Title: Pukawiss the Outcast

Author: Jay Jordan Hawke

Genre: Contemporary/Young Adult

Length: Novel (204 pages)

ISBN: 9781627986472

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (January 16^th, 2014)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Eric

Blurb: When family complications take Joshua away from his fundamentalist Christian mother and leave him with his grandfather, he finds himself immersed in a mysterious and magical world. Joshua’s grandfather is a Wisconsin Ojibwe Indian who, along with an array of quirky characters, runs a recreated sixteenth-century village for the tourists who visit the reservation. Joshua’s mother kept him from his Ojibwe heritage, so living on the reservation is liberating for him. The more he learns about Ojibwe traditions, the more he feels at home.

One Ojibwe legend in particular captivates him. Pukawiss was a powerful Manitou known for introducing dance to his people, and his non-traditional lifestyle inspires Joshua to embrace both his burgeoning sexuality and his status as an outcast. Ultimately, Joshua summons the courage necessary to reject his strict upbringing and to accept the mysterious path set before him.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4584

Review: Overall, this book is a fresh take on the world and how someone’s heritage takes part in their life. And as I read it, I wanted to know more. But the book clearly took care of my questions.

I loved this novel from the start to the end. I’m not one for digging into a character’s heritage and learning about that character’s life but this was beautiful. Joshua is one of those characters that stand out in a crowd and for good reasons. He has to face his mother and her strict Christian values and at the same time, he has his grandfather thrusting Ojibwe beliefs on him.

Another thing is how the story flows. The storyline is solid and to the point. It makes for a strong read and then some. The kind of novel that keeps you interested and doesn’t preach at you. I found this novel to keep me interested. I never saw a dry point in my opinion.

When I read, I found myself curious about the Objbwe tribe the novel managed to answer every last one of them. In the end, I was highly satisfied with the novel. Jay clearly knew what he was getting into when he wrote this novel and knew how it was going to end. He had a clear mind on this the whole time.

I would highly recommend this novel. Not just for the characters but also the strong story that makes the reader want to know more.