Through Black Spruce

Through Black Spruce (2008) is a novel by Canadian author Joseph Boyden that won the Scotiabank Giller Prize. It continues the saga of the Bird family, introduced in Boyden's debut novel Three Day Road.1

The novel is set in a contemporary context and centers on Will Bird, who is in a coma in a hospital in Moose Factory. His niece, Annie Bird, travels south to cities like Toronto, Montreal, and New York in search of her sister Suzanne. Upon returning to northern Ontario, Annie stays by Will's bedside and recounts her story to him.1

Boyden's work often focuses on the experiences of First Nations peoples in northern Ontario, detailing the challenges of poverty, violence, and substance abuse, as well as the damaging effects of residential schools. However, his writing also highlights the resilience and strengths of these communities, including social cohesion, mutual support, and the importance of collective memory and respect for the land.1