By Kaylie Seed
Content warning: rape, sexual assault, violence towards women, graphic scenes.
Katherena Vermette's gripping story The Break follows a Métis family in Winnipeg’s North End, an area notorious for gang violence, as they come to terms with a horrific assault on one of their family members. Told from the perspectives of various women spanning four generations, The Break chronicles not only what happens to Emily Traverse but also the stories of her family throughout each of the generations. The reader also hears from Tommy, a Métis police officer who is learning how to reconcile his racial identity after not knowing how to present himself since he was a child. Lastly, the reader learns about Phoenix, who is a homeless teenager recently out of a youth detention centre, and how she ends up entwined in gang violence.
This intergenerational family saga looks at how the power of family love and collectivism can help individuals overcome adversity. Vermette has crafted a story that is incredibly heart-wrenching, but for good reason. It shows just how resilient a Métis family, particularly the women, are when it comes to trauma. Each of the characters in The Break have their own struggles yet when they come together as a family there is nothing that will stand in their way.
Vermette brings up topics such as racism, homelessness, alcoholism, gang violence, violence towards women, collectivism, family bonds, intergenerational trauma, and resilience. There are so many themes that Vermette weaves throughout The Break and they all have their place throughout this stunning novel. Vermette’s novel is not an easy-to-read book, yet it is one that I highly recommend. The Break will break your heart, but it is meant to open your eyes to just how resilient and important family truly is.