The 13: Ashi-niswi

“A gripping adventure in which 13 young Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) seek to regain the honor of their band. A delightful work of historical fiction.”—Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

As the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) slowly migrated into the Lake Superior region centuries ago, they were met by a potent adversary—the Dakota (Sioux) who fiercely resisted their spread into its territory. Gradually the Anishinaabe pushed them out of the northern woodlands and into the plains to the south. This long-running and bloody conflict lies at the heart of the story of Ashi-niswi, The 13.

Following a devastating raid on their camp, 13 Anishinaabe teenagers vow to restore the honor of their band by tracking down and savaging the Dakota raiders. The story is a parable posing the universal question: “What is the price of honor?” It is also a poignant coming-of-age story as the youngest of the youthful warriors struggles to come to grips with the aftermath of the quest.