The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel [Paperback]

Pierre L'Errant is a secretive man. He is travelling to the Otter Lake Reserve, but his is exhibiting mysterious behaviour such as hiding in the airport all day and only leaving the buildings when it is night time.

On the Reserve, sixteen year old Tiffany Hunter has been told by her father that she must move all her belongings to the room in the basement; no explanation is given to her. Being a teenager is tough enough when your mother runs off with another man and you are a visible minority in your school. Now her father doesn't appear to want her in his daily life.

This book has all the earmarks of a Modern Gothic novel: mystery and horror. Next, add in a little romance and the angst that accompanies all teenage affairs of the heart and the stage is almost set. We also learn, that the swamp at the north end of the reserve is believed to be populated by unseen monsters and demons. Thank goodness I wasn't sitting home alone while reading this.

I can't tell you any more about the story as I'm sure I would spoil the suspense and mystery.

We do spend a lot of time with Tiffany and learn of her troubles of coming of age while living first, in a broken family and then by being the outsider at school and in her boyfriend's group of friends. She also is dealing with the heritage of the Hunter Clan. Her grandmother speaks to her in the language of the Anishinabe, of which she is the last fully fluent speaker on the Otter Lake Reserve. Tiffany hardly understands a word, but her grandmother continues to do this. How is it that Pierre understands her?

This novel is clearly written for a young adult audience. It is just creepy enough to keep their attention, but not too scary to cause nightmares. Much of the focus is on Tiffany and her boyfriend, with that story running parallel to that of why Pierre is visiting the reserve.

I continue to enjoy the writing of Drew Hayden Taylor and look forward to another of his works.

Drew Hayden Taylor's "The night Wanderer" was a delight and joy to read. The way that he wrote from a young teenage female perspective was incredible.There were many times when I couldn't help but laugh aloud at the inner thoughts and dialogue of Tiffany.They were an almost perfect mirror to my own at that point in my own young life. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to go on a trip back in time to revisit their own young teenage years.