Hunting By Stars by Cherie Dimaline
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Hunting By Stars is the sequel to The Marrow Thieves. The novels are set in a world where environmental destruction and colonial systems have caused a plague of dreamlessness. The only dreamers left are Indigenous, and they are hunted for the power that resides in their bone marrow.
The institutional structures created to provide a solution for the non-Indigenous community echo the ‘historical’ (the last one closed in 1996) Residential School system, making this book a powerful commentary on Indigenous relations - past and present.
Hunting By Stars is a darker and heavier read than The Marrow Thieves was, in my opinion, as it takes us deeper into the way that these structures operate and justify their actions. We have a vigilante group of white women that make dangerous, inhumane decisions because they place their family needs first. This same justification of violence and atrocity is what upholds white supremacy and allows racial violence to continue. The book shows, in various scenarios, the way that Indigenous and racialized peoples are quickly dehumanized when it serves the benefit of those in power or who hold privilege.
This book also features wonderful LGBTQ2S+ representation. The relationship between Isaac and Miigs presents the elder of the group in a happy, loving, gay marriage. This is a powerful way to solidify queer rights and value in this world. By not only writing a queer relationship but having it be the elder of the group, it shows that all love is respected and will be in future generations. Dimaline also writes a non-binary character who goes by they/them pronouns, and the dialogue supports her explaining this choice and exploring its implications in the settings as well.
Frenchie faces choices that force him to determine who is family and where his values lie. Rose faces choices that challenge her to fight for love, security, or family. The novel explores the history of several characters that was not directly addressed in The Marrow Thieves, and the extra context adds depth to this sequel and its plot.
Hunting By Stars is political. It's honest. It's riveting. It's an impressive sequel that continues the story and grows with it in a beautiful way.
Reading Journal Questions
What do you define as family? What would you sacrifice for family?
How difficult is it to choose the needs of others over your own?
How difficult is it to maintain your integrity in situations that are life or death?
What could a new world look like? How can we challenge oppressive systems?
What does resistance look like on a personal level?
