summary

Crow Winter follows Hazel Ellis, an Anishinaabe woman who returns to her home community after the unexpected death of her father, Abe. While dealing with her grief, Hazel encounters Nanabush, a powerful trickster figure from Anishinaabe storytelling who guides her through a journey of healing, self-discovery, and reconnection.

As Hazel learns more about her family's history and her own identity, she begins to understand that grief is not something that must simply be left behind. Through relationships with her community, traditional ceremonies, and Anishinaabe teachings, Hazel discovers that healing comes from reconnecting with the culture and knowledge that she had become separated from.

Throughout the novel, McBride combines everyday experiences with Indigenous spirituality and mythology to show that relationships can continue beyond death. Crow Winter explores how family, memory, and cultural traditions shape a person's identity and how reclaiming these connections can help people heal.