This is the story of Oscar Wolf, a young Aboriginal Canadian, from the time he is 13 until he is middle-aged. In this novel, Mr. Bartleman draws on his own experience as a Aboriginal person and a member of Canada's foreign service...but this is a work of fiction, not a memoir.

Oscar's mother and grandmother attended residential schools, where they were abused and damaged for life. We see the effects of this on Stella, who is rejected by her own damaged mother. She, in turn, rejects young Oscar. Luckily, Oscar has his maternal grandfather, Jacob, who loves and cares for him. Jacob's death, which Oscar is responsible for, coupled with his mother's abandonment of him, leaves Oscar in the care of the local Presbyterian minister and his wife, who ensure he finishes high school, then arrange for payment of his university tuition.

This is a story about the struggles of a young Aboriginal man to make his way in the world. He has terrible disadvantages, as well as good opportunities. He searches for the best path: should he try to assimilate in the white world? What does he owe to his people? How can he atone for the crime he committed as a teenager? Oscar struggles with these issues, sometimes consciously; sometimes he appears to be avoiding them, but they affect his behaviour nonetheless.

This is a good story, with Oscar being a well developed character that I could identify with. ( )