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Prairie Edge
The Giller Prize-longlisted author of Avenue of Champions returns with a frenetic, propulsive crime thriller that doubles as a sharp critique of modern activism and challenges readers to consider what "Land Back" might really look like.
Meet Isidore “Ezzy” Desjarlais and Grey Ginther: two distant Métis cousins making the most of Grey’s uncle’s old trailer, passing their days playing endless games of cribbage and cracking cans of cheap beer in between. Grey, once a passionate advocate for change, has been hardened and turned cynical by an activist culture she thinks has turned performative and lazy. One night, though, she has a revelation, and enlists Ezzy, who is hopelessly devoted to her but eager to avoid the authorities after a life in and out of the group home system and jail, for a bold yet dangerous political mission: capture a herd of bison from a national park and set them free in downtown Edmonton, disrupting the churn of settler routine. But as Grey becomes increasingly single-minded in her newfound calling, their act of protest puts the pair and those close to them in peril, with devastating and sometimes fatal consequences.
For readers drawn to the electric storytelling of Morgan Talty and the taut register of Stephen Graham Jones, Conor Kerr’s Prairie Edge is at once a gripping, darkly funny caper and a raw reckoning with the wounds that persist across generations.
Meet Isidore “Ezzy” Desjarlais and Grey Ginther: two distant Métis cousins making the most of Grey’s uncle’s old trailer, passing their days playing endless games of cribbage and cracking cans of cheap beer in between. Grey, once a passionate advocate for change, has been hardened and turned cynical by an activist culture she thinks has turned performative and lazy. One night, though, she has a revelation, and enlists Ezzy, who is hopelessly devoted to her but eager to avoid the authorities after a life in and out of the group home system and jail, for a bold yet dangerous political mission: capture a herd of bison from a national park and set them free in downtown Edmonton, disrupting the churn of settler routine. But as Grey becomes increasingly single-minded in her newfound calling, their act of protest puts the pair and those close to them in peril, with devastating and sometimes fatal consequences.
For readers drawn to the electric storytelling of Morgan Talty and the taut register of Stephen Graham Jones, Conor Kerr’s Prairie Edge is at once a gripping, darkly funny caper and a raw reckoning with the wounds that persist across generations.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
October 28, 2024
I want a film adaptation of this book. And I need it now.
Billed as a crime thriller but more of a character-driven story about two cousins who want the world to pay attention. The novel explores Indigenous plights and rights, while dissecting the many performative sides of activism.
Both of these characters are messy and desperate, yet always sympathetic and endearing. Things go from bad to worse for these two, but by the end we’ve witnessed them on a life-changing journey.
Enjoyed this one hard.
Billed as a crime thriller but more of a character-driven story about two cousins who want the world to pay attention. The novel explores Indigenous plights and rights, while dissecting the many performative sides of activism.
Both of these characters are messy and desperate, yet always sympathetic and endearing. Things go from bad to worse for these two, but by the end we’ve witnessed them on a life-changing journey.
Enjoyed this one hard.
October 9, 2024
Short-listed for the 2024 Giller Prize
The “Land Back” campaign is a movement of Indigenous peoples, seeking to re-establish their sovereignty, reclaim their Indigenous jurisdiction, and gain political and economic control of their ancestral lands.
Kerr’s second novel takes place in current day Edmonton. Our three main characters include Grey—a young Métis woman and recent university graduate who’s become disillusioned with the “Land Back” activism she’s been involved with for years. Then we have Grey’s good friend, Ezzy—a young Métis man, a survivor of the foster care system and recently released from an Alberta prison. And never too far from the action is Ezzy’s loving Auntie May—without children of her own, she’s a warm, nurturing, sensible woman who, without judgement, revels in caring for them both. The action begins when Grey decides what she really wants is to actually make something happen!!
So, with the help of her uncle’s livestock trailer, she devises a plan to remove bison from National Parks and private ranches, then transport and unload them in parks within Edmonton where they’ll be right where they belong (she believes), relaxed and happily munching the fresh plants and grasses. Along the way, however, bad things happen and people get hurt. But, as a whole, this story is excellent and I recommend it to all. This was my second Conor Kerr novel and, IMO, it was every bit as good as his first (Avenue of Champions).
4.5 “Magpies-and-bison-miss-their-symbiotic-relationship” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The “Land Back” campaign is a movement of Indigenous peoples, seeking to re-establish their sovereignty, reclaim their Indigenous jurisdiction, and gain political and economic control of their ancestral lands.
Kerr’s second novel takes place in current day Edmonton. Our three main characters include Grey—a young Métis woman and recent university graduate who’s become disillusioned with the “Land Back” activism she’s been involved with for years. Then we have Grey’s good friend, Ezzy—a young Métis man, a survivor of the foster care system and recently released from an Alberta prison. And never too far from the action is Ezzy’s loving Auntie May—without children of her own, she’s a warm, nurturing, sensible woman who, without judgement, revels in caring for them both. The action begins when Grey decides what she really wants is to actually make something happen!!
So, with the help of her uncle’s livestock trailer, she devises a plan to remove bison from National Parks and private ranches, then transport and unload them in parks within Edmonton where they’ll be right where they belong (she believes), relaxed and happily munching the fresh plants and grasses. Along the way, however, bad things happen and people get hurt. But, as a whole, this story is excellent and I recommend it to all. This was my second Conor Kerr novel and, IMO, it was every bit as good as his first (Avenue of Champions).
4.5 “Magpies-and-bison-miss-their-symbiotic-relationship” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 30, 2025
If you're looking for a edge of you seat thriller this one won't be it, it's a character centric story. It's a deep cut in longing to belong and not knowing how. It's a story of activism and realism, of hurt that runs deep and of healing against the odds. The writing style is sometimes a little slippery which worked for the story but made the timeline a little hard to follow at times.
May 9, 2024
Buffalo Gal
Review of the Strange Light paperback edition (April 16, 2024), released simultaneously with the eBook/audiobook.
It is unusual for me to use a promo blurb instead of a book quote to set the tone for a review. But this needed something to immediately counteract the book's GR synopsis which starts off describing it as a "crime thriller." I think that might cause it to be ignored by those put off by genre fiction. Someone who comes to this expecting a cops and robbers story will likely wonder what the heck is going on.
Bison photograph by Brian Keating. Image sourced from the CBC article Where to see bison roam in Alberta.
There is crime involved in this in the form of bison or buffalo rustling. And yes there is a brief traumatic physical assault scene with gunfire and death. The point of the story is something completely different from genre fiction though. 20+ something year-old cousins Grey Ginther and Isidore “Ezzy” Desjarlais become involved in a performance art act of bison kidnapping to install some small herds of bison from parks & farms to grasslands within Edmonton, Alberta city limits.
Grey is disillusioned with the narcissistic attention seeking she perceives in opportunistic and money grubbing activism, especially that of an old boyfriend. Ezzy is recently released from a prison term for car theft and looking for some peace and slacking while living in the abandoned trailer of Grey's uncle. Grey becomes obsessed with the ideas of #BisonStrong and #LandBack and decides to take a performative step and drags her cousin along in the process, but with eventual shocking and tragic results.
Another bison photograph by Brian Keating, because, yes, bison calves are cute. Same source as above.
Prairie Edge was a moving and dramatic story which more than fulfilled the promise of Conor Kerr's fiction debut Avenue of Champions (2021) which was a novel told in short stories and a Canada Giller Prize nominee in 2022. My thanks again to GR Friend Jodi who introduced me to this author via her glowing 5-star review of the earlier book..
Filmtrack
I didn't come up with one of my soundtrack selections for this book, but I did chance upon the film "Singing Back the Buffalo" (2024) by writer/director Tasha Hubbard which recently premiered at the Toronto HotDocs Festival. You can read about it here and watch the trailer here.
Bonus Track
When I was googling to find the Michelle Porter blurb above, for some reason the CoPilot AI wrote a review of the book for me, which was more eloquent than anything I could write myself 😅. So here is a copy paste of that:
Review of the Strange Light paperback edition (April 16, 2024), released simultaneously with the eBook/audiobook.
This is a novel wise enough to know that the future we all want begins with our imaginations. A story both sharp and fresh, Prairie Edge dreams bison back into our everyday lives, our cities, and our future. Author Conor Kerr believes the prairie is calling the bison back, and in this novel he dares to braid threads of a storied past with the troubled present and a vision of a beautiful future. - Michelle Porter, author of A Grandmother Begins the Story
It is unusual for me to use a promo blurb instead of a book quote to set the tone for a review. But this needed something to immediately counteract the book's GR synopsis which starts off describing it as a "crime thriller." I think that might cause it to be ignored by those put off by genre fiction. Someone who comes to this expecting a cops and robbers story will likely wonder what the heck is going on.
Bison photograph by Brian Keating. Image sourced from the CBC article Where to see bison roam in Alberta.
There is crime involved in this in the form of bison or buffalo rustling. And yes there is a brief traumatic physical assault scene with gunfire and death. The point of the story is something completely different from genre fiction though. 20+ something year-old cousins Grey Ginther and Isidore “Ezzy” Desjarlais become involved in a performance art act of bison kidnapping to install some small herds of bison from parks & farms to grasslands within Edmonton, Alberta city limits.
Grey is disillusioned with the narcissistic attention seeking she perceives in opportunistic and money grubbing activism, especially that of an old boyfriend. Ezzy is recently released from a prison term for car theft and looking for some peace and slacking while living in the abandoned trailer of Grey's uncle. Grey becomes obsessed with the ideas of #BisonStrong and #LandBack and decides to take a performative step and drags her cousin along in the process, but with eventual shocking and tragic results.
Another bison photograph by Brian Keating, because, yes, bison calves are cute. Same source as above.
Prairie Edge was a moving and dramatic story which more than fulfilled the promise of Conor Kerr's fiction debut Avenue of Champions (2021) which was a novel told in short stories and a Canada Giller Prize nominee in 2022. My thanks again to GR Friend Jodi who introduced me to this author via her glowing 5-star review of the earlier book..
Filmtrack
I didn't come up with one of my soundtrack selections for this book, but I did chance upon the film "Singing Back the Buffalo" (2024) by writer/director Tasha Hubbard which recently premiered at the Toronto HotDocs Festival. You can read about it here and watch the trailer here.
Bonus Track
When I was googling to find the Michelle Porter blurb above, for some reason the CoPilot AI wrote a review of the book for me, which was more eloquent than anything I could write myself 😅. So here is a copy paste of that:
Prairie Edge sounds like a captivating novel! The idea of bringing bison back into our everyday lives and cities is intriguing. Imagining a world where these majestic creatures roam freely among us is both inspiring and thought-provoking. 🌿🌾
In this novel, perhaps the bison symbolize more than just their physical presence. They could represent resilience, connection to nature, and a reminder of our shared history. As they graze on the prairie edge, they become a bridge between past and future, grounding us in the present moment.
The author’s choice to emphasize imagination as the catalyst for change is powerful. Our ability to dream beyond the confines of the present allows us to envision a better world—a world where bison roam freely, where nature thrives, and where our cities harmonize with the natural environment.
Prairie Edge invites readers to explore the intersection of reality and imagination, urging us to consider how our collective dreams shape the world we inhabit. It’s a call to action—to reimagine our relationship with the land, the creatures that inhabit it, and each other.
As I reflect on this novel, I’m reminded of the quote by Albert Einstein: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Indeed, our imaginations hold the key to unlocking new possibilities, sparking innovation, and creating a future that aligns with our deepest desires.
So, let’s dream alongside the bison on the prairie edge, weaving stories of hope, resilience, and transformation. 🌟✨
September 15, 2024
I didn't really know what this was going to be about, so I got excited when the first chapter involved capturing prairie bison in a national park and releasing them as a new herd in Edmonton. I was hoping for something surreal and majestic.
Sadly, for me this never quite lived up to that first chapter, though it wasn't a bad book. The bison are largely off-stage for the rest of the story, which mostly followed the backstory of the two protagonists, contemporary Métis twenty-somethings Ezzy and Grey, the realities of growing up in foster care, the limits of Indigenous activism, and the nature of the city of Edmonton.
This was all well done; the debates seemed to be grappled with from a variety of perspectives and I thought the ending was particularly strong. But I was held back from enjoying it more by very bland prose, by the modern story line and well, by the lack of bison.
Sadly, for me this never quite lived up to that first chapter, though it wasn't a bad book. The bison are largely off-stage for the rest of the story, which mostly followed the backstory of the two protagonists, contemporary Métis twenty-somethings Ezzy and Grey, the realities of growing up in foster care, the limits of Indigenous activism, and the nature of the city of Edmonton.
This was all well done; the debates seemed to be grappled with from a variety of perspectives and I thought the ending was particularly strong. But I was held back from enjoying it more by very bland prose, by the modern story line and well, by the lack of bison.
December 9, 2025
i don’t think i was mentally present for any of this but i also think that my rating would be lower if i had been
Read
May 25, 2024Calling this a crime thriller is a bit misleading, because it's much more focused on character, but I thought it was really well done. It explores the intergenerational effects of colonialism on a Métis family, particularly when it comes to anti-Indigenous racism and abuse in the Canadian foster care system. There's a lot of darkness in this book, but the relationships between characters keep it from feeling bleak.
June 5, 2024
More like a high 4.5 (it takes about the first third of the book to really get the story moving). Overall, this was devastating but so well done. A picture of Indigenous life in the Canadian prairies, a stark commentary on the social systems which fail our Indigenous youth through to adulthood. At the same time, the depiction of generational ties and familial relationships was heartening.
The character development was stellar: both Grey and Ezzy contain multitudes. I’m really dying to see a bison in person now (kinda can’t believe I haven’t????) 🦬
The character development was stellar: both Grey and Ezzy contain multitudes. I’m really dying to see a bison in person now (kinda can’t believe I haven’t????) 🦬
April 2, 2025
what a unique experience to be able to read a book set in your city, reading about the high level bridge when I can basically see it from my apartment
this was so good. heavy, with major themes of generational trauma, social systems repeatedly failing indigenous youths, and the Land Back movement.
I think a very important read. if you’ve ever spent time in Edmonton, definitely read.
Chloe is the absolute best, I mentioned I wanted to read this book and she got it for me, and had it dedicated and signed by the author when he did a talk in one of her classes
this was so good. heavy, with major themes of generational trauma, social systems repeatedly failing indigenous youths, and the Land Back movement.
I think a very important read. if you’ve ever spent time in Edmonton, definitely read.
Chloe is the absolute best, I mentioned I wanted to read this book and she got it for me, and had it dedicated and signed by the author when he did a talk in one of her classes
February 27, 2025
I stayed up all night reading this and you should too!!!
October 18, 2024
"They'll come back. They always do. It might not be this year. It might not be in my lifetime. It might not be in your lifetime. but they'll come back. These prairies were meant for the bison and we were meant to follow them, to work with them, to respect them. The bison are the land just as much as we are."
Conor Kerr has proven himself to be a great young talent with his first two novels; Avenue of Champions and Prairie Edge. Where Avenue of Champions was a solid debut, Prairie Edge shows a writer growing and speaking with his own distinct voice. The great writing and the exciting storytelling, makes his work personal while also being politically driven exploring the Indigenous experience here in Canada. Prairie Edge is accessible and hopefully successful as all of Canada should be reading Conor Kerr.
"How does a kid forgive his family when the government is actively trying to keep them apart?"
Conor Kerr has proven himself to be a great young talent with his first two novels; Avenue of Champions and Prairie Edge. Where Avenue of Champions was a solid debut, Prairie Edge shows a writer growing and speaking with his own distinct voice. The great writing and the exciting storytelling, makes his work personal while also being politically driven exploring the Indigenous experience here in Canada. Prairie Edge is accessible and hopefully successful as all of Canada should be reading Conor Kerr.
"How does a kid forgive his family when the government is actively trying to keep them apart?"
May 9, 2024
Thanks to netgalley and penguin random house Canada for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I'm still struggling a bit to put my thoughts down about this book, other than 'it's great and I highly recommend it'. Prairie Edge follows Métis cousins Ezzy and Grey, who start a wave of activism in and around Edmonton, Canada by setting free a herd of bison. Eventually, this ends up having severe consequences for the characters. I loved the way the bison were described, especially from Greys point of view. These huge, magnificent beasts basically represent the native population of Canada, and their way of living with and in nature, before it was suppressed by colonialism.
This was at times quite a heavy, downcast story. The book very openly describes the effect of things like the foster system and the judicial system on native people. It explores family and belonging within a system that seems hellbent on keeping native people apart.
Like I said, I don't really know how to tie my thoughts together or how to conclude this, other than: if you're looking to read more native voices, add this one to your list.
I'm still struggling a bit to put my thoughts down about this book, other than 'it's great and I highly recommend it'. Prairie Edge follows Métis cousins Ezzy and Grey, who start a wave of activism in and around Edmonton, Canada by setting free a herd of bison. Eventually, this ends up having severe consequences for the characters. I loved the way the bison were described, especially from Greys point of view. These huge, magnificent beasts basically represent the native population of Canada, and their way of living with and in nature, before it was suppressed by colonialism.
This was at times quite a heavy, downcast story. The book very openly describes the effect of things like the foster system and the judicial system on native people. It explores family and belonging within a system that seems hellbent on keeping native people apart.
Like I said, I don't really know how to tie my thoughts together or how to conclude this, other than: if you're looking to read more native voices, add this one to your list.
January 20, 2025
The last sentence in the epilogue solidified the 5th star. This book was heartbreaking, majestic and powerful. I would recommend!
April 1, 2024
I was so eager to read Prairie Edge by Conor Kerr because I loved his other two books Avenue of Champions and Old Gods. This is a very sad novel! It’s about two friends, Ezzy and Grey, who capture bison from a national park and then set them loose in downtown Edmonton. I really enjoyed the dual POV and the Canadian setting. I also enjoyed the fast pace of the novel and Ezzy’s Aunt May as a grounding character. I’d be eager to read Kerr’s next book!
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley for my ARC!
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley for my ARC!
May 17, 2024
A beautiful, sad, and witty novel with the greatest heist at its centre—the re-releasing of bison onto the streets of Edmonton. The exploration of Indigenous and Métis families and the many violences of the foster care and prison systems are intwined into the lives and experiences of the characters. I often find with dual-POV novels it can be hard to latch on to both characters, but here I was so taken with both Ezzy and Grey’s voices and stories. The way the book speaks on activism, performativity, and #landback is thoughtful and sharp. A wonderful timely read! 🦬 💛
October 30, 2024
Rep: Métis mc with ADHD, Cree & Métis side characters
CWs: attempted rape, overdose
CWs: attempted rape, overdose
January 8, 2025
I could not put this down. A bison heist spirals into mayhem for two friends. The dual perspectives worked excellently. Important lessons here on activism and the impacts of colonialism. This is an author to watch. His writing was beautiful
February 27, 2025
literally was on a 13 hour flight when I opened this book up and still dnf bc wtf kinda writing was this, bored outta my mind
May 27, 2025
Triple the national park budget.
April 13, 2025
Relevant and real and very good
December 9, 2024
Nicely paced heist story told via alternating POVs of the two protagonists. Contains curious brushings of magic realism, and investigations into identity, authenticity, and loyalty.
May 30, 2024
A profoundly moving book, with so many quotable lines that really make you reflect on how Canada has treated its indigenous population. Cannot recommend highly enough.
July 16, 2024
4.5⭐️ Highly recommend this one! Nothing beats a good buffalo heist. Also phenomenal story telling about the impacts of coloniaslism on Métis culture and people.
June 23, 2024
Great characters you really care about populate the story of twenty-something Metis cousins in Edmonton as they try to find their way through idealism, activism, and disappointments. Did I mention that it's a bison heist novel?
May 29, 2024
Prairie Edge is a deeply emotional novel that delves into the legacy of multigenerational trauma and colonialism on two young Métis protagonists and the extended circle of people around them. At the core of the story is an act of activism - bison are relocated to city parks. However, bison are not always predictable, nor are people, leading to unintended consequences that resonate with the reader.
The characters are nuanced and complex, each having a notable growth arc during the novel. Chapters alternate between Ezzie's and Grey's perspectives; each has a distinct voice and unique challenges, which help the reader understand the conflicting interests of the narrow and broader communities in and around Edmonton.
The concluding chapters had multiple large time jumps, which left me wondering what impressions the author wanted to impart. The ending left many unanswered questions, but mostly in a good way, as it left space for me to sit and reflect on what might come.
PS - I'm working my way through books centered in each Canadian province, and this was an exceptional pick for Alberta.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.
The characters are nuanced and complex, each having a notable growth arc during the novel. Chapters alternate between Ezzie's and Grey's perspectives; each has a distinct voice and unique challenges, which help the reader understand the conflicting interests of the narrow and broader communities in and around Edmonton.
The concluding chapters had multiple large time jumps, which left me wondering what impressions the author wanted to impart. The ending left many unanswered questions, but mostly in a good way, as it left space for me to sit and reflect on what might come.
PS - I'm working my way through books centered in each Canadian province, and this was an exceptional pick for Alberta.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.
June 8, 2024
A Beautifully written, intense, and heartbreaking book. I
August 1, 2024
Prairie Edge by Conor Kerr is a crime thriller but it was so much more. It’s a book about Land Back, colonialism, and the effects of the foster care system and explores how these issues have affected the two main characters.
Ezzy and Grey’s duelling POV’s added a real sense of depth in the layering to the story. The book had a great balance between the heart and the darker aspects of the story. This balance is reflected the prologue and the epilogue which in my opinion were pretty perfect pieces of writing.
I’ve never been to the Prairies, much less out of Ontario but the writing is so immersive and clear that it puts me in this place with ease. Also, the cover design and interior chapter markers (I love a bold all caps font) were really striking to me.
Really outstanding book. I highly recommend it.
Ezzy and Grey’s duelling POV’s added a real sense of depth in the layering to the story. The book had a great balance between the heart and the darker aspects of the story. This balance is reflected the prologue and the epilogue which in my opinion were pretty perfect pieces of writing.
I’ve never been to the Prairies, much less out of Ontario but the writing is so immersive and clear that it puts me in this place with ease. Also, the cover design and interior chapter markers (I love a bold all caps font) were really striking to me.
Really outstanding book. I highly recommend it.
September 3, 2024
I thought this might be funny with indigenous peoples releasing bison into downtown Edmonton as a protest against the theft of their land and everything else that happened to them. It was not. Very heavy and pervasive sense of overbearing and overwhelming futility and tragedy. Two characters: man and woman. Friends who have never ultimately connected. An unrequited love story. One is college educated , the other a HS dropout and felon with substance issues. A lot happens during this bison escapade to include major crimes and serious trauma. The ending was just an ending with no happy ending. Just real life.
February 17, 2025
This was stunning, heartbreaking, real. Pulled no punches in its critiques of colonial institutions and managed to be a well-paced, unputdownable crime story featuring young, fresh characters at the same time. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.
December 20, 2024
3.5/5
I imagine this would do very well as a movie.
I imagine this would do very well as a movie.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews