Bemidji Professor Pens Award-Winning Novel

MINNESOTA BOOK AWARDS 2025

Have you ever tried to write a book? Do you know someone that has? It's no easy task. I interview people quite often about what inspired them to write their book. Were they writing as children? Did they go through something tramatic, and want to share their story with others to bring them hope? Or warn them of the dangers of something?

Writing a book is one thing, but being nomiated to receive an award for your book is completely another.

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40 FINALISTS

The Minnesota Book Awards recently named their winners from 40 finalists in the competition. The Ceremony took place at the Ordway in April, and for those who attended, wit as an enjoyable evening of book signings, with a chance for people to mingle with the writers of some of their favorite books written by Minnesota Authors.

One of those authors to receive an award was a teacher from the college I attended for Mass Communications and Broadcasting.

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR

Bemidji State University Professor of Ojibwe, Dr. Anton Treuer, won the 2025 Minnesota Book Award for Young Adult Literature for his debut novel, 'Where Wolves Don't Die.'

Birchbark Books lists Anton's book as a novel that's 'both a thriller and a raw, tender coming-of-age story, about one Ojibwe boy learning to love himself through the love of his family around him.'

The story is about a boy named Ezra Cloud, who has to live in Northeast Minneapolis because his dad is a professor at a local college. Ezra longs to be at the rez, Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation. Ezra is bullied and gets into a terrible fight, which leads him to be a suspect in a crime. Knowing that Ezra is innocent of the crime he's being suspected of, but won't get a fair deal, the family sends him away. You'll have to grab a copy of the book for yourself to see what happens.

Anton has other books as well, including 'Atlas of Indian Nations,' 'Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask,' 'Ojibwe in Minnesota,' and many more.

Many people offered congratulations to Dr. Treuer on his book award. You can read the comments in the post below.