The lesser blessed : a novel / Richard Van Camp

When Larry Sole, a member of the Dogrib First Nation, is in grade 7, he is sexually abused by his father. Larry kills his father with a hammer and sets the house on fire. The Yellowknife newspaper reported that the injuries to the victim's head were the result of his falling down the stairs.

When the novel opens, Larry is in grade eleven, living with his mother. Larry loves Iron Maiden, the North and Juliet Hope, the school "tramp".

A new student, a Métis named Johnny Beck, moves to town from the nearby Hay River. Johnny, with his tough-guy attitude, smart-ass remarks, and surly good looks, makes an immediate impression. Larry becomes Johnny's sidekick: "He was everything I wasn't. He was bad news but still.." This partnership leads Larry to a number of new and unexpected experiences, including standing by as Johnny dates Juliet Hope.

The lesser blessed can be found on the shelves at PS 8593 .A5 L47 1996