The Strangers A Novel
The Strangers A Novel by Katherena Vermette, published by Penguin Canada in 2021, is a literary work that delves into the complexities of family and connection across generations. This edition spans 352 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows Cedar, Phoenix, and Elsie, three women grappling with their pasts and the challenges of their current lives. As Cedar moves in with her estranged father, Phoenix navigates the aftermath of her experiences in a youth detention center, and Elsie battles addiction, their intertwined stories reveal the struggles and resilience of the Stranger family.
Readers will find a poignant exploration of themes such as race, class, and inherited trauma as the characters confront their individual and collective hardships. The novel captures moments of warmth and support amidst the fractures of their lives, highlighting the impact of a system that often fails those it is meant to help. Through their journeys, Cedar, Phoenix, and Elsie strive to reconnect and redefine their identities, all while facing the societal challenges that threaten to keep them apart. The Strangers offers a deep and reflective look into the bonds that persist despite adversity.
Official synopsis Publisher
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE ATWOOD GIBSON WRITERS’ TRUST PRIZE FOR FICTION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 MANITOBA BOOK AWARDS’ CAROL SHIELDS WINNIPEG BOOK AWARD, MARGARET LAURENCE AWARD FOR FICTION, AND MCNALLY ROBINSON BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE
A GLOBE & MAIL BEST BOOK
From the bestselling author of The Break comes a staggering intergenerational saga that explores how connected we are, even when we’re no longer together–even when we’re forced apart.
Cedar has nearly forgotten what her family looks like. Phoenix has nearly forgotten what freedom feels like. And Elsie has nearly given up hope. Nearly.
After time spent in foster homes, Cedar goes to live with her estranged father. Although she grapples with the pain of being separated from her mother, Elsie, and sister, Phoenix, she’s hoping for a new chapter in her life, only to find herself once again in a strange house surrounded by strangers. From a youth detention centre, Phoenix gives birth to a baby she’ll never get to raise and tries to forgive herself for all the harm she’s caused (while wondering if she even should). Elsie, struggling with addiction and determined to turn her life around, is buoyed by the idea of being reunited with her daughters and strives to be someone they can depend on, unlike her own distant mother. These are the Strangers, each haunted in her own way. Between flickering moments of warmth and support, the women diverge and reconnect, fighting to survive in a fractured system that pretends to offer success but expects them to fail. Facing the distinct blade of racism from those they trusted most, they urge one another to move through the darkness, all the while wondering if they’ll ever emerge safely on the other side.
A breathtaking companion to her bestselling debut The Break, Vermette’s The Strangers brings readers into the dynamic world of the Stranger family, the strength of their bond, the shared pain in their past, and the light that beckons from the horizon. This is a searing exploration of race, class, inherited trauma, and matrilineal bonds that–despite everything–refuse to be broken.
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