Calling for a Blanket Dance follows the timeline of Ever Geimausaddle’s life, told in vignettes from the perspectives of his family members. It’s a story about identity, families, and community, and how Ever grows into the person he becomes as a result.

There is a lot to like in this debut novel. The story and characters feel authentic; there is no glossing-over gritty details or leaving out things that might make someone look imperfect. I especially liked learning more about Kiowa and Cherokee culture, as I’ll admit I didn’t know all that much going into this read. I think it was ultimately a smart move on Hokeah’s part to tell the story in the voices of Ever’s family, rather than sticking solely to one or two perspectives, although I definitely needed to refer to the family tree a couple of times early in the book.

If I have any complaints, it’s that it feels like there are some big chunks of Ever’s life missing from the novel, especially when he is an adult. I don’t expect the entirety of his life to be laid out on the page, but I do wish we had more information about his life after a certain point. (I’m trying to avoid spoilers here, but the family tree does kind of spoil part of it.) That being said, I don’t think it’s integral to the story being told; perhaps I just wanted a longer book because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the story just yet!

Overall, this is a heartwrenching story about one man’s life. If you’re a fan of literary fiction, this is a fantastic read; you’ll be thinking about it long after you read the last page.

Thank you to Algonquin and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.