60 pages 2 hours read

Tanya Talaga

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga investigates the deaths of seven Indigenous students—Jethro Anderson, Reggie Bushie, Robyn Harper, Kyle Morrisseau, Paul Panacheese, Jordan Wabasse, and Curran Strang—in Thunder Bay, Ontario, between 2000 and 2011, highlighting the systemic racism, cultural displacement, and inadequate investigative efforts by police that marked their deaths. The book includes descriptions of child abuse, sexual and gender-based violence, drug and alcohol use, and death by suicide.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga is lauded for its powerful, evocative narrative and meticulous research. Reviewers appreciate Talaga's compelling storytelling and the spotlight she places on systemic issues affecting Indigenous communities. However, some find the subject matter heavy and emotionally challenging. Overall, it is a commendable, impactful work that provokes important conversations.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Seven Fallen Feathers?

Readers who appreciate Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga are often drawn to investigative journalism, social justice, and Indigenous issues. Comparable to readers of The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King and The Break by Katherena Vermette, they seek in-depth, narrative-driven examinations of systemic inequalities and cultural resilience.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Politics / Government

Crime / Legal

Race / Racism

Themes

Society: Nation

Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Identity: Race

Genre

Mystery / Crime Fiction