, and the metaphorical possibilities of food preparation. Just as The Summer of Bitter and Sweet gave readers ice cream flavors influenced by Native knowledge, Those Pink Mountain Nights stretches our understanding of the possibilities of pizza.

What I admire most about Those Pink Mountain Nights, and what I believe most young readers will admire, is that readers can leave their expectations behind as Jen Ferguson reveals a world unfamiliar to most readers but that will be welcomed by young Native readers. There are no stereotypical relationships or plotlines here. Ferguson’s characters are appealing but far from perfect, and I like how sometimes they even surprise themselves. Similarly, the pace of Those Pink Mountain Nights unfolds according to its own timeline. Things happen when they happen, not when the young-adult formula says it’s time for a plot twist.

Jen Ferguson’s Those Pink Mountain Nights is a stellar addition to young adult literature with broad appeal centered on Native teens. The themes of social justice and activism will move many young readers. Thanks to Heartdrum/HarperCollns for continuing to publish books that “emphasize the present and future of Indian Country and the strength of young Indigenous heroes.”

[Renata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would probably hit better for teen readers (aka the intended audience), and maybe also Canadian and/or First Nations readers. I liked the characters but there was a lot going on. For me I kind of felt like the pizza restaurant plot + the missing friend plot + the school plot + the friendship drama was maybe like...one too many toppings and maybe one could have been put back? But then they do sort of come together and sort of demonstrate some intersectionality which could be more eye-opening for teen readers than jaded old meeeeee. IDK.

Also Pink Mountain Pizza sounds like a dream workplace that is going to make almost every other teen's first food service job look disappointing by comparison. But then maybe it will give them GOALS. UNIONIZE, TEENS.

PS also: shout out to the author for being brave enough to declare that her fav pizza toppings are pineapple and olive. (Mine too!)

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jen is 2 for 2 with me! Literary young adult novel about a group of teens working at a pizza shop (Pink Mountain Pizza or PMP) following the disappearance of a friend, cousin, and coworker named Kiki. The mystery is well paced and each of the teen's perspectives are uniquely told. The focus on the missing Indigenous women crisis in Canada (and the US) was eye opening and, rightfully, angering.

[Roanna25 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 It was good but it also felt very chaotic. Maybe it was the multiple points of view but I struggled to get into it and understand what the plot point was.

[Julia Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book, but the pacing is a bit off.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pretty remarkable book. It's about a group of teens who are trying to save their local pizza place but it's so much more than that. It is about activism and using your voice for good. It's about understanding when it is your turn to speak and when you might be doing more damage. It is about missing indigenous girls and women and the rampant systemic racism that prevents both them from being found and their stories from being heard.

This book is told in three perspectives. We have Cam who is indigenous teen with dyslexia and he has dropped out of high school due to struggles with his disability and lack of support as well as continued racism that has gone unchecked and unchallenged. He is a cook at Pink Mountain Pizza. He also is intimately aware of missing indigenous girls as his aunt was murdered and his cousin is missing.

Then we have Berlin, who is straight A overachiever constantly trying to be good representation for indigenous people. Berlin is the epitome of your heart is in the right place but sometimes you do more damage than you realize. She organizes a social media campaign to save this pizza shop because she loves it so much but at the same time she does some serious damage. She has a lot of learning to do and unlearning of social expectations. When you're part of a minority and people look to you as what that entire group represents, it is really hard to be seen as an individual. That is one of Berlin's main struggles throughout this whole book. She's also dealing with a friendship breakup and a little bit of a queer awakening.

Lastly, Jessie joins the pizza crew in direct defiance of her father's wishes. Jesse comes from a very wealthy family who is gentrifying and owning a lot of indigenous and POC owned companies. Jesse is everything her father doesn't want her to be in that she is loud and brash and so very very queer.

The three of them make a little bit of an unlikely trio But watching them come together for a cause and learn more about each other instead of making snap judgments was a really powerful thing and I think this book did a great job at tackling the nuances of all types of activism and representation.

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to get a copy of the ARC from work, but I did end up listening to the audiobook and it was really enjoyable!! It had 4 wonderful narrators that did such a good job bringing the story to life!

The little authors note at the start of the book was so nice to read I love when Authors take the time to write out triggers and other context for the story thats to come.

I loved that it tackled a very important topic thats been happening around Canada with all the missing a murdered indigenous women. Can't wait to pick up Jen's first book!!

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was great. The characters all felt really fleshed out and believable, as did the setting (I want to visit their pizza shop so badly). Ferguson manages to tackle some pretty heavy themes while maintaining a classic-feeling YA tone throughout the story. I thought the balance between mystery and contemporary fiction was spot on, which I think will appeal to a lot of teen readers. The notes at the end of the book do a lot to add context for the story and others like it. I'd hand this to fans of Angeline Boulley and Cynthia Leitich Smith.

[Simar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me really long to get into but it’s not hard to read - I was going to give it three stars but I really liked the last one hundred pages so I bumped it up!!!

[Brynn Parker-Zillich · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Brandon Hoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was gonna DNF several times, but pushed through until the end. I agree with the other comments, too much going on in one story. It was so saturated, the ending barely had an impact because what was the plot. Pacing was whack and I felt the dialogue was super cringey.

I will say I loved how diverse and inclusive it was. That didn’t save it for me. Maybe I’m too old or the wrong audience.

[Gina Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berlin - a thick queen, works very hard in school, is in the middle of a fight with her best friend (one-sided, really, her best friend is ghosting her and she does not know WHY at all), is very responsible and attached to her job at Pink Mountain Pizza
Cameron - high school dropout, supports his family while his parents are out at work/in school, also works very hard but is a little sloppy and himbo-ish about it, but it suits him especially once you figure out he has dyslexia
Jessie - is in recovery from childhood cancer, smokes as a "fuck it" to it all, has a shitty rich dad and has her job also kind of as a "fuck you" to him

The three of them are all working the night Berlin has a spotting of Kiki - who is Cameron's cousin, who has been missing for months, whose mother was murdered

This book is a little slice of life; it does follow the kids as they find out more about the Kiki sighting, but also just follows them through work and family stuff and through finding out some news they don't love about their workplace

Berlin and Cameron are Native, and Jessie is white. I really am not sure why Jessie has a POV in this story. Maybe as the like breaking the cycle vibe of her rich capitalistic dad? Or as a third party viewer into Berlin and Cameron's relationship maybe? Berlin and Cameron have been in each other's lives forever as their moms are best friends but they have disliked each other for quite some time and it's genuinely mostly one-sided via Berlin. Cameron just isn't the type to care very much lol

There's some spiritual nature vibes in this one which is neat, there's also obviously important convos about missing and murdered Indigenous women, small business stuff, Cameron's family situation (I wanna call it uncommon but it's really more common than you'd think)

I do think I preferred the one-person POV of the first book from this author, but I enjoyed the storylines in this one and the blend of important topics and a little supsense. It was definitely worth the read and I'll definitely keep an eye out for what's next from the author!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Look I really wanted to like this book it was recommended in a booktok video by an indie bookstore the plot sound amazing and I wanted to diversify my bookshelf.

But nope, the author is clearly not a teenager and the way she portrays them is just cringe, the way they talked and express themselves. They were both too adult sounding in some stuff and clueless in others. Like no one does that

And then the plot was week it was a lot of points trying to be made im all for anti blackness, anti capitalism, colonialism and most importantly intersectionality but it just felt messy and over the top in not a good way.

This does not mean that I will invalidate this story. Having indigenous authors and talking about the missing people is important, just this book didn’t do it for me and it took me 20 days to read a 300 page YA book I would dread picking it up, the only reason I didn’t DNF was because I wanted to know what happened to Kiki and it was the most anticlimactic thing in the entire world, like they figure it out in a night, call someone to confirm (that by the way how are we not going to held her accountable for the dumbest shit ever, this character made me so angry like wtf) and then show up have like a 5 page conversation and that’s it?? Back to being a happy family and lets not talk about how traumatized she must be??

Ok apparently I had more feelings that I expected so I will stop. Anyway not for me I will go look for something else.

[syd:) · Rating 1 out of 5]

How was this boring and completely overwhelming all at once…?

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read 50%. Didn’t finish.

[Brittany]

disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial

Premise:
-contemporary teenage fiction set in a small town near Calgary, Alberta, Canada
-elements of mystery, coming-of-age, romance
-third-person rotating perspectives of three Metis and Cree First Nations main characters
-Cam's cousin Kiki went missing five months ago, and it seems the town has already forgotten about her
-Cam's mom was murdered and her remains were found about 1.5 years ago, so he and his family (Sami, Tanya, Callie) have also been grieving her
-Berlin's navigating a friendship breakup with Quintana-Roo, and is especially gutted over it because she has no idea what went wrong
-Jessie starts working part-time at Pink Mountain Pizza with them, and shows there is more to the rich girl, "tease" stereotype that everyone has labeled her with
-The narrative takes us through a weekend, as these teenagers unpack their struggles, and unravel what really happened to Kiki
-cw: anti-Blackness, animal death, past cancer treatment, past child abuse, undiagnosed depression, kidnapping, adult/minor relationship, fallout of a friendship, bullying

Thoughts:
I really appreciated the way Jen began and ended this book, first with the content warnings and the reminders that we could set it down whenever we needed to, and ending with a call to action, and a reminder of our own accountability and power when it comes to helping others, and fostering the community we all deserve. Thank you Jen.

As far as the story, I did feel it dragged on a bit in some places. However, I think that's just me being impatient because I wanted so badly to unravel what happened with Kiki! I think this is something I personally have to work on though, because Cam, Berlin & Jessie's personal arcs were important and compelling stories too. They deserved their moments to shine and overcome the struggles they were experiencing. I was just being impatient. Okay, I have stream of consciousness-ly figured out that this is a me problem, and not the book's hahaha.

I had guessed what happened to Kiki because I am eternally pessimistic about humanity, but it was fun to see the hints and clues that Jen left in between the individual character arcs. The interspersed poetry / journal entries were very telling, but ominous and vague enough that it could have pointed to a few different possibilities.

The way that Jen highlighted anti-Blackness within the indigenous communities, because something I see too often with most "allies" is that we all believe ourselves to be immune to any bias or -ism. However, just because we operate from anti-racist or abolitionist or feminist frameworks, it does not mean we cannot do or say things that are harmful or problematic. Sometimes, the call *is* coming from inside the house, and we have to answer it and confront it in order to move forward and better ourselves as actual allies. Jen did this so thoughtfully with Joe (Pink Mountain Pizza's owner)'s situation!

I would easily watch a tv or movie adaptation of this, and can't wait to read more from Jen!

[Dana Clinton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: Those Pink Mountain Nights (Jen Ferguson) Another gift from my daughter off my extensive wishlist. There is so much going on in this novel which I liked more and more as it went on. After reading the notes from the author at the end of the book as well as the comments (also at the end) by Cynthia Leitich Smith, the Author-Creator of Heartdrum ("a Native-focused imprint of HarperCollins"), I felt even more positive about the book. I would highly recommend reading both of these before the novel itself; unlike many afterwords, they provide no spoilers but do indeed prepare you for so many forces/layers/foci of the story of Bee (Berlin), Cam, Jessie, Quinta, Joe and subsidiary but integral characters. The heartbeat of the book surrounds the sudden disappearance of Kiki, Cam's cousin and the willingness of the local law enforcement to abandon its search for her. The high incidence of missing and murdered Indigenous women in this part of Canada is one of the powerful backstories that fueled the book. But this is also a carefully built story of a group of teens trying to understand themselves and the often hostile world around them, realizing their own misconceptions, and bonding together in crises. I did feel the language was often beyond my easy understanding, cruder at times than I felt comfortable with, but I rack this up as a generational difference, and still the story lines resonate and you do become involved in the lives of the characters. Some of the villainy is in your face in a way that felt contrived in spite of being real; building up to the revelations would let a reader feel less preached at. Sometimes actions speak louder than words.

[Bethany Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berlin is focused on her goals, balancing school and a job at Pink Mountain Pizza, while Cameron struggles with the impact of his cousin Kiki's disappearance. As they navigate their own challenges alongside Jessie, a rich girl seeking purpose, the three teens discover the importance of friendship and support during a transformative weekend together.

*please review content warnings prior to reading*

This was my first book by Jen Ferguson that I won in an Instagram giveaway. I met Jen at the Columbus book festival, saw her speak twice, and was sold on reading her books. I was captivated by her spirit and passion for storytelling.

Reading this book, the story is told in a truly unique way. It goes by day, and then you get each characters perspective. Once the poetry starts coming in from Kiki, the action in the novel really picks up and heads toward the ultimate conclusion. This novel also displays such heavy topics in a relatable, understandable, way but does not make light of any of the situations presented.

No spoilers here - but I was pleased by the ending and once I knew what it was, all of the little hints woven throughout made so much sense.

Do not miss the author’s note!

Very excited for Jen’s newest book and will also read her debut soon!

[Choco · Rating 4 out of 5]

-4.3 stars-

Honestly realistic fiction isn't my cup of tea, but this brought light to many situations that are happening to Indigenous women and girls and two-spirited people today. I didn't particularly like how this book dragged on, there was too much plot repetition and dragged out so long, at one point I lost interest. I think I am more of a sucker for fast-paced books versus slower-paced books. I get what the author was trying to communicate throughout this whole plot, it just wasn't great enough to interest me to a high level. Although Jen Ferguson's characters are a whole different story, I like how she related some of the characters to herself, namely Berlin (Bee) Chambers, the uptight prestigious girl/main narrator. Throughout the book, we can see a lot of feelings and hardwork go into this character, and I can relate to Berlin and Jen Ferguson currently, as I am going through some type of "depression" aka when everything in my life hits me with a KABOOM. Anyways this book is a good read, raising awareness and letting people know what's happening in the state basically kinda right next to them, like wow, I didn't realize this was happening, and I really opened my eyes to the real world (I haven't been notified on politics so much post-COVID) and all its flaws.

[Amanda Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful read this was. It was really insightful into the other side of what teenage lives can be like, especially for minority groups. I’m Latina, but I grew up in a really diverse city, so even though I was ostracized sometimes, which unfortunately seems to be inevitable, it was never to the extent that these teens faced. The diversity and representation and inner thoughts of these minorities represented was outstanding, and the truth of it all rather sad. This YA book isn’t the drama of Euphoria or other teenage representations we see all the time; it really was just a day (well multiple) in the life of these minority teens who work at the same pizza shop, and have to deal with members of their family going missing and the police and media not really caring enough to continue looking for them. They’re deemed not important enough, and the reality of that is really sad, as it’s not fictitious; it happens all the time.

This is a must read for any age and demographic, and thank you Storygram Tours, Epic Reads, and Jen Ferguson for an early copy of this incredible read.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those Pink Mountain Nights is a story about connections - connections to self, family, friends, community, and the universe. It’s about opening yourself up to care and be cared for, even when it’s scary and it hurts. It deals with heavy themes - racism, sexism, misogyny, the disappearance and murder of Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People, and friendship breakups, among other things. It’s eye opening and poignant and gripping, while also being hopeful and humorous. I became so invested in Berlin, Cameron, and Jessie’s stories. I enjoyed their dynamics and their growth (especially how each of them learned something about expectations, assumptions, and the things we do and say that can unintentionally harm people), and the found family aspect was wonderfully done. I thoroughly enjoyed Those Pink Mountain Nights and will be recommending it often to both teens and adults.


*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Lots of trigger warnings, but also with love and care from the author, especially saying that if you’re not ready to read, now, stories always exist in the story will always be there for you when you’re ready. Also, mention of animal death and helping her pass well and all the other animals are healthy.
Kiki just wandered off like a sick dog said police last time the checked at office. Black native and a woman. No longer looking since white chick went missing at Banff
Eliminate lived closely in the dictionary to genocide
KD Kraft dinner!
Friend breakup
Depression help, teacher doing bad things, nature tie in with wapati, missing Indigenous girls, racism
Author note: Pineapple on pizza! Let’s all have many kinds of pizza and come together
3 narrators, one each for the main characters.
Love books with Native/Indigenous representation. Canadian authors are killing it!

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving coming-of-age story with a touch of mystery and a passionate focus on the missing Indigenous crisis in North America (specifically Canada).
This was an eye opening, rage inducing, emotional, funny and warm, slice of life read with a lovely found family element. Ferguson takes on issues such as grief, depression, grooming, gentrification, systemic racism and Indigenous rights with grace and care and her authors note was particularly enlightening and emotional to read.
This is my first read from Jen Ferguson but most certainly won’t be my last, as I loved the way she crafted her characters, relationships and situations and the deep, obvious care that went into each and every sentence and decision.

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those Pink Mountain Nights took a little while to hook me in but once it did, I didn't want to put it down.
Told in multiple perspectives and set in a small town in Alberta, Canada, this is a powerful book about friendship and family, who we stay loyal to and who we do not. Every character has multiple layers that are slowly uncovered throughout the book, both in what they reveal to us and what others reveal about them. It is centered around the very real issue of missing indigenous women and the racism faced by Black and indigenous people, as told by those facing this themselves. There are also moments that remind you VERY quickly that these are all teenagers and they're dealing with so much.
I really enjoyed Ferguson as a writer and look forward to reading more from them.

[Risa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

This was an excellent book. I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the story, and I appreciated how real issues were addressed in meaningful ways and were treated with sensitivity and care. The representation of different identities was lovely, and I was pretty much hooked from the beginning. I actually haven’t read The Summer of Bitter and Sweet yet, but I plan to do that in the future. I intend to buy a copy of this novel for my classroom library in the future. Also, I love the cover design/art.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.

[USOM · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

I absolutely adored The Summer of Bitter and Sweet so I had the highest hopes for Those Pink Mountain Nights - and they were spot on. This sophomore novel from Ferguson retains what I loved about the first - these tender character developments and portrayals - all while telling a story that has equal parts of mystery and friendship. With a sense of history before page one, Those Pink Mountain Nights drops us into the midst of a story which feels big - this kind of sinister mystery of where Kiki is - and this daily life story about pizzas and new friends.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wrote a whole 2 paragraph review for this and accidentally swiped down and it deleted it. I will not rewrite it. Sooo

Premise 5/5
Plot 4/5
Characters 4/5
Pace… lawd… 2/5
Ending 3/5


2.5 rounded to 3.