Review of Yaakwdaat Aya

[Josephe-Anne]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Yaakwdaat Aya" by Kadashan.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Fishing is the lifeblood of small Alaskan communities, and you’ll certainly learn about the fishing industry as you read Yaakwdaat Aya: This is Yakutat by Kadashan. This collection of short stories focuses on the lives of the residents of Yaakwdaat and other towns in America’s forty-ninth state. Readers will also learn about the culture of the Tlingit people who have lived there for centuries. Since their first contact with Europeans, Western culture has mixed with theirs, but without the mention of cellphones or computers, these stories take place during simpler times. This book transports you to the rugged wilderness and frozen tundra where only the toughest among us can thrive. These stories will resonate with people from all walks of life.

The cover features one of the author’s paintings. This painting depicts a tranquil shoreline scene with canoes on the water and some huts on the land. A breathtaking mountain peak is also visible behind a forest in the background. Some of Kadashan’s other artworks are included in the book. A new story begins with each chapter. The main themes include Tlingit culture, family dynamics, fishing, small-town life, love, and loss. The text does not contain any lewd language or religious content. However, there are some slightly gory scenes regarding the butchering of fish and seals. There is also some borderline profanity.

I like the traditional values that are expressed in these stories. In addition to the fishing terminology, I also learned some words in the Tlingit language. For example, tsaa means “seal” and al’óoni means “hunter.” Several phrases resonated with me too. I realized that the expressions “walk into the forest” and “paddle (one’s) canoe out to sea” are local idioms which refer to someone passing away. Many of the stories were emotional, and “A Dozen Roses for Mrs. Jensen” is my favorite story in this collection. It tells the tale of Mrs. Jensen, a widow, on what would have been her and her husband’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The three-part story of Xoots the bear was also heartbreaking. Furthermore, I enjoyed looking at Kadashan’s paintings.

However, I think the author should have included a pronunciation guide for the Tlingit words. A map would also have been useful to illustrate all of the places described in the text. Additionally, I wanted to see a continuation of the story where a lost ancient village was discussed. I am quite fascinated to see where that discovery would lead. I also found several errors in the text.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book. Therefore, I have decided to give Yaakwdaat Aya: This is Yakutat by Kadashan a rating of four out of five stars. I only deducted a star due to the number of errors I found. Another round of editing would make it perfect. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading old-fashioned short stories as well as those who are interested in learning about Native Alaskan culture. Fishing and art enthusiasts will also enjoy this book. Honestly, I think that anyone can relate to these stories because they appeal to the triumph of the human spirit, encompassing our capacity to love each other and mourn those we have lost.

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Yaakwdaat Aya
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[RutvikPatel]

The reviewer highlights the traditional values and language elements woven into the stories, showcasing the book's educational aspect. They particularly enjoyed learning Tlingit words and phrases, as well as the local idioms. They found emotional depth in many of the stories, with "A Dozen Roses for Mrs. Jensen" and the tale of Xoots the bear standing out as personal favorites. Overall, the combination of storytelling and visual art in the book left a positive impression on the reviewer.