It’s so Canadian to me and it’s so Indigenous. And when we were done at the end, the interviewer said, “Do you have any questions for me?” And I said, “I think it’s so strange you’re calling me from California (and that) people in the United States are thinking about this book.

I remember being on the phone in the early days with the Kirkus Review they were doing an interview. I certainly never expected the United States to have such a large interest in it. And I sort of thought OK, well, if Indigenous kids read this that’s absolutely the best possible outcome. I was expecting, (as with) my other stories, they were very well received within the Indigenous community and they were very well received in the academic community. What kind of reception were you expecting for The Marrow Thieves and how does it differ from the reception you got? How to fix it? Eating the bone marrow of Indigenous peoples, who are unwillingly harvested for the cure in marrow-harvesting factories (not unlike residential schools).Ĭapping off a big week, the Toronto-based Dimaline took time out to answer a few questions about the book, awards, writing YA literature and the importance of Indigenous editors. It features a dystopian near future where non-Indigenous people have lost their ability to dream, which has led to widespread madness. She has also been nominated for a White Pine Award from the Ontario Library Association.Ĭlearly, her book has gained widespread appeal. The next day she won the prestigious $50,000 (U.S.) Kirkus Prize. “Did you not have champagne this morning at your office as well?” she jokes.ĭimaline had just won a Governor General’s Literary Award for her dystopian novel The Marrow Thieves and was celebrating at her publisher’s office.

Cherie Dimaline giggles happily over the phone.

The bone marrow thieves