"By the time the song was finished, the blanket was filled from edge to edge with crumpled dollar bills. And we were filled with renewed energy. Sometimes a blanket dance can fill up your spirit, and this was one of those moments I'll never forget it. A gift."

'Calling for a Blanket Dance' is one of the best multi-generational family stories I've ever read. It's an amazing debut novel. The flow and structure of it are just perfections.

The novel revolves around Ever Geimausaddle and his family, their experiences from trauma handed down the generations to their subsequent redemption whilst keeping a hold onto and deriving strength from their heritage and culture. Ever is both Native American and Mexican and besides the familial difficulties, it highlights how racism and bigotry, from the border police to the rampant drug problem, play a major role in disrupting lives right from childhood. The rage keeps building with generations and then there is Ever whos trying his best to undo that and bring some sense of stability to his family.

The story is divided into the voices of twelve characters across time, each going through their issues while at the same time dipping into the life of Ever and giving us a glimpse of the present picture. I love how in few words Hokeah has brought nuanced and dimensional characters to life whose actions echo to the very end. They are flawed but they also make you empathise with their misgivings.

There are wonderful descriptions of native American culture which was fascinating to read. It's one of those beautiful familial stories that are both warm and sharp and come full circle. These Families hurt and families forgive, they rage and they carry the trauma of abuse, of mistakes, and they make magical quilts that protect and they keep each other with their hopes, dreams and aspirations.