4.5 stars for the first in a promising YA supernatural trilogy, this book is a mystery, but its also about a community constantly dealing with tragedy, and how the individuals cope with this. It takes place in a remote Indigenous community, and features some interesting characters such as a trickster figure, and a few of the teens who are well developed. There are some tragic events here for sure, but the interesting parts are how the characters deal with it and some of the Cree culture that makes this a unique story for this age group. Although, there is some language used that is authentic but not typical of a middle grade fiction that I would shelve in my classroom I am so eager to find MG novels written by and about Indigenous peoples in Canada, I almost want to just buy this and throw it on my shelves anyways (for grades 5 and up). There really are not any other concerns I would have with my kids reading this, but again, its a series so who knows where it will go from here. David Alexander Robertson infuses some humour into the story with his teens' wit, and most of all with the Coyote character. Okay, minor spoiler ahead, stop reading if you want. There were a couple of moments near the end that made me want to go back and re-read a part because I might be missing a piece that links together parts of the mystery. That's kind of hard in an e-version for me though. Even though this is a series, and I didn't expect a tidy resolution, but it seemed like one of the characters did and I thought they should have known better.

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, David A. Robertson, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

When Cole Harper is compelled to return to Wounded Sky First Nation, he finds his community in chaos: a series of shocking murders, a mysterious illness ravaging the residents, and reemerging questions about Cole’s role in the tragedy that drove him away 10 years ago. With the aid of an unhelpful spirit, a disfigured ghost, and his two oldest friends, Cole tries to figure out his purpose, and unravel the mysteries he left behind a decade ago. Will he find the answers in time to save his community?

STRANGERS by David A. Robertson is a young adult supernatural mystery. The author does a great job of using the mysteries to build character, but the buildup was a bit too slow for my taste. It seemed like the story didn't start getting fun and exciting until after the second half began. Being a YA novel, that was a risky decision on the author's part. With that being said, I think the world-building is done well enough to make for a compelling YA series.

It took me a little while to get into this one, partly because it's confusing at the beginning what the backstory is, but once I did get into it I liked the small-town politics of Wounded Sky a lot, although some of the adults' reactions to Cole seemed kind of exaggerated. I know the author is a graphic novelist so I wonder if maybe some of the problems I had with the book are to do with him not being as used to working in prose? I enjoyed it and I will probably check out the sequels to see where he goes with it, but I would have liked a little more depth to the characters and backstory I think.

How many Canadian detectives are there? How many are First Nation? How many are teenagers? I somehow doubt there are a whole lot there.

David Robertson writes Cole as a typical teenage boy, except, as we go further in the novel, we discover he is not typical. That when he saved his friends from a burning school, by lifting a wall, it was not a one off. That there is more than we know about Cole.

And then there is Coyote, disguised sometimes as a man, and sometimes as a coyote, who is trying to prompt Cole into some sort of action. That is often the problem with young heroes. You have to push them to do what they are supposed to do.

The last quarter of the book pushes the story along, at a good pace, and if the whole book had been like that, it probably would have gotten four stars. The opening of the book is a bit on the slow side, but then, since this is looking like a trilagy, perhaps that is just to get to know the characters.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Impressively imaginative novel! Its unique Indigenous perspective was refreshing alongside vivid characters and witty dialogue. Looking forward to reading more of the Reckoner series!

Strangers comes from the mind of David A. Robertson, an award-winning writer of children's books, who has taken his first foray into the YA genre.

So welcome to the nowhere town of Wounded Sky. A peculiar place inhabited by denizens still haunted by the tragic fire that broke out at the local school where so many children died. Dark secrets abound and tragedy isn't far behind as the story unfolds with a sombre, morose tone.

The main protagonist is Cole, one of the few survivors, who is suffering from deep psychological issues stemming from what he witnessed on that tragic day. Cole is forced to return to Wounded Sky to face his demons and hopefully save his town before it is too late. Being YA fiction, Cole is characteristically imbued with the requisite special powers to battle the dark forces coalescing for now in the background.

Let's us not forget to mention the seemingly omniscient coyote spirit guide, Choch and the effervescent ghost, Jayne, who both come to Cole's assistance when he needs it most.

I struggled with the first half of the book as the author meandered with the plot, but fortunately he noticeably tightens his writing in the second half and ends on a stronger note.

Strangers is the first book in The Reckoner series, so there are many unanswered questions and mysteries that are not resolved. There are also a few plot holes, such as who actually killed one of the victims, as the main murderer denies having a hand in that murder? Also, why did the murderer camp in the forest and more perplexingly, leave highly sensitive material lying around in the tent?

The principal issue is that the dark forces behind the scenes aren't revealed in any way. The research facility on the outskirts of Wounded Sky is only mentioned in passing eight times. I was hoping that the book would conclude with a few revelations in this regard to set up the sequel, but it was not to be.

A solid effort with much potential, which will hopefully set up a strong series going forward.