• Age: 14 to 18
• Grade: 9 to 12
• Reading age: 7 to 10

Raised on an Indian reserve, seventeen-year-old Joe Littlechief tries to be like the other guys. But Joe knows he's different — he's more interested in guys than girls. One night Joe makes a drunken pass at his best friend and, by the next morning, everyone on the rez is talking about Joe. His mother, a devout Christian, is horrified, and the kids who are supposed to be his friends make it clear there's no place for him on the rez. Joe thinks about killing himself, but instead runs away to the city. Alone and penniless on the city streets, Joe has to come to terms with who he really is.

 

Melanie Florence est auteure canadienne de descendance crie et écossaise. Son premier livre, Jordin Tootoo: The Highs and Lows of the First Inuit to Play in the NHL , a été choisi comme livre d'honneur par l'American Indian Library Association. Ses œuvres de fiction sont le roman pour ados One Night ainsi que l'album illustré Missing Nimama, gagnant du Prix TD de la littérature jeunesse. Melanie habite à Toronto.

 

Melanie Florence is a Canadian author of Cree and Scottish heritage. Her first book, Jordin Tootoo: The Highs and Lows of the First Inuit to Play in the NHL was chosen as an Honor Book by the American Indian Library Association. Melanie’s fiction writing includes the teen novel One Night and the picture book Missing Nimama, winner of the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. She is also the author of Righting Canada’s Wrongs: Residential Schools. Melanie lives in Toronto.

 

Melanie Florence's profile page

• Commended, Best Books for Kids & Teens -- Canadian Children's Book Centre

"This is a brutally honest look at what can happen to homeless youth, especially if they are struggling with gender identity. No punches are pulled... The reality of living on the street is brought to life...

Dialogue is fresh and natural although without the swearing that would be more realistic. Florence has really captured the lilt and tone of talk on the reserve. Chapters are short and the reading level is 3.9 so although the issues in this book will appeal to all high school students it will also be accessible to those high school students who are struggling to read well."

 

Resource Links

"Overall, Rez Runaway is an interesting book that not only tells an interesting tale but does well in increasing awareness in regards to discrimination, stereotypes, marginalized groups and most importantly of all support in unexpected places in Canadian society."

NetGalley

"Even with the heavy load from all the important topics, it's a breeze to get through. It's short and simply written for even the most reluctant readers."

 

NetGalley Review

"Lots of stuff going on in such a short book. I like the upbeat and optimistic tone."

Netgalley Reviewer

"A compelling read that deals with plenty of complex and current issues. Melanie Florence has a real gift for immersing readers in the story...While there are many novels dealing with a teen's struggle to accept his or her own sexual identity, this is one of the first I've come across, dealing with a transgender character and two-spiritedness. Highly Recommended"

CM Magazine

"This story was an emotional rollercoaster."

NetGalley Reviewer

"This story was an emotional rollercoaster."

NetGalley Reviewer

"Rez Runaway was the same as an being in an emotional roller coaster...I'm defenitely reading something else from Melanie Florence if I have the chance."

NetGalley

"Covering tough topics such as gay bashing, gender identity, and underage prostitution, Florence unflinchingly depicts the risks encountered by LGBTQ teens. A gritty fairy tale for modern times, Rez Runaway communicates hope and compassion to an increasingly vulnerable teen demographic with an optimistic endnote that all teens need to hear: 'It really does get better.'"

National Reading Campaign