Hopeful Speculations Book Club: The Marrow Thieves

​Welcome to the bimonthly Hopeful Speculations Book Club!

​A collaboration between The Climateverse and the Department of Imaginary Affairs, this is a community-building space to connect over speculative fiction and "read our way through the dark."

​Together we'll read everything from fantasy and sci fi to magical realism and even historical fiction, from diverse authors around the world, all grappling with questions of the futures we're hurtling towards, and how to chart our way to brighter possibilities.

​​Next up: The Marrow Thieves

​After climate change decimates the existing social order, most people lose the ability to dream. This produces catastrophic psychological results. Indigenous people, who can still dream, are hunted for their bone marrow, which is used to create a serum to treat dreamlessness. Francis, nicknamed Frenchie, loses both of his parents to “Recruiters” from the Canadian government. Recruiters kidnap Indigenous people and take them to schools where they are eventually murdered. Frenchie’s brother Mitch allows himself to be captured by Recruiters so that Frenchie can escape.

​Frenchie falls in with a group of Indigenous survivors (from a variety of nations: Anishinaabeg, Cree, Métis, and Mi’kmaq). Miigwans, the group’s de facto leader, was unable to save his husband Isaac from the schools, but he cares for the other members of the group and teaches them survival skills. Frenchie falls in love with Rose, another teenage survivor; they grow closer to each other throughout their journey.

​Get your copy here:

​Toronto Public Library: https://tpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S234C3667107

​As usual, we'll be taking a spin on the typical book club meeting. Expect guided discussion about the book, of course, but we'll also close each session with a futures activity based on the story!