BEMIDJI — Anton Treuer has written two dozen books in the past 25 years, most of them focused on his passion for Ojibwe history, language and culture. But he says his first novel, “Where Wolves Don’t Die,” is “the best thing I’ve ever written.”
Critics and readers agree. “Where Wolves Don’t Die” is a finalist for the 2025 Minnesota Book Awards in the Young Adult Literature category. The Bemidji State University professor of Ojibwe has had four previous nonfiction books nominated, the first coming in 2002.
“Where Wolves Don’t Die” is a thrilling story that follows Ezra Cloud, a boy who struggles with life in Minneapolis, where his father is a professor of their Ojibwe language at a local college. Ezra hates being away from the reservation at Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation. He also hates the neighborhood bully, Matt Schroeder, who terrorizes Ezra and his friend, Nora George.
Ezra gets into a terrible fight with Matt at school defending Nora, and that same night, Matt’s house burns down. Ezra becomes a prime suspect, and fearing he won’t get a fair deal, Ezra’s family sends him away to run traplines with his grandfather in a remote part of Canada while the investigation is ongoing. But the Schroeders are looking for him.
In Canada, Ezra learns his family and tribal history and begins to understand his place in nature and in a community that has undergone centuries of violence and oppression.
Treuer said the idea for his novel has been with him for at least 10 years. He finished it two years ago and it was published in June 2024.
“I think I was really writing that book in my head for quite a while,” he said, “and when I sat down, I had the last chapter already in my mind. I had to kind of build it out from there, and the writing actually went pretty quickly.”
Since it was being written as a young adult book, Treuer relied on three of his nine children for feedback as he was developing the story.
“You couldn’t have flat characters,” he said. “You need character evolution for all of your major characters to maintain tension so it’s a page turner. In thinking about all of that, I test-drove the whole thing on my own children. So I read it out loud to them, and they were ages 12, 15, and 17 at the time. I would know within five minutes if it was a failure, if they’re looking at their phones or running for snacks or something.”
But that didn’t happen. The Treuer kids were all in, asking questions and hanging on every word.
“They’re the harshest critics of them all,” Anton said. “So this is good; it’s actually landing, and that’s what we’re going for.”
In addition to the Minnesota Book Awards nomination, feedback has been positive.
“‘Where Wolves Don't Die’ will lift you up and not let you down,” wrote Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louise Erdrich. “Anton Treuer knows how to tell a gripping story and the suspense doesn't let up for a single page. Along the way, you'll learn about Ojibwe lifeways, languages, sharp jokes, gentle humor, and how to keep romantic love alive from youth to old age. I couldn't put this book down until I'd finished it, and then, I could not forget it.”
Treuer said he has had a love-hate relationship with Native American literature.
“I’ve found stories that I’ve loved and have spoken to me,” he said, “but until about 30 years ago, almost all of it was written by non-Native people who hadn’t even talked to one of us. It was always like the imagined Native. I speak Ojibwe, and I’m out there harvesting maple sap with the kids every year. We have a vibrant ceremonial life, and I wanted to give people a window into that in a way that wouldn’t spill secrets that belong only in a ceremonial space. I wanted to show a living, beautiful, vibrant culture, but wrapped up in a story that would keep people engaged, and engage young people in thinking about and imagining that.”
Treuer plans to continue his ambitious writing schedule and says “Where Wolves Don’t Die” won’t be his last work of fiction. That might even include a sequel to Ezra’s story.