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Wild People Quiet: A Novel
A taut, exquisitely rendered story exploring the repercussions of a woman’s decision to hide her Métis identity while living in a small, predominantly white prairie town in the 1940s, for readers of The Berry Pickers, Tommy Orange, and The Vanishing Half.
Torduvalle, Saskatchewan, 1946.
Florence has created a beautiful life for herself. Her home is immaculate; she is a model employee at Pratt’s Insurance, where she works as a secretary. Her hair is the perfect shade of movie-star blonde—never once does she allow her brown roots to show. She dyes them every Saturday night, without fail.
But one morning at the end of summer, everything changes.
Florence notices a new group of men at the local diner, Métis workers from out of town, hired on for the season at a nearby farm. And one of them has a connection to the past that Florence has spent her entire life outrunning. He has one simple request for her.
Suddenly, Florence is thrown back into memories of her life before. Suddenly, the line between who she once was and who she has chosen to be feels very thin.
And when Florence learns of the government’s plans for the Métis community on the fringes of town, she will be faced with a choice—one that will shatter her carefully constructed life forever.
This extraordinary novel asks us what we will do for our community, for our families, for our friends, even at our own expense. It examines the harrowing effects of choosing to live as someone else—and the radiant peace that comes from finally living one’s truth. Gripping, wrenching, and utterly immersive, Wild People Quiet is a stunning achievement by a remarkable literary talent.
Torduvalle, Saskatchewan, 1946.
Florence has created a beautiful life for herself. Her home is immaculate; she is a model employee at Pratt’s Insurance, where she works as a secretary. Her hair is the perfect shade of movie-star blonde—never once does she allow her brown roots to show. She dyes them every Saturday night, without fail.
But one morning at the end of summer, everything changes.
Florence notices a new group of men at the local diner, Métis workers from out of town, hired on for the season at a nearby farm. And one of them has a connection to the past that Florence has spent her entire life outrunning. He has one simple request for her.
Suddenly, Florence is thrown back into memories of her life before. Suddenly, the line between who she once was and who she has chosen to be feels very thin.
And when Florence learns of the government’s plans for the Métis community on the fringes of town, she will be faced with a choice—one that will shatter her carefully constructed life forever.
This extraordinary novel asks us what we will do for our community, for our families, for our friends, even at our own expense. It examines the harrowing effects of choosing to live as someone else—and the radiant peace that comes from finally living one’s truth. Gripping, wrenching, and utterly immersive, Wild People Quiet is a stunning achievement by a remarkable literary talent.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2026
About the author
Tara Gereaux
4 books32 followersTara Gereaux’s debut novel, Saltus, was released in 2021. Her first book, a teen novella called Size of a Fist (Thistledown Press, 2015), was nominated for two 2016 Saskatchewan Book Awards. Her writing has been published in several literary magazines and has won awards, including the City of Regina Writing Award in 2016 and 2019.
After graduating with an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia, Tara worked as a story editor and writer in film and television for ten years.
From the Qu’Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan and of Métis and European heritage, Tara lived in Vancouver for nearly two decades before returning to her home on the prairie. She lives in Regina, SK.
After graduating with an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia, Tara worked as a story editor and writer in film and television for ten years.
From the Qu’Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan and of Métis and European heritage, Tara lived in Vancouver for nearly two decades before returning to her home on the prairie. She lives in Regina, SK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
December 9, 2025
[Will post quote about Michif lives post publication]
A choice she makes in desperation to be free, Florence Campeau decides to become Florence Banks and slip out of her old life to become someone else.
For the past 11 years, Florence has been a secretary at Pratt’s Insurance and Real Estate in Torduvalle, Saskatchewan. She “blends in with everyone else”; nobody would know she’s one of ‘them’. Them, or half-breeds as the predominantly while Prairie community of 1940s Saskatchewan calls the Métis, are a mixed-race Indigenous people. They were not afforded the same respect or opportunities as European settlers.
Tara Gereaux, a Métis person and extremely talented author, has written this five-star story exploring the repercussions of one woman’s decision to hide her Métis identity. Gereaux’s narrative is focused, gentle, vivid, and methodical; the same approach you’d expect from someone skilled enough to be doing beadwork. Like Indigenous beadwork, the quiet narrative produces a noteworthy result. Will we Canadians sit up and pay attention?
I have taught Canadian history and understand the 1885 Northwest Resistance and the script system, but I had never heard of ‘Road Allowance People’, the NRTA of 1930, or ‘Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act of 1935’. Gereaux educated me. I read in horror at the heartbreaking suffering experienced due to poverty and racism. As a country, we have certainly failed in our responsibility to protect the Metis. Their history is full of dispossession and extinction. It didn’t need to be that way.
Things that gave me pause:
💔the author’s exploration of whether we can be two people at the same time or if we need to split, keeping two separate parts of ourselves
💔the realization that, in keeping something from someone, we actually are keeping something very important and valuable from ourselves.
💔despite the appalling situations forced upon these people, this Road Allowance community is rich in so many ways. I was in awe of the tight community that supported each other as they continued to struggle to keep their culture and way of life intact.
Gereaux brings to life the burden of living as someone else as she shares a little-known element of Metis history, culture and identity. The author’s focus is on resilience and resistance and the book packs a punch despite its soft delivery. It’s one historical fiction lovers and Canadians need on our reading lists ASAP.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and was under no obligation to provide a review.
A choice she makes in desperation to be free, Florence Campeau decides to become Florence Banks and slip out of her old life to become someone else.
For the past 11 years, Florence has been a secretary at Pratt’s Insurance and Real Estate in Torduvalle, Saskatchewan. She “blends in with everyone else”; nobody would know she’s one of ‘them’. Them, or half-breeds as the predominantly while Prairie community of 1940s Saskatchewan calls the Métis, are a mixed-race Indigenous people. They were not afforded the same respect or opportunities as European settlers.
Tara Gereaux, a Métis person and extremely talented author, has written this five-star story exploring the repercussions of one woman’s decision to hide her Métis identity. Gereaux’s narrative is focused, gentle, vivid, and methodical; the same approach you’d expect from someone skilled enough to be doing beadwork. Like Indigenous beadwork, the quiet narrative produces a noteworthy result. Will we Canadians sit up and pay attention?
I have taught Canadian history and understand the 1885 Northwest Resistance and the script system, but I had never heard of ‘Road Allowance People’, the NRTA of 1930, or ‘Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act of 1935’. Gereaux educated me. I read in horror at the heartbreaking suffering experienced due to poverty and racism. As a country, we have certainly failed in our responsibility to protect the Metis. Their history is full of dispossession and extinction. It didn’t need to be that way.
Things that gave me pause:
💔the author’s exploration of whether we can be two people at the same time or if we need to split, keeping two separate parts of ourselves
💔the realization that, in keeping something from someone, we actually are keeping something very important and valuable from ourselves.
💔despite the appalling situations forced upon these people, this Road Allowance community is rich in so many ways. I was in awe of the tight community that supported each other as they continued to struggle to keep their culture and way of life intact.
Gereaux brings to life the burden of living as someone else as she shares a little-known element of Metis history, culture and identity. The author’s focus is on resilience and resistance and the book packs a punch despite its soft delivery. It’s one historical fiction lovers and Canadians need on our reading lists ASAP.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and was under no obligation to provide a review.
June 1, 2026
3 stars.
A Métis woman tries to make a new life for herself, shedding her heritage, culture and identity that constantly threatens to catch up with her.
This was a well researched, informative, eye-opening look at one woman’s journey to move away from systematic discrimination and oppression with the hopes of creating a new life completely separated from her family, culture and heritage. Growing up, her family faced countless forms of marginalization, never able to move past the systematic racism and discrimination.
This book started off stronger than it ended. I was intrigued and engrossed at the start and felt for the main character. She was a likeable, endearing woman who I admired for her strength and determination. However, as the novel progressed and more of her story was revealed, my investment in her life lessened. Certain descriptive words and her inner thoughts began to feel unnatural and forced for me. Once I hit the halfway point, the writing shifted and took on a preachy tone which was a turn off for me. I began to feel like the author was forcing a lesson on the reader instead of the reader getting lost in the story and drawing their own conclusions.
Beading is a cultural aspect explored that I enjoyed learning about. However, even as I appreciated this educational component, I felt that some of these beading scenes were quite forced and over the top, taking away from any feeling of realness or authenticity. The second half of the book also shifted toward a more cliche and at times, cheesy, dialogue as well as character interactions.
Overall, I liked the idea of this book and am happy I learned from it. I appreciate how the author was exploring an important topic and showing just how many layers there are to cultural marginalization and discrimination. However, I didn’t quite click with the writing and found the overall execution wasn’t as powerful or impactful as I had hoped or expected.
A Métis woman tries to make a new life for herself, shedding her heritage, culture and identity that constantly threatens to catch up with her.
This was a well researched, informative, eye-opening look at one woman’s journey to move away from systematic discrimination and oppression with the hopes of creating a new life completely separated from her family, culture and heritage. Growing up, her family faced countless forms of marginalization, never able to move past the systematic racism and discrimination.
This book started off stronger than it ended. I was intrigued and engrossed at the start and felt for the main character. She was a likeable, endearing woman who I admired for her strength and determination. However, as the novel progressed and more of her story was revealed, my investment in her life lessened. Certain descriptive words and her inner thoughts began to feel unnatural and forced for me. Once I hit the halfway point, the writing shifted and took on a preachy tone which was a turn off for me. I began to feel like the author was forcing a lesson on the reader instead of the reader getting lost in the story and drawing their own conclusions.
Beading is a cultural aspect explored that I enjoyed learning about. However, even as I appreciated this educational component, I felt that some of these beading scenes were quite forced and over the top, taking away from any feeling of realness or authenticity. The second half of the book also shifted toward a more cliche and at times, cheesy, dialogue as well as character interactions.
Overall, I liked the idea of this book and am happy I learned from it. I appreciate how the author was exploring an important topic and showing just how many layers there are to cultural marginalization and discrimination. However, I didn’t quite click with the writing and found the overall execution wasn’t as powerful or impactful as I had hoped or expected.
March 3, 2026
This story centres around Florence, a Métis woman, who is masking as a white woman in Saskatchewan in the 1940s. When a group of Métis men arrive as hired help, a past connection threatens to topple her carefully crafted life.
This novel was beautiful, exploring identity, community, and belonging. I loved how the writer linked in bead working, giving a glimpse into Canadian history we should all be more aware of.
4.5⭐️
This novel was beautiful, exploring identity, community, and belonging. I loved how the writer linked in bead working, giving a glimpse into Canadian history we should all be more aware of.
4.5⭐️
June 12, 2026
“Wild People Quiet”, a Novel by Tara Gereaux
3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️1/2
Great concept and good writing, although I wished the dialogues were stronger (some felt forced).
The storytelling was good and somewhat compelling (I did miss my train station, after work).1/21/
The story is set between 1908 and 1946, in Saskatchewan, Canada.
This book started so well.
At 15% I thought I had a winner.
But unfortunately the delivery of the story ended up being underwhelming and a bit flat.
This had everything to be a powerful, emotional and impactful story, but I had the impression that the author held back her feelings and toned down the development of the story. It was way too gentle, for such a topic.
I did appreciate its timeline structure and the development of the main character, but I did not feel the writer’s heartbeat.
I also appreciated how the novel frequently used the art of Métis floral beading as a rich thematic device for reconnection and healing.
Regardless my negative points, this was still a good read and I’m sure other readers will love it.
E-book (Kobo): 336 pages (default), 97k words (only one “f”), divided into 4 parts and a total of 26 chapters
3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️1/2
Great concept and good writing, although I wished the dialogues were stronger (some felt forced).
The storytelling was good and somewhat compelling (I did miss my train station, after work).1/21/
The story is set between 1908 and 1946, in Saskatchewan, Canada.
This book started so well.
At 15% I thought I had a winner.
But unfortunately the delivery of the story ended up being underwhelming and a bit flat.
This had everything to be a powerful, emotional and impactful story, but I had the impression that the author held back her feelings and toned down the development of the story. It was way too gentle, for such a topic.
I did appreciate its timeline structure and the development of the main character, but I did not feel the writer’s heartbeat.
I also appreciated how the novel frequently used the art of Métis floral beading as a rich thematic device for reconnection and healing.
Regardless my negative points, this was still a good read and I’m sure other readers will love it.
E-book (Kobo): 336 pages (default), 97k words (only one “f”), divided into 4 parts and a total of 26 chapters
March 3, 2026
4.5 stars
Torduvalle, Saskatchwan, 1946 - Florence Banks has created a beautiful life for herself in this small prairie town where she has been working as a secretary in an insurance office for the past 11 years. She's a model employee and resident of the town, keeps an immaculate home filled with beautiful objects and her hair is the perfect shade of movie-star blonde because she's meticulous about never letting her brown roots show. But one morning at the end of summer, Florence sees a group of Métis men hired for seasonal farm work and recognizes one who has a connection to her past that threatens to shatter her carefully-constructed life.
This dual timeline historical fiction novel set in a fictional small town in Saskatchewan (with flashbacks to the main character's childhood and early adulthood) is a deeply personal novel. The author's grandfather was Métis but when she was growing up her family told people they were French. As an adult, she sought to explore Métis history to better understand the decision her grandfather and others made to hide their heritage and also to reconnect to the Métis culture herself.
This is a gentle yet thought-provoking exploration of identity and the repercussions of one young woman's decision to live her life as someone else. I also appreciated the history lesson woven into this novel as I didn't know about much of what the Métis people endured during this shameful chapter of Canadian history. Tara Gereaux puts a very human face on the history by introducing us to characters living with the discrimination, mistreatment and pressure to assimilate and by showing the impact that government policy had on them.
Wild People Quiet is a beautifully-written, extraordinary story of one unforgettable woman finding her way back to her family and reclaiming her culture but also a story of the history, culture and resilience of the Métis people.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Torduvalle, Saskatchwan, 1946 - Florence Banks has created a beautiful life for herself in this small prairie town where she has been working as a secretary in an insurance office for the past 11 years. She's a model employee and resident of the town, keeps an immaculate home filled with beautiful objects and her hair is the perfect shade of movie-star blonde because she's meticulous about never letting her brown roots show. But one morning at the end of summer, Florence sees a group of Métis men hired for seasonal farm work and recognizes one who has a connection to her past that threatens to shatter her carefully-constructed life.
This dual timeline historical fiction novel set in a fictional small town in Saskatchewan (with flashbacks to the main character's childhood and early adulthood) is a deeply personal novel. The author's grandfather was Métis but when she was growing up her family told people they were French. As an adult, she sought to explore Métis history to better understand the decision her grandfather and others made to hide their heritage and also to reconnect to the Métis culture herself.
This is a gentle yet thought-provoking exploration of identity and the repercussions of one young woman's decision to live her life as someone else. I also appreciated the history lesson woven into this novel as I didn't know about much of what the Métis people endured during this shameful chapter of Canadian history. Tara Gereaux puts a very human face on the history by introducing us to characters living with the discrimination, mistreatment and pressure to assimilate and by showing the impact that government policy had on them.
Wild People Quiet is a beautifully-written, extraordinary story of one unforgettable woman finding her way back to her family and reclaiming her culture but also a story of the history, culture and resilience of the Métis people.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
April 12, 2026
4.25🌟 This was really well done! This book had already been on my radar and and then I saw the author on a Canadian morning talk show and it interested me even more. I really enjoyed the beadwork part of the story and found myself looking things up while reading. I have another book by this author and will read that soon🇨🇦
April 7, 2026
Between a 3.5-4 ⭐️. I really enjoyed this dual timeline historical fiction novel which highlighted the history, culture and resilience of the Métis. It sheds light on Canada’s dark history. Once finished, I found myself searching for more information on the history of the Métis and their beautiful beadwork.
March 8, 2026
This story is going to sit with me indefinitely. Wow. Beautifully written. Can you imagine now, in 2026, living under an alias just so you can have a job, own a home, and not be looked down upon by everyone in your city? The lengths you have to go to hide and distance yourself from you family and heritage. Heartbreaking but raw and real.
February 24, 2026
This is the kind of book that I know will be a 2026 bestseller. Gereaux's voice is incredibly beautiful, the techniques throughout are absorbing, and I could not put this book down.
Beyond addressing some serious Canadian systemic issues, this book made me think about family, loyalty, the choices we make and how they influence our life. The way Gereaux addresses the Métis in the book is well done and I hope that it can resonate with people that have a smaller understanding of this Canadian history. Everything is beautifully melded together and I cannot wait for this book to get on the shelves. I will certainly be recommending it to many people!!!
Beyond addressing some serious Canadian systemic issues, this book made me think about family, loyalty, the choices we make and how they influence our life. The way Gereaux addresses the Métis in the book is well done and I hope that it can resonate with people that have a smaller understanding of this Canadian history. Everything is beautifully melded together and I cannot wait for this book to get on the shelves. I will certainly be recommending it to many people!!!
June 10, 2026
Canadian author 🇨🇦
Wild People Quiet by Tara Gereaux is a compelling historical novel about Florence, a Métis woman in 1940s Saskatchewan who hides her Indigenous identity in order to pass as white and build a safer, more accepted life. When someone from her past reappears, the life she carefully created begins to unravel, forcing her to confront her family, heritage, and the painful choices she made to survive. This book sheds light on a dark part of Canadian history. The story was emotional at times and very thought-provoking. I especially enjoyed Florence’s character and found her journey compelling. Although the pacing felt slow at times, the story was informative and is well worth the read. A moving and important piece of Canadian historical fiction.
Wild People Quiet by Tara Gereaux is a compelling historical novel about Florence, a Métis woman in 1940s Saskatchewan who hides her Indigenous identity in order to pass as white and build a safer, more accepted life. When someone from her past reappears, the life she carefully created begins to unravel, forcing her to confront her family, heritage, and the painful choices she made to survive. This book sheds light on a dark part of Canadian history. The story was emotional at times and very thought-provoking. I especially enjoyed Florence’s character and found her journey compelling. Although the pacing felt slow at times, the story was informative and is well worth the read. A moving and important piece of Canadian historical fiction.
April 24, 2026
Wild People Quiet is a wonderful novel exploring the crossroads of systemic bigotry and personal trauma, and the wreckage left in their wake. While the story centers on Florence’s search for self, it is equally a story on the fractured bond between her and her brother, Clancy. As their mirrored lives unfold, their grief manifests in two opposite ways: one by weaving themselves into the world, while the other chooses the path of confrontation and change.
As the Florence’s sense of self begins to unravel, so do the masks worn by those around her. It’s a haunting portrayal of a life spiraling from a single reveal. This is a story that demands a second read, deep reflection, and further discussion, not just on the narrative, but also on the social structures that shaped it. It leaves the reader with an essential question: what does it truly mean to move forward?
As the Florence’s sense of self begins to unravel, so do the masks worn by those around her. It’s a haunting portrayal of a life spiraling from a single reveal. This is a story that demands a second read, deep reflection, and further discussion, not just on the narrative, but also on the social structures that shaped it. It leaves the reader with an essential question: what does it truly mean to move forward?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2026
4⭐️
This book felt quiet and thoughtful in the best way. Florence’s journey back to herself really stayed with me. Watching her slowly peel back the layers of who she thought she needed to be and reconnect with what actually made her feel alive was inspiring and honestly pretty relatable.
The writing had this calm, reflective feel to it that made me want to slow down while reading. I really appreciated the message about identity, expectations, and finding your way back to the version of yourself that got lost along the way.
This book felt quiet and thoughtful in the best way. Florence’s journey back to herself really stayed with me. Watching her slowly peel back the layers of who she thought she needed to be and reconnect with what actually made her feel alive was inspiring and honestly pretty relatable.
The writing had this calm, reflective feel to it that made me want to slow down while reading. I really appreciated the message about identity, expectations, and finding your way back to the version of yourself that got lost along the way.
April 11, 2026
Important story. Another lesson in the damage of other’ing people, the impacts of shame, and the harms Indigenous people experience(d).
April 21, 2026
This was a great historical fiction on the Métis experience in Saskatchewan. 4.25
April 25, 2026
A story to remind us that the good old days were not good for most people, including indigenous and Métis people.
January 26, 2026
This was a really compelling, well-written novel. It’s about a Métis woman in Saskatchewan in alternating timelines of 1946 and 1906-1913. The narrator, Florence, grows up in a Métis community as a kid but as an adult she passes as white and hides her heritage. I found the characters and relationships interesting and they will stay with me. I learned some history I didn’t know and want to continue that learning. I also really enjoyed the role that beadwork played in the story. This comes out in March and is well worth checking out!!
March 29, 2026
It's 1946 in Torduvalle, Saskatchewan. Florence lives a carefully curated and controlled life. Her home is filled with beautiful things, she wears beautiful clothes, her hair is a beautiful shade of blonde, and she's a secretary who's respected for her professionalism and skill.
One day she sees a few Métis workers from out of town, and one of them recognizes her. She pretends not to know the man, but she does. It's her younger brother Clancy. Florence has done her best to distance herself from her former life, and Clancy's presence threatens everything.
She's subsequently overwhelmed by memories of their childhood, while wanting no one to know that she's associated with "those people", the half-indigenous, half-white Métis, who are treated with derision and hatred.
When Florence learns what the government has in store for a nearby Métis community, she's faced with a decision; does she let her brother know?
I had not known of the specific Acts and regulations mentioned in this book that the government dreamed up to disenfranchise the Métis, but it does not surprise me at all. It's all of a piece of the horrible things the Canadian and provincial governments have done for centuries to dispossess and kill non-whites.
The story is told with great sensitivity and compassion; we understand Florence, even while she's doing her best to outrun her past and pretend to be someone she is not. We also enjoy the friendship she's begun to build with her neighbour Jennie, whose life is coming apart because she wants to work outside of the home, a decision her husband is deeply frightened by.
Florence's beadwork is a wonderful way to connect her to her past, and it is also much more than skilful in its execution. Florence is a gifted beadworker, and it calms her, but also is a source of hope and possibility for her. The lovely cover is no doubt a reference to this important side of Florence.
Of course, things don't work out in a way that allows Florence to maintain her deceptions, but they do allow her to reconnect with her family, and to begin to find out who she really is.
Tara Gereaux has created a deeply emotional, and informative, story about a woman whose must find her true identity and reclaim her culture. It's beautifully written, and wonderful.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
One day she sees a few Métis workers from out of town, and one of them recognizes her. She pretends not to know the man, but she does. It's her younger brother Clancy. Florence has done her best to distance herself from her former life, and Clancy's presence threatens everything.
She's subsequently overwhelmed by memories of their childhood, while wanting no one to know that she's associated with "those people", the half-indigenous, half-white Métis, who are treated with derision and hatred.
When Florence learns what the government has in store for a nearby Métis community, she's faced with a decision; does she let her brother know?
I had not known of the specific Acts and regulations mentioned in this book that the government dreamed up to disenfranchise the Métis, but it does not surprise me at all. It's all of a piece of the horrible things the Canadian and provincial governments have done for centuries to dispossess and kill non-whites.
The story is told with great sensitivity and compassion; we understand Florence, even while she's doing her best to outrun her past and pretend to be someone she is not. We also enjoy the friendship she's begun to build with her neighbour Jennie, whose life is coming apart because she wants to work outside of the home, a decision her husband is deeply frightened by.
Florence's beadwork is a wonderful way to connect her to her past, and it is also much more than skilful in its execution. Florence is a gifted beadworker, and it calms her, but also is a source of hope and possibility for her. The lovely cover is no doubt a reference to this important side of Florence.
Of course, things don't work out in a way that allows Florence to maintain her deceptions, but they do allow her to reconnect with her family, and to begin to find out who she really is.
Tara Gereaux has created a deeply emotional, and informative, story about a woman whose must find her true identity and reclaim her culture. It's beautifully written, and wonderful.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
June 14, 2026
Set in a fictional small town in Saskatchewan in 1946, the novel introduces readers to Florence, a woman in her 40s who works as a secretary for an insurance agency in the fictional town of Torduvalle and has carefully built a life for herself where none of her neighbours or colleagues know that she is Métis. But when a group of Métis workers from out of town, who have been hired to work at a local farm for the season turn up, everything Florence has spent her adult life keeping secret becomes harder to ignore.
Florence’s choice to hide her heritage and pass as white is one that many Métis made, particularly in the years following the Red River Resistance when Métis were dispossessed of their traditional lands, and later as they were forced from the makeshift road allowance communities where they made new homes.
This is an educational story- if you don’t know a lot about Métis culture and the history in our province, this will definitely teach you something. Understanding their long time issues with being recognized and the harm that was done because of things like racism, road allowances etc.
Overall, a beautifully written story and characters that you love even when they are not at their best.
You can check her out at Festival of Words this summer in Moose Jaw! Come join me!
Florence’s choice to hide her heritage and pass as white is one that many Métis made, particularly in the years following the Red River Resistance when Métis were dispossessed of their traditional lands, and later as they were forced from the makeshift road allowance communities where they made new homes.
This is an educational story- if you don’t know a lot about Métis culture and the history in our province, this will definitely teach you something. Understanding their long time issues with being recognized and the harm that was done because of things like racism, road allowances etc.
Overall, a beautifully written story and characters that you love even when they are not at their best.
You can check her out at Festival of Words this summer in Moose Jaw! Come join me!
April 6, 2026
An important story in Saskatchewan history, and a good story in general. Something about it bothered me that
I’m not sure I can articulate well. I found Florence really relatable and admired her. I know it is a story meant to be from a Métis perspective about being true to yourself. From a feminist perspective, it bugged me that Florence’s choices were all taken away by men, and that includes her own brother. I didn’t see him as awakening her desire to connect with her heritage, he forced it, then blamed her near the end of the book for all that happened. Just no. Takes place in 1946, men ruled all of course, but I wish the author had given Florence the agency to make the choice herself from an inner desire, not because her life lay in ashes around her.
I’m not sure I can articulate well. I found Florence really relatable and admired her. I know it is a story meant to be from a Métis perspective about being true to yourself. From a feminist perspective, it bugged me that Florence’s choices were all taken away by men, and that includes her own brother. I didn’t see him as awakening her desire to connect with her heritage, he forced it, then blamed her near the end of the book for all that happened. Just no. Takes place in 1946, men ruled all of course, but I wish the author had given Florence the agency to make the choice herself from an inner desire, not because her life lay in ashes around her.
April 20, 2026
This book manages to wrench the soul with the main character's numerous efforts to racially pass just so she can have a chance of what she views as a regular life that would be denied to her otherwise, and the numerous injustices that follow when her true identity becomes revealed. But Wild People Quiet also simultaneously lifts the spirit with its accompanying themes of family, resilience, and belonging.
Simply put, a fantastic read that I genuinely was unable to put down, and I mean that quite literally. I managed to read the last two thirds of this book in the span of one morning between waking up early and when I had to go in for work.
Simply put, a fantastic read that I genuinely was unable to put down, and I mean that quite literally. I managed to read the last two thirds of this book in the span of one morning between waking up early and when I had to go in for work.
April 6, 2026
✨Book Review✨
Wild People Quiet - Tara Gereaux
Thank you to @simonschusterca for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! This book is out now!
This is a historical fiction novel set in the Canadian Prairies. It follows a woman named Florence who is Métis but white passing. She hides her heritage and identity to be welcomed in her small town and work as a secretary. But when someone from her past arrives life as she knows it is threatened.
I thought this was a very straightforward historical fiction that still really packed a punch. I loved the characters and I truly felt for Florence the whole way through this book.
This book will also make you angry, heartbroken, and anxious as you follow the life of a woman and a people who just want to be seen as human but whose opportunities for success are taken from them at every turn.
I also think this book would be appropriate for younger readers and readers who are just getting into historical fiction. It was well done and educational while having a lot of heart.
4/5⭐️ I recommend for anyone but especially Canadian readers!
Wild People Quiet - Tara Gereaux
Thank you to @simonschusterca for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! This book is out now!
This is a historical fiction novel set in the Canadian Prairies. It follows a woman named Florence who is Métis but white passing. She hides her heritage and identity to be welcomed in her small town and work as a secretary. But when someone from her past arrives life as she knows it is threatened.
I thought this was a very straightforward historical fiction that still really packed a punch. I loved the characters and I truly felt for Florence the whole way through this book.
This book will also make you angry, heartbroken, and anxious as you follow the life of a woman and a people who just want to be seen as human but whose opportunities for success are taken from them at every turn.
I also think this book would be appropriate for younger readers and readers who are just getting into historical fiction. It was well done and educational while having a lot of heart.
4/5⭐️ I recommend for anyone but especially Canadian readers!
April 12, 2026
The author creates a wonderful protagonist in Florence , taking the reader back and forth between her earlier days and her present in small-town Saskatchewan. I enjoyed the Métis language segments spoken by Aunt Lillian and the descriptions of the art of beading. The historical elements are interesting and important for Canadians to learn.
March 26, 2026
This would be a great book for 2027 Canada Reads! Must find out how to suggest it. I was pretty much sucked in right away by the preface and quote from J0hn A. Macdonald. Or maybe lured in by the beautiful beading on the cover. Anyway, a terrific Canadian historical fiction read. Can't wait to see what the next book is about, hope you're busy writing Tara!
Read
May 24, 2026Read in preparation for the Saskatchewan Festival of Words 2026.
January 29, 2026
A beautiful and necessary novel about a shameful period in Canada’s history that is too often forgotten. I loved learning more about Métis history and was heartbroken by the rejection and oppression Métis people endured at the hands of white settlers. Sadly, much of this mistreatment still exists today.
Gereaux does an incredible job of revealing the collective memory of the Métis people through the unraveling of Florence’s carefully constructed life. Florence is hiding in plain sight, and her fear of being discovered as Indigenous is palpable. Acknowledging her heritage would mean giving up her career, her material comforts, and the relationships she had built over a lifetime. Reading this was enraging.
I especially loved how Gereaux uses beadwork as a metaphor for Florence’s life, with each stitch representing both beauty and pain. Now more than ever, we need books like these. Overall, this was a beautifully written and deeply evocative read.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the advanced reader’s copy.
May 6, 2026
The kind of book you think about in the shower
Unsettling in the best way no pun intended
Unsettling in the best way no pun intended
May 17, 2026
So good, so moving, so relatable.
May 15, 2026
I read this book just before attending the Vancouver Writers Festival Books and Ideas event, The Next Bestsellers at which Tara Gereaux was featured.
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Florence is a Métis woman who ran away from home to get away from the poverty and racism that was the reality of being Métis in the early 1900’s in Saskatchewan. She makes a new, very controlled life for herself where she “passes” as white and supresses her Métis culture and heritage … until her brother shows up.
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This story takes place in Saskatchewan, even a section in Regina, and I loved being able to picture the streets, towns and the land in my mind. I also loved how the art of beading wound through the story. I appreciated getting a better understanding of the elements that need to be included in this Métis art form.
📖
Florence is a Métis woman who ran away from home to get away from the poverty and racism that was the reality of being Métis in the early 1900’s in Saskatchewan. She makes a new, very controlled life for herself where she “passes” as white and supresses her Métis culture and heritage … until her brother shows up.
📖
This story takes place in Saskatchewan, even a section in Regina, and I loved being able to picture the streets, towns and the land in my mind. I also loved how the art of beading wound through the story. I appreciated getting a better understanding of the elements that need to be included in this Métis art form.
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