National Network for Equitable Library Service

Motherwild is an unvarnished journey of the struggle to survive on a violent and dangerous yet loving and alive Montreal working-class street. Set over the course of a year beginning in December 1959, Joey Cantell faces the personal confusion of growing up while attempting to navigate a difficult relationship with his quick-witted, strong-willed, alcoholic Ma and a burgeoning attraction to Celine Lesage, the girl living downstairs in the apartment block who bears a puzzling likeness to his mother and who holds Joey enthralled with her own wild ways. “In his 10th book, Ken Rivard shows himself to be a pro at capturing the realities of working-class humanity. Motherwild is a work of beauty, a coming-of-age story and the eventual healing of a mother-son relationship. Rivard’s writing is honest, refreshing, startling, imaginative and gets the reader emotionally involved. Motherwild is a really good read!” — W.P. Kinsella