Smoke — Nicola Winstanley

Smoke is award-winning children's author Nicola Winstanley's first work for adults and it showcases her ability to create the unforgettable characters she's known for. This deftly written linked short story collection moves between New Zealand and Canada following the lives of a fascinating collection of characters and considering the impact of intergenerational trauma on them from multiple points of view. Questions of responsibility and fate, and a search for understanding thread through these searing, often heartbreaking stories. Yet even though these are stories of loss, Smoke is ultimately a book about grace, one which calls not only for a rejection of guilt, but also for approaching the world with deep compassion.