“Magic is just another word for the things we don't understand yet.”
— Jared reflects on the supernatural elements in his life.
Archivist's Choice
Son of a Trickster
Eden Robinson (2017)
Genre
Fantasy / Young Adult
Reading Time
420 min
Key Themes
See below
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Jared, a compassionate teen navigating a chaotic life with an alcoholic mother, absent father, and talking ravens, discovers his non-human heritage amidst small-town life and a trickster lineage.
Synopsis
Jared, a sixteen-year-old Indigenous teen in Kitimat, British Columbia, deals with a chaotic home life. His mother is volatile and addicted to drugs, his father is absent, and he cares for his elderly neighbors. He copes by selling weed cookies and drinking, often having blackouts and seeing strange things, like talking ravens. His grandmother dislikes him and says he is the "son of a trickster," hinting at a deeper, supernatural reality.
Jared starts a relationship with his girlfriend, Sarah. His life gets more bizarre and dangerous with encounters with supernatural beings, including a cannibalistic river otter. These events make his mother reveal that Jared's biological father is Wee'git, a powerful trickster spirit, which explains his new magical abilities. Jared enters a hidden world of Indigenous magic. He trains with witches to control his powers and prepare to fight Wee'git's followers. When Sarah is attacked, Jared acts, facing his father and making hard choices to protect those he loves. He starts to accept his dual human and supernatural nature as his future remains uncertain.
Reading time
420 min
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Gritty, Humorous, Supernatural, Unsettling, Coming-of-age
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy contemporary Indigenous stories blended with dark humor, gritty realism, and a strong dose of urban fantasy, featuring a morally complex protagonist discovering their supernatural heritage.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer lighthearted fantasy, are sensitive to themes of drug abuse, violence, and neglect, or dislike unreliable narrators and ambiguous endings.
Plot Summary
Jared's Chaotic Home Life and Supernatural Encounters
Sixteen-year-old Jared Martin lives a chaotic life in Kitimat, British Columbia, selling weed cookies to support his family. His mother, Maggie, is an alcoholic and often violent. His father, Phil, is unreliable and has a new family. Jared cares for his elderly neighbors, Mrs. Georgina and Mr. Abernathy, and tries to manage his own life. He has disturbing visions, like ravens talking to him and seeing strange creatures, which he thinks are from being high. His pit bull, Baby Killer, dies, making him feel more alone. His grandmother, Nana Sophia, often tells him he's the 'son of a trickster' and not human, but Jared dismisses her comments.
A New Girlfriend and Escalating Disturbances
Jared starts a relationship with Sarah, a girl from school, which brings some normalcy. But his visions become clearer and more frequent. He sees a monstrous, hairy creature in the woods and has blackouts. During one blackout, he wakes up covered in blood and dirt, remembering nothing. His friends, Crash and Richie, worry about his behavior. Jared tries to explain these events as results of his drug use and stress, despite growing evidence against it. Sarah, at first understanding, starts to get uneasy with his erratic actions.
The Cannibal Otter and a Shocking Revelation
While walking home, Jared is attacked by a large, cannibalistic river otter (a Sasquatch-like creature called a Wee'git) that speaks to him. He is badly hurt but escapes. His mother, Maggie, finds him. Instead of taking him to a hospital, she heals his wounds with a glowing green substance. Maggie then reveals she is a witch and that Jared's father is not Phil, but Wee'git, a powerful, supernatural being. This revelation shatters Jared's understanding of his identity and family.
Confronting His Father and Unveiling Family Secrets
Shocked by his mother's confession, Jared wants to meet his real father. Maggie takes him to a remote cabin where he meets Wee'git, who appears as a charismatic but disturbing man. Wee'git confirms Maggie's story, explaining he is a shapeshifting trickster spirit and Jared's father. He tries to involve Jared in his world, offering him power and knowledge. Jared also learns about the deep conflict between Maggie and Wee'git, a fight stemming from their supernatural natures and a past betrayal. Maggie warns Jared not to trust Wee'git, emphasizing his manipulative nature.
The Attack on Sarah and a Call to Action
The supernatural conflict affects Jared's human life when Sarah is attacked by one of Wee'git's followers, a monstrous owl-like creature. Sarah is severely injured, and Jared feels overwhelmed by guilt and fear. Maggie, with her friend Auntie Mave, a powerful elder witch, explains that Wee'git is trying to make Jared use his trickster heritage and powers. Jared realizes he can no longer ignore the supernatural world and must learn to protect himself and his loved ones. He begins to understand the real danger he and those around him face.
Training with Witches and Developing Powers
Under Maggie and Auntie Mave's guidance, Jared starts to learn about his powers and the world of witches and spirits. He discovers he can see and talk to spirits, heal quickly, and subtly change reality. His blackouts are times when his trickster powers show up uncontrollably. Maggie and Mave teach him about Haisla magic and the need for balance. Jared struggles with the moral implications of his powers and the violent nature of the supernatural world, questioning his identity and if he is becoming like his father.
The Threat of Wee'git's Followers
Wee'git's followers, various supernatural creatures and spirits, become more aggressive, targeting Jared and those close to him. Jared, along with Maggie and Mave, fights off attacks from creatures like the Owl-Man and other monstrous beings. These fights are brutal and dangerous, forcing Jared to use his new powers to defend himself. He sees the harsh realities of the supernatural world and the constant struggle for power. His friends, Crash and Richie, become more aware of the strange things happening around Jared, though they don't fully grasp the supernatural conflict.
A Desperate Plea and a Difficult Choice
Wee'git directly appeals to Jared, promising him power and belonging if he fully accepts his trickster nature and joins him. He tries to convince Jared that Maggie is holding him back and that his human life is unimportant compared to his true destiny. Jared feels conflicted. He is tempted by the promise of understanding and control over his powers, but he is also committed to protecting his human friends and family. He struggles with the idea of leaving his humanity and the people he cares about for a life he did not ask for.
The Confrontation and a Temporary Resolution
The conflict ends in a direct confrontation between Jared, Maggie, and Wee'git. The battle involves powerful magic and trickery from both sides. Jared, using his developing powers and his mother's training, holds his own. He does not fully defeat Wee'git, but he asserts his independence and makes it clear he will not be controlled. The battle ends in a stalemate; Wee'git retreats, but the truce is fragile. Jared knows this is only the beginning of his journey.
Embracing His Dual Nature and an Uncertain Future
With the immediate threat gone, Jared starts to accept his dual nature as both human and son of a trickster. He acknowledges his complex identity and the responsibility that comes with his powers. His relationship with Sarah is strained, but she is recovering. He finds a new purpose in protecting his loved ones. The book ends with Jared understanding that his journey has just begun, with more challenges and revelations about his trickster heritage to come. He stands at the edge of a new, fantastical world.
Principal Figures
Jared Martin
The Protagonist
Jared transforms from a passive, overwhelmed teenager into a burgeoning trickster, accepting his supernatural heritage and learning to wield his powers to protect his family.
Maggie
The Supporting
Maggie shifts from an unreliable, destructive figure to a proactive protector and mentor for Jared, revealing her true nature and guiding him in his supernatural awakening.
Wee'git
The Antagonist
Wee'git remains a consistent force of chaos and temptation, constantly trying to draw Jared to his side, serving as the primary antagonistic force.
Sarah
The Supporting
Sarah's character shifts from a romantic interest to a victim, underscoring the real-world consequences of Jared's supernatural heritage.
Crash
The Supporting
Crash remains a steadfast friend, gradually becoming aware of the unusual occurrences around Jared, though not fully grasping their supernatural nature.
Auntie Mave
The Supporting
Auntie Mave serves as a mentor figure, providing guidance and wisdom to Jared and Maggie as they navigate the supernatural conflict.
Nana Sophia
The Supporting
Nana Sophia remains a consistent, if initially cryptic, voice of truth regarding Jared's supernatural heritage.
Phil
The Supporting
Phil remains a static character, representing the human family Jared attempts to protect, unaware of the true forces at play.
Themes & Insights
Identity and Self-Discovery
The novel explores Jared's struggle to define himself amidst a chaotic home life, drug use, and the sudden revelation of his supernatural heritage. He questions being 'the son of a trickster,' wondering if he is human or something else. His journey is about reconciling his everyday life with his magic, understanding his place between two worlds, and accepting the complex parts of his identity. This shows as he learns to control his powers while protecting his human friends.
““You’re the son of a trickster, boy. You ain’t human.””
Family Dysfunction and Love
Jared's family is dysfunctional, with his mother's alcoholism and violence, his father's unreliability, and constant financial problems. Yet, beneath the chaos, there is a strong, though complicated, sense of love and loyalty. Jared tries to care for his family, and Maggie, despite her flaws, fiercely protects him. The supernatural revelations add more complexity, showing old conflicts and powerful bonds that go beyond human understanding. This love, however messy, drives Jared's actions.
““My mother could heal me with her spit, but mostly she just hurt me.””
Indigenous Spirituality and Folklore
The novel weaves Haisla and Heiltsuk folklore and spirituality into the story, going beyond a simple urban fantasy setting. The Trickster, Wee'git, is a main character, and witches, spirits, and traditional magic are central to the plot. This theme explores the power and relevance of Indigenous belief systems today. It shows how old stories and spiritual practices continue to shape reality for characters like Jared and Maggie. It is a re-imagining and revitalization of cultural narratives.
““The Trickster is never what you expect. He’s always playing games.””
Coming of Age in a Challenging World
Jared's journey is a coming-of-age story, made more intense by extreme circumstances. He must mature quickly, taking on adult responsibilities at a young age, from dealing drugs to caring for his family. The added layer of supernatural powers and threats speeds up this process, pushing him to confront questions about morality, power, and his place in the world. He navigates adolescence while learning to be a hero in a hidden war, forcing him to grow up fast.
““I was just a kid trying to get by, and now I was fighting monsters.””
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Trickster Archetype
A central figure embodying chaos, creation, and transformation.
The Trickster, Wee'git, serves as both Jared's biological father and the primary antagonist. This archetype, deeply rooted in Indigenous oral traditions, embodies duality—he is a creator and a destroyer, a bringer of wisdom and chaos. His presence drives much of the conflict and Jared's personal journey, as Jared struggles with inheriting his father's unpredictable and powerful nature. The Trickster's role is not just as a villain, but as a force of change and a mirror reflecting Jared's own emerging, wilder self.
First-Person Narrative with Internal Monologue
Provides intimate access to Jared's thoughts, humor, and confusion.
The story is told entirely from Jared's perspective, offering readers unfiltered access to his sarcastic humor, deep compassion, and profound confusion as he navigates his chaotic life and the burgeoning supernatural world. This intimate viewpoint allows the reader to experience his drug-induced haze, his fear, and his growing understanding directly. The internal monologue is crucial for understanding his rationalizations for the strange events and his eventual acceptance of his identity, making his transformation deeply personal and relatable.
Folkloric Creatures and Magic
Integrating traditional Haisla spirits and witchcraft into a contemporary setting.
The novel populates its world with creatures drawn directly from Haisla folklore, such as the cannibalistic river otter (Wee'git in his animal form) and the Owl-Man. This device grounds the fantastical elements in a specific cultural context, making them feel ancient and authentic rather than generic. The magic practiced by Maggie and Auntie Mave is also rooted in Haisla traditions, involving specific rituals and knowledge passed down through generations. This integration enriches the world-building and reinforces the theme of Indigenous spirituality.
Blackouts and Visions
A narrative technique to introduce and foreshadow supernatural events.
Jared frequently experiences blackouts and vivid, disturbing visions (talking ravens, monstrous figures) which he initially attributes to drug use. These serve as a key plot device to introduce the supernatural elements gradually and to create suspense. The blackouts are eventually revealed to be manifestations of his uncontrolled trickster powers, foreshadowing his true heritage and the power he possesses. They also create a sense of disorientation and unreliable narration, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination for both Jared and the reader.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“You can't outrun your past, but you can learn to live with it.”
— Jared deals with his family's legacy and personal history.
“Sometimes the monsters are the ones who love you.”
— Jared's complicated relationship with his mother, Maggie.
“Being a trickster means you're always walking a line between chaos and creation.”
— Jared contemplates his heritage and identity.
“The world doesn't make sense, and that's okay.”
— Jared's acceptance of the absurdity in his life.
“You don't choose your family, but you can choose how to survive them.”
— Jared's struggles with his dysfunctional family.
“Pain is a teacher, but it's a shitty one.”
— Jared reflects on his hardships and growth.
“Magic isn't about power; it's about connection.”
— Jared learns about the nature of magic from his experiences.
“Sometimes the only way out is through.”
— Jared faces challenges head-on.
“Home is where the weirdness is.”
— Jared's humorous take on his chaotic home life.
“You can't fix everything, but you can try to make it better.”
— Jared's pragmatic approach to his problems.
“The trick is to keep moving, even when you don't know where you're going.”
— Jared's advice on dealing with uncertainty.
“Love is messy, but it's worth the cleanup.”
— Jared reflects on his relationships.
“You're not defined by your mistakes, but by what you do after them.”
— Jared learns from his errors and grows.
“Sometimes the magic is in the ordinary.”
— Jared finds wonder in everyday moments.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'Son of a Trickster' follows Jared, a 16-year-old Indigenous teen in Kitimat, British Columbia, who navigates poverty, family dysfunction, and his emerging supernatural abilities. While dealing with his alcoholic mother, absent father, and dead pit bull Baby, Jared discovers he might be the son of a trickster figure, as ravens speak to him and he experiences mysterious blackouts.
About the author
Eden Robinson is a celebrated Indigenous Canadian author known for her visceral and darkly humorous explorations of identity and culture. Her critically acclaimed novels, including 'Monkey Beach' and the Trickster series ('Son of a Trickster,' 'Savage Conversations,' 'Return of the Trickster'), have earned her numerous accolades. Robinson's work often blends realism with elements of magical realism and Indigenous folklore.
