Five Little Indians: A Novel

By Michelle Good

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WINNER: Canada Reads 2022

WINNER: Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction

WINNER: Amazon First Novel Award

WINNER: Kobo Emerging Author Prize

Finalist: Scotiabank Giller Prize

Finalist: Atwood Gibson Writers Trust Prize

Finalist: BC & Yukon Book Prize

Shortlist: Indigenous Voices Awards

National Bestseller; A Globe and Mail Top 100 Book of the Year; A CBC Best Book of the Year; An Apple Best Book of the Year; A Kobo Best Book of the Year; An Indigo Best Book of the Year

Taken from their families when they are very small and sent to a remote, church-run residential school, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie are barely out of childhood when they are finally released after years of detention.

Alone and without any skills, support or families, the teens find their way to the seedy and foreign world of Downtown Eastside Vancouver, where they cling together, striving to find a place of safety and belonging in a world that doesn't want them. The paths of the five friends cross and crisscross over the decades as they struggle to overcome, or at least forget, the trauma they endured during their years at the Mission.

Fuelled by rage and furious with God, Clara finds her way into the dangerous, highly charged world of the American Indian Movement. Maisie internalizes her pain and continually places herself in dangerous situations. Famous for his daring escapes from the school, Kenny can't stop running and moves restlessly from job to job--through fishing grounds, orchards and logging camps--trying to outrun his memories and his addiction. Lucy finds peace in motherhood and nurtures a secret compulsive disorder as she waits for Kenny to return to the life they once hoped to share together. After almost beating one of his tormentors to death, Howie serves time in prison, then tries once again to re-enter society and begin life anew.

With compassion and insight, Five Little Indians chronicles the desperate quest of these residential school survivors to come to terms with their past and, ultimately, find a way forward.

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304 pages

Average rating: 8.49

206 RATINGS

8 REVIEWS

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Shahna

Jul 18, 2024

8/10 stars

My heart hurts.

brittshank91

Mar 25, 2024

10/10 stars

This book speaks to the importance of recognizing the trauma indigenous people as a whole have endured, and the hardships faced as they try to re-enter society. It’s a must read to understand the history and why it matters, and I’d recommend it to anyone needing some insight into the lives of indigenous people.

STC Smith

Jan 07, 2024

Wonderful book that sheds light on the incidences happening in the indigenous community. Very well written.

EK_CA_Club

Jul 25, 2023

10/10 stars

Fabulous book with a great perspective on the treatment of Indigenous people in Canada through the eyes of children who were removed from their families at an early age. The characters are well developed. The imagery is striking. This is a memorable book that stays with you long after you're done reading it. Warning: it's heavy, but worthy. And, it's a very quick read.

DD86

Jun 13, 2023

8/10 stars

Five Little Indians is a story about some children forcibly taken from their homes and put into the residential schools. It talks a bit about life there and a lot about adjusting to real life outside the school's walls. The writing is solid and allows the story to unfold for the characters. Each character has a heart-wrenching story. What makes the difference in this book is that there is hope - hope that even though these children met evil early in their life, there are still good people around to help the healing process.