Tison, Ari. Saints of the Household. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 03/2023. 320pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-374-38949-9. GRADES 9 – 12. OUTSTANDING.
This soulful novel exposes how two Indigenous brothers growing up in a small rural community cope with family trauma and domestic abuse. It chronicles the restorative justice sessions both brothers must undergo after brutally beating a fellow student/star athlete in the woods. Told through vividly drawn alternating voices, in plain text and poignant bits of poetry, the story reveals deep wounds and unexpected feelings harbored by both. Brotherhood, violence, mental health, and recovery all play crucial roles in the action. Through nuanced and multi-layered portrayals of the characters’ individual personalities, complex and shifting relationships, and emotional connection to native roots, the author skillfully scaffolds the siblings’ dogged determination to move forward in life after crisis.
Jennifer Agarwal—San Jose State University MLIS Student