The Lesser Blessed: 30th Anniversary Edition

A Canadian classic!

Richard Van Camp’s bestselling novel about coming-of-age in Canada’s North has achieved the status of essential reading in Indigenous literature.

The Lesser Blessed follows Larry Sole, a Dogrib (Tłı̨chǫ Dene) teenager in the small Northern town of Fort Simmer. Having lost much of his memory in a violent accident, Larry loves nothing more than hearing and sharing stories. Uninterested in booze or sports, he floats on the edges of high school life, sustained by his love of Iron Maiden and a hopeless crush on Juliet Hope.

When good-looking, trouble-seeking Johnny Beck moves to town, he upends Larry’s dreamy existence, leading him into a new world of parties and fights, and pushing him to stand up for himself, bringing Larry face to face with memories he’s worked hard to lose.

This expanded 30th anniversary edition includes two bonus short stories featuring Larry Sole and a playlist of songs curated by the author.

“I believe in very few things yet The Lesser Blessed, as dark as it is bright, is the only book I’ve ever read that had me thinking a paradise exists.”