During the Sixties Scoop, thousands of Indigenous youth in Canada were taken from their reserves by child welfare services to be adopted or placed with non-Indigenous foster families. With sensitivity, the novel Ice cubes like glass evokes this dark part of the country’s past, which has left immense scars within communities. Inspired by Canadian history as well as that of her ancestors, ethnologist and author Isabelle Picard, originally from Wendake, immerses us in the pain of a Huron father, Henri. The latter sees his family being divided up by the government while remaining powerless. Through this poignant story, the writer succeeds in injecting depth into the many characters, such as the patriarch, his wife, Belle, and their host of children. The eldest, Liliane, is particularly touching because of the fight she leads to keep her family afloat. A necessary work, which remains captivating until the end.
Florence Morin-Martel
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