If you were trying to find a book written by someone living in a yurt I’ve found one for you.

In Quiet Until the Thaw, Alexandra Fuller tells us about two cousins raised by their grandmother on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The story is told in a spare staccato style that works really well for Fuller. The writing is beautiful and funny and Fuller seamlessly weaves in the devastation that U.S. policy has had on Native Americans. When these parts come up it feels like getting a sliver when you run your hand on polished wood.

The book has inspired me to learn more about Native American culture.