Main Characters
This is the nickname of the novel’s teenage protagonist.
Who is Frenchie?
Most people in the novel have lost the ability to do this while asleep.
What is dream?
The group travels constantly through these areas to avoid capture.
What are forests/the wilderness?
The novel takes place in this type of fictional future society.
What is a dystopia?
Climate change and environmental destruction have made much of this country dangerous and unstable.
What is Canada?
This character leads the traveling group and shares “Coming-to Stories.”
Who is Miigwans?
This body substance is harvested from Indigenous people.
What is bone marrow?
These government agents hunt Indigenous people throughout the novel.
Who are the Recruiters?
The story is mainly told from this point of view.
What is first person perspective?
The story takes place in this type of future society marked by fear and oppression.
What is a dystopian society?
Frenchie develops feelings for this person.
Who is Rose?
The novel strongly emphasizes the importance of preserving this through stories and language.
What is Indigenous culture and tradition?
Non-Indigenous people seek marrow because they want this ability restored.
What is the ability to dream?
The loss of dreams in the novel symbolizes this broader societal problem.
What is loss of humanity/increase of harm to the planet?
Indigenous survivors often hide and travel through this natural environment.
What is the forest /the wilderness?
This elder’s songs become a powerful form of resistance.
Who is Minerva?
Dreams symbolize this quality that keeps people moving forward despite suffering.
What is hope?
This storytelling tradition helps preserve memories and teachings within the group.
What are coming-to stories?
The relationships within the group highlight the importance of this social value.
What is family?
These facilities are used to imprison Indigenous people and extract marrow.
What are Residential schools?
This member of the group loses an eye before joining the other
Who is Wab?
The novel’s dystopian future reflects this historical Canadian system.
What is Residential Schools?
Minerva’s singing reveals this weakness in the marrow-harvesting process.
What is that Indigenous language and song can resist or disrupt it?
The author uses survival and storytelling to communicate this central message.
What is resistance and resilience of Indigenous people?
The collapse of society begins after people around the world lose this essential human experience.
What is the ability to dream?