100 pages • 3 hours read
Drew Hayden TaylorMotorcycles and Sweetgrass
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Motorcycles & Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor follows Maggie, the chief of the Otter Lake First Nation band, who, following her mother's death, encounters the trickster demigod Nanabush. Nanabush, posing as a stranger, romances Maggie and disrupts the community while attempting to protect their land. Themes include the complexities of Indigenous life, cultural preservation, and the clash between ancient beliefs and modernity. The narrative contains references to the trauma of residential schools.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Drew Hayden Taylor’s Motorcycles and Sweetgrass offers a humorous and heartfelt exploration of modern Indigenous life, blending magical realism and cultural commentary. While praised for its engaging narrative and witty dialogue, some found the plot occasionally predictable. Overall, it’s a charming and thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read Motorcycles and Sweetgrass?
Readers who enjoy the blend of humor, indigenous folklore, and contemporary issues in Louise Erdrich's The Round House or Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian would appreciate Drew Hayden Taylor's Motorcycles and Sweetgrass. This novel is perfect for those seeking a witty and insightful look at modern Native life.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsBook Details
Humor
Magical Realism
Allegory / Fable / Parable
Addiction / Substance Abuse
Social Justice
Race / Racism
Identity: Race
Natural World: Animals
Natural World: Appearance & Reality