On an Ojibwe reservation, a young boy named Joe finds himself lost and scared after his mother suffers a brutal assault. When the vagaries of prosecuting laws on and around tribal land get in the way, Joe vows to take justice into his own hands and bands together with his friends to ensure his mother can feel safe again.

I found THE ROUND HOUSE absolutely riveting. Seeing the story through Joe's eyes meant being there as his worldview collapsed - discovering the dark parts of reservation life and feeling his frustration at being unable to immediately enact a punishment. And yet, a young person's joy was still woven through the story. Riding bikes with your friends, sneaking a beer, hearing stories from your grandfather.

The writing is also just beautiful. And that ending. Whew. I cannot wait to read more of Erdrich's work.