From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way

From the Ashes is a multi-award nominated memoir by Jesse Thistle. It was the first memoir I have read in years and completely changed my idea of the genre. I always thought that memoirs were boring and for most of my life, I avoided any books in the nonfiction genre. Now that I’m older and trying to read more outside of my comfort zone, I decided to read From the Ashes after seeing it in the front of my local bookstore. After reading Thistle’s memoir, I want to read more autobiographies not only for how interesting they can be, but also for the important perspective into another’s life.


I think in an ever changing world full of people, it’s important to read memoirs and nonfiction books to understand what we might not experience show more in our own lives. It takes compassion and empathy to understand another point of view. I read this book in the midst of Black Lives Matter protests and ongoing discussions of injustices within Canada. Thistle really dives into his life experiences, and in doing so covers so many different issues within Canada. Thistle’s narrative covers his early life as a young indigenous boy to his experience with homelessness, addictions, and access to healthcare/wellness services as a young adult. Perhaps most importantly, Thistle’s story is about power and hope. I’m truly so happy that he found the strength to write and share his story with the world. I’m even happier that Thistle is receiving recognition for what he has written.


One of the reasons I loved the memoir was because of Thistle's narrative voice. The style of short chapters was like a snapshot of different portions of Thistle’s life. I was invested from start to finish. Along with the chapters, Thistle included images and photographs from his life so the reader could put a face to the real people within the novel. I also loved that the beginning of some chapters began and ended with poetry. It contextualized the events and gave more emotion to the content within. If Thistle plans on publishing again in the future, I would love to read a book of poetry!


As a Canadian, I thought From the Ashes not only told Thistle’s life story, but that of many other Canadians who are forgotten. Canada has a representation of being a welcoming, open place full of accepting people. Citizens within my country are quick to comment how we are ‘better than our neighbors in the South.’ While a lovely thing to hear, it is far from the truth when reading of what Thistle has gone through in his life. If you’re not Canadian, or even if you are, From the Ashes definitely has the potential to change your image of Canada as a perfect country for all of its citizens.


Rating 9/10: I loved everything about this book and one of those books I think anyone interested in expanding their reading horizon should read! show less

Very moving memoir of some of the hardest things a human can go through. It was interesting to read having been in most of the places Thistle lived (I even bought this in the Rideau Indigo where I almost got mugged at the metro, lmao), and it's very casually Canadian in a confident way that I appreciate. There's a good through-line but it's mostly episodic, which was a bit jolting at time. The writing itself is also fairly good but a bit amateur at times. Just very moving; I cried a lot at the end.

Definitely recommend as a read though.

A fascinating and sad, but ultimately redemptive, read abouta Metis /Cree child and his journey into adulthood. It's one of five Canada Reads Contenders. This is an autobiography. Jesse is born into a dysfunctional family. His dad drinks and beats his wife. Shortly after Jesse's birth, his mother leaves. The children are left to their own devices and soon taken into government custody. Shortly after their paternal grandparents take the three brothers in. The grandparents try their best with the Jesse and his brothers, but are not really up to the task. Jesse ends up doing badly in school, getting addicted to drugs, committing petty crimes and eventually is thrown out by his grandfather to live on the streets. A very eye opening look at show more drug addiction, living on the streets, a few rounds of prison and eventually rehab. I imagine this is life for many of the people that we see on the street. It was really worth the read.

Highly recommended. 4 Stars. show less

Jesse and his two older brothers (Metis-Cree) were abandoned by their parents when Jesse was only 3-years old (older brothers Jerry and Josh were 4 and 5). They spent a short time in a foster home before their paternal grandparents in Ontario came to get them. Jesse did not do well growing up – he got into trouble with alcohol and drugs, stealing, and he was off-and-on homeless. He was in and out of jail a few times before he eventually turned his life around.

This was really good. Jesse also writes poetry and it is sprinkled throughout the book. The chapters are short and overall, the book is fairly quick to read. So many times I shook my head, and thought: ok, this has to be rock-bottom, when you’ll turn your life around. But it show more wasn’t. So many times. I also wondered occasionally how he remembered as much as he did looking back on his life, given all the drugs and alcohol, but he addressed this in a note at the end. show less

Dang, you cannot help but root for Jesse Thistle while reading his honest and captivating memoir. I’m glad that Canada Reads brought this one to my radar.

This autobiography is one of the Canada Reads contenders for 2020. It tells the story of Jesse Thistle, a Metis child born into a dysfunctional family -- the father is an addict and abuses the mother. The mother leaves the boys with him, but he disappears and the children are taken in by their paternal grandparents. While the two older brothers seem to adjust well, Jesse is plagued by addictions and ends up living on the streets. In his story, we see the racism implicit in so many of his interactions with officialdom and with kids at school. We get an honest, unvarnished look at life on the streets -- addictions, petty crimes, jail time -- which is probably common among so many homeless people. Jesse is able to rise above this life show more through determination, some helping hands and, ultimately, love. show less

A very sad story of a young man who loses his way very early on and to no fault of his own. It is a raw account of his drug and alcohol addiction and eventually (thankfully) a rising to find his true calling. This book has parts that are hard to read given the graphic description of his addiction and homeless situation but important to really understand these issues that impact people everywhere. Insightful and well written.