Told from nine different perspectives, Katherena Vermette’s debut novel “The Break” may not be for everyone, but it very clearly demonstrates the issues and struggles surrounding Canadian Indigenous communities. 

The book begins from the perspective of Stella, a young Métis mother who witnesses a violent assault occur just outside her window on The Break, a stretch of land west of McPhillips Street in Manitoba. As the story unfolds, each chapter tells a different perspective of the events, where the reader is along for the ride as they try and figure out who did it. Through her storytelling, Vermette manages to provide glimpses of the reality of the Indigenous peoples today, shining light on racism, poverty, addiction, and trauma, as well as their resilience and strength.

While this is not an easy read for everyone, if you would like to learn more about the Indigenous peoples of Canada as well as their ongoing struggles, this book does that in a very real way, while weaving in elements of mystery as well. However, even though the author includes a family tree on the first page, I still found it very difficult, especially initially, to keep track of all the characters and their individual issues and families. I would rate this book a 6/10 for its realism and eye-opening experience, but in my opinion, it falls short on adventure and storytelling.