Black Chuck

February 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-Haunted by his family history and a community that thinks of him only as a "psycho," Real Dufresne has a secret. The leader of their group, Shaun, has turned up dead and eviscerated, and the shock is tearing Real, Sunny, Alex, and Shaun's girlfriend, Evie, apart. With something to hide and negotiating their feelings around Shaun's death, Real and Evie find familiarity in each other. But as their secrets bubble to the surface, there's no telling what it will mean for the group. In a chilling and twisted novel, McDonell brings together small-town gossip, teenage noir, and Algonquin lore to thrill readers. Alternating between a focus on Real and Evie, the narrative sometimes lacks necessary clarity and focus, but ultimately serves up a narrative that propels readers forward with a drive that pounds like a heart beneath the surface. McDonell provides a strong sense of character for each of her players, drawing them to a crashing conclusion through a series of impactful events. The author also displays an adeptness in handling themes such as inevitability, loyalty, and guilt, making this a read that sticks in the gut. McDonell includes a brief note on her research and discussions with Native individuals who informed her use of Algonquin legends along with resources for those who wish to learn more. VERDICT Though it takes a few chapters to find its ground, this book delivers on a stirring psychological drama fans of Carol Plum-Ucci's The Body of Christopher Creed and of the CW's Riverdale will tear through.-Abby Hargreaves, District of Columbia Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 5, 2018
In this atmospheric if slow-moving debut, 16-year-old Evie Hawley is pregnant—and the father of her baby, Shaun, has just been killed. Following Shaun’s death, Evie feels lost; her single mother works nights, and Evie rarely sees her, so Evie spends a lot of time with Shaun’s friends. Evie becomes conflicted when she finds herself drawn to Shaun’s best friend, school tough guy Réal Dufresne. Réal, who is half French and half Native Ojibwe, is attracted to Evie, but is plagued by guilt. He is convinced that he is possessed by the Windigo—a mythological monster—and that he killed Shaun, even though he doesn’t remember what happened that night. As Evie and Réal grow closer, the group of friends splinters apart and Evie is forced to make difficult decisions about what to do with the baby. McDonell sets the story in a rural “red-brick-and-wrought-iron town” where options can seem as bleak as the physical surroundings. References to Ojibwe mythology and language add texture as the mystery surrounding what really happened to Shaun, and who—or what—is at fault, deepens. Ages 12–up.

March 15, 2018
When a Canadian teen is found dead, his surviving friends must deal with the fallout.Ojibwe and Québécois Réal Dufresne's life is already complicated when his white best friend, Shaun, is found dead the morning after the two got into yet another fistfight. When he discovers the disemboweled body, Ré, despite not remembering much from the previous night, believes that he savagely tore apart and ate his friend. Evie Hawley, Shaun's pregnant white girlfriend, isn't handling things much better--the father of the baby she's not ready for is dead, and she can't help feeling relieved. Amid growing mistrust within their group of friends, the pair support (and fall for) each other through a storm of self-doubt. Despite dynamically complex characterization and storytelling, the unfortunate inclusion of spirit animals, traditional healing rituals framed as repellent, and visions used as plot devices present a distorted view of Ojibwe culture, particularly since the author seems only able to envision the complications of Ré's relationship with his Ojibwe heritage as fearful and gruesome. This represents a missed opportunity to fully explore the nuances of Ré's complex identity in favor of stereotyped shorthand and grisly spectacle, for example, as he repeatedly grapples with a dream-fueled fear of a violently cannibalistic inheritance from his great-uncle, Black Chuck, who ate his daughter after being possessed by the Windigo, an Ojibwe demon.Brooding, absorbing, but not quite the cultural mirror it aspires to be. (Thriller. 14-18)

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February 15, 2018
Grades 9-12 Real Dufresne has been called many thingssick, psychotic, dangerousbut Re can't seem to figure out what is real. Is he truly dangerous? Is he responsible for the death of his best friend, Shaun? Just as he feels that he possibly has a handle on things, he discovers Shaun's girlfriend, Evie, is pregnant, and his feelings of responsibility for the unborn child begin to consume him, even as the rest of his world is falling apart. McDonell's background in creative writing and poetry is evident in this debut novel; the pain and angst of both Re and Evie is palpable, and the struggles they face within their respective relationships, as well as their shared community, are real and nuanced. Much like the work of Stephanie Kuehn, McDonell's narrative will leave readers guessing and wondering what is real and what is mere folktale. This is a brutal, heartbreaking, and yet strangely uplifting novel about the consequences of lies, the gravity of love, and the courage it takes to prevail over self-condemnation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)