First published 2026
A school bus driver navigates through a sudden spring blizzard when a chilling realization strikes. In another tale, a fierce spirit named Nero undergoes a tragic change while discovering the first hints of self-awareness. Across thirteen stories, Louise Erdrich weaves together the lives of wives and husbands, encounters with spirit animals and ghosts, and the power of ancient talismans. Characters grapple with betrayals that span generations and secrets that refuse to stay buried. One woman's desire for revenge reaches beyond death itself into an artificial afterlife. A dangerous game captures the reckless energy of teenagers testing their limits. The collection moves from intimate moments of personal transformation to sweeping questions about what makes us human. Erdrich draws on Ojibwe mythology, where Mishipeshu guards the threshold between mortal and eternal realms. Each story examines the moments when wisdom arrives through unexpected encounters, when the touch of a snake's tongue promises both knowledge and longevity. The final tale connects readers to the earth and the ancestors who walked before us, revealing how wonder, bravery, shame, loneliness, and yearning shape every human heart.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, american-fiction, fantasy, 21st-century, native-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, magical-realism
240 pages · Hardcover · Harper