Through Black Spruce

Through Black Spruce, published in 2008, is Canadian author Joseph Boyden’s second novel. His first, Three Day Road (2005), is a work of historical fiction based on the life of Xavier Bird. Through Black Spruce focuses on Xavier’s son, Will Bird, and his granddaughter, Annie Bird. Boyden uses storytelling as a narrative framework to share the Bird family’s story. Annie and Will narrate alternating chapters, telling stories about their past year as the reader also learns about the present.

Will Bird is in a coma following a violent beating from the town drug lord, Marius Netmaker. Will speaks to his two nieces, Annie and Suzanne, from his comatose state, telling them stories about his life as a bush pilot, his family, and the year leading up to his coma. Annie speaks to her uncle from his hospital bed, telling him about the past year she spent in Toronto, Montreal, and New York looking for her missing sister Suzanne.

Hailing from the northern Ontario town of Moosonee, the Bird family is a part of the indigenous Cree tribe. Will and his father Xavier taught Annie and her sister how to hunt and survive in the wilderness, a skill that is dying off as modern life overtakes the old ways. When Suzanne goes missing after running away down south with her boyfriend Gus Netmaker, Annie travels from Toronto to Montreal to New York searching for her. Annie ends up living a life very similar to Suzanne’s, partying and modeling. During her travels she discovers that Suzanne is alive, that Gus got her into trouble, and that he was probably killed by people who are now pursuing Suzanne.

Gus is the reason why Will is in a coma. When Gus gets into trouble, Marius believes that Will is a police informant and starts to harass Will psychologically and physically. The harassment turns violent when he tries to burn Will’s house down, blows out his knee, and murders the bear he’s been caring for. Will shoots Marius and runs away into the bush for the winter; upon his return he finds out that Marius is still alive. Marius attempts to murder Will but is killed by Will’s brother, Antoine.

Through Black Spruce is a story of indigenous culture and community, family ties, and identity. This is evident in the way Will and Annie persevere and survive numerous trials and traumatic experiences with the help of their surrounding community. In the end, Suzanne returns home, Will comes out of his coma, and Annie finds strength in her own identity.