Reviews

The Night Wanderer: A Graphic Novel by Drew Hayden Taylor

geekwayne's review

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3.0

The Night Wanderer tells the story of a vampire who returns home after hundreds of years. His people lived as Native Americans off the land. He is on a self imposed fast during his journey. He takes a room with a broken family.

Tiffany, her father and grandmother are still feeling the effects of Tiffany's mother leaving the family behind for a white man. Tiffany is also having trouble with her boyfriend. She finds a strange friendship with the new boarder, Pierre. A friendship she can't seem to make with her own father.

The story began life as a play by Drew Hayden Taylor, then became a graphic novel. The art by Michael Wyatt is not my favorite. It's a little over digital, so it lacks a bit on shading and warmth, but it serves the story well. The art is black and white, except when Pierre is fighting hunger or anger, then his eyes glow red. It's a better told tale than other contemporary teenage vampire stories. Tiffany and Pierre are both sympathetic in their own ways.

lsparrow's review

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3.0

I did not like the graphic novel half as much as I liked the book. I found the illustrations lacked something for me. Perhaps also if I had read this version first it would have hit me more.
As it was the strength of the book out shone the graphic novel.

emjay2021's review

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4.0

I received this review copy through NetGalley from Annick Press. This review is also posted on my blog and on NetGalley.

I will definitely use this as a text for First Peoples English. First of all, I'm intrigued by the use of genre--I think the story suits the graphic novel format particularly well given that the narrative relies on atmosphere. The illustrations are clear, crisp, and make good use of contrasts (dark/light areas). The book tells a simple story and tells it well--Tiffany Hunter is an Anishnaabe teenager living on the Otter Lake Reserve who is clashing with her dad, not doing well at school, and experiencing the pains of young love. Pierre L'Errant is a mysterious European stranger whom the Hunter family take in as a boarder to help with the rent since Tiffany's mother left.

Even though the book is short and we don't get to know Tiffany or Pierre particularly deeply, Drew Hayden Taylor does a good job of revealing their personalities and circumstances through current events and flashbacks. The narrative provides opportunities to discuss various aspects of Indigenous storytelling as well as social issues like prejudice and racism.

My only issue with the book is that I wish it were longer! It seemed to end a bit abruptly.

Recommended for young adult audiences or anyone interested in a good fast read that combines a look at Indigenous culture and...vampire lore.

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The program I teach in uses a lot of Drew Hayden Taylor's plays as required reading, so I am eager to check out this graphic novel to see if it would be suitable for our new First Peoples English course. It is a graphic novel adaptation of The Night Wanderer: A Gothic Novel. As far as I know, there aren't a lot of vampire novels set on First Nations reserves! So far, I'm enjoying it.

cassandrasoley's review

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4.0

I enjoyed this story, I wish I read the novel before I read the graphic novel, but I was very curious about this one.

I thought it was an interesting and fun way to talk about Canadian Native culture and traditions. I'm for sure going to check out the novel.

kieranl's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

I enjoyed this. Indigenous vampire stories; I’m here for it. 

bookwormdepository's review

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4.0

too short!

foxreadsbooks's review

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3.0

I think I’d like to read the full text of this. This definitely has some really great themes like family dynamics, broken hearts, and identity. It doesn’t go into much depth in this graphic novel format, so I didn’t really feel like I got a sense of the entire story.

fox_reads_books's review

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3.0

I think I’d like to read the full text of this. This definitely has some really great themes like family dynamics, broken hearts, and identity. It doesn’t go into much depth in this graphic novel format, so I didn’t really feel like I got a sense of the entire story.

brynnsproul's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

pierre is a baddie. tiffany is a baddie. tony can rot.

justabean_reads's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Short graphic novel about a vampire returning to his Indigenous village for the first time since first contact between his people and European explorers, and the vampire's relationship with the local family he ends up boarding with, especially their teenage daughter. It's sweet and sad, and does interesting things mixing European vampire mythos with Drew Hayden Taylor's traditions. (Though weirdly the Billy Graham two wolves story was in here, which I find baffling.) Art was lovely, with minimal colours and a lot of splashy red.