Those Who Run in the Sky by Aviaq Johnston

This teen novel, written by Iqaluit-based Inuit author Aviaq Johnston, is a coming-of-age story that follows a young shaman named Pitu as he learns to use his powers and ultimately finds himself lost in the world of the spirits. After a strange and violent blizzard leaves Pitu stranded on the sea ice, without his dog team or any weapons to defend himself, he soon realizes that he is no longer in the word that he once knew. The storm has carried him into the world of the spirits, a world populated with terrifying creatures---black wolves with red eyes, ravenous and constantly stalking him; water-dwelling creatures that want nothing more than to snatch him and pull him into the frigid ocean through an ice crack. As well as beings less frightening, but equally as incredible, such as a lone giant who can carry Pitu in the palm of her hand and keeps caribou and polar bears as pets. After stumbling upon a fellow shaman who has been trapped in the spirit world for many years, Pitu must master all of his shamanic powers to make his way back to the world of the living, to his family, and to the girl that he loves.

About the Author
Aviaq Johnston is a young Inuk author from Igloolik, Nunavut. Her debut novel Those Who Run in the Sky was released in the spring of 2017. In 2014, she won first place in the Aboriginal Arts and Stories competition for her short story "Tarnikuluk," which also earned her a Governor General's History Award. Aviaq is a graduate of Nunavut Sivuniksavut, and she has a diploma in Social Service Work from Canadore College. Aviaq loves to travel and has lived in Australia and Vietnam. She spends most of her time reading, writing, studying, and procrastinating. She goes back and forth between Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Ottawa, Ontario. From his early days of reading sci-fi and fantasy books, Toma Feizo Gas has been fascinated with the dramatic scenes portrayed on the covers of those books. There started his lifelong love affair with telling stories through pictures. Today, Toma's key influence remains the people in these stories, the motives that drive us, and the decisions that shape us, propelling him to craft bold visual statements and contrast in his own art. As a career illustrator, his work can be found gracing the pages and covers of titles such as Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, the Star Wars and Mutant Chronicles role playing games, as well as several upcoming fantasy novel series.

Reviews

"A gem of an adventure novel grounded in Inuit myths and traditions...Lyrical writing, a suspenseful plot, and vivid illustrations make this a compelling read.Full of wisdom, earth knowledge, and spiritual depth, this novel captures the spirit of Indigenous leadership."- Kirkus, STARRED review

"[A] haunting tale, with both Inuit culture and a ghoulish spirit world explored in a thrilling and arresting manner."-Foreword Reviews

"The traditions of this Inuit culture wrap Pitu' story in a reality that needs to be shared with all youth, Indigenous and otherwise."-CanLit for Little Canadians

"Johnston's descriptions are detailed and bring the various spirits to life. Throughout the book, there are black and white illustrations by Toma Feizo Gas which enhance the written descriptions and add depth and interest to the story."-CM Magazine

Awards
Winner of Most Significant Work of Prose in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer 2018 (Canada) and Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens 2017 (Canada). Runner-up for Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit and Metis Literature 2017 (Canada). Short-listed for Governor General's Literary Award for Young People's Literature 2017 (Canada) and Foreword Indies Award for Young Adult Fiction 2017 (United States) and Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Young Adult Literature - Indigenous Language 2019.



Book Information
ISBN 9781772271218
Author Aviaq Johnston
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Inhabit Media Inc
Publisher Inhabit Media Inc
Series Those Who Run
Weight(grams) 340g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 13mm