The River We Remember

“On his father’s death, James Patrick Quinn had inherited a thousand acres, and in his time he had added twice as much again. He was the largest landowner in the county, his holdings spread far and wide and managed by a slew of tenants, all of whom feared the wrath of Quinn.”

This passage speaks to Jimmy’s characterization. He is far wealthier than his neighbors and widely disliked, but it is interesting to note how much the inhabitants of Jewel rally around him in death, only because the man accused of killing him is Indigenous. This shows the depth of the Bigotry and Prejudice that characterizes so many in the area.

“A lot of farmers came into town in their faded, patched, and soiled biballs or dungarees, their boots crusted with barn muck. Not Jimmy Quinn. He claimed to be descended from Irish kings and he always rolled into Jewel looking like gentry.”

This passage speaks to Jimmy Quinn’s characterization. Jimmy is the wealthiest member of the community, and because he flaunts that wealth, he is resented by many in the area. Even his son J.P. blends in better with the hardworking farmers and agricultural laborers, and the income disparity between Jimmy and the rest of the inhabitants of Jewel is a continued source of tension.

“Inkpaduta Bend. Pretty out here, but it’s always had a reputation.”

This passage speaks to the role that Indigenous culture and history play within the novel. The community of Jewel sits on what was once Indigenous land, and the author does not shy away from representing the tension between white and Dakota cultures. Bigotry and Prejudice is an important theme, and the way that settler-colonists clashed with the Indigenous peoples of the region is evident not only in actual depictions of anti-Indigenous prejudice but also in the area’s history.

“Amaranth, never heard of it. Sure it will grow here?”

This passage speaks to the importance of Indigenous history to this region and to the novel itself. Amaranth, an ancient grain cultivated for centuries before colonization, is being reintroduced by an Indigenous character. Although Connie has never heard of Amaranth, Noah has, and understands that it is better suited to the soil and climate than corn or wheat. This shows the depth of Indigenous knowledge about the area and its agricultural potential.

“The Browns had not always been Browns. Until World War II they’d been Brauns. The anti-German sentiment abroad in America during and after the war had compelled Karl Braun to anglicize his name.”

This passage speaks to the Bigotry and Prejudice that are omnipresent in social relations in Jewel. It is not only anti-Indigenous prejudice that characterizes the townspeople, but resentment towards both Japanese and German people because of World War II. Although none of the German or Japanese residents in Jewel fought in (or even supported) the war, they are still stigmatized.

“If I was you, I’d lock that Indian up right now, otherwise he might never make it in front of a judge.”

This passage speaks to the theme of Bigotry and Prejudice. Although Noah is innocent of Jimmy’s murder, because he is Indigenous, many of the townspeople are sure that he is guilty. They are rooted in old biases against Indigenous people in the area and find it difficult to leave their prejudice in the past.

“This was a question that came from an understanding of the long, difficult history that existed between the whites of Black Earth County and those in whom the blood of the Sioux ran.”

This passage speaks to the ever-present role of Indigenous history and place names within the narrative. The author creates an understanding of Black Earth County as a space in which white, colonial history is layered on top of the long Indigenous histories of the land. The shared part of Indigenous and white history has always entailed conflict, and the two groups still struggle against one another in and around Jewel.

“‘No, you figured it was murder from the beginning, and from the beginning you pegged Bluestone for it,’ Brody said, ‘You and everybody else in this town, it seems.’”

This passage speaks to Brody’s characterization. He, more than many of his fellow townspeople, understands the nature of anti-Indigenous prejudice, and he does not engage in it. He provides a counterweight to the bigoted faction of the town and represents the author’s interest in depicting an alternative to prejudicial attitudes.

“Brody didn’t much like the book, but one thing he did understand was Holden Caulfield’s desire to protect the innocent. In a way, that’s how he found himself now, and at heart it was the reason for the part he was now playing in Jimmy Quinn’s death.”

This passage shows that Brody is a deeply wounded man, and that part of his desire to help others comes from his own need to heal himself. He is also upstanding and committed to his ethics. Like Noah, he believes in the greater good and wants to do what he can to help people and preserve the peace.

“We’re all broken, Felix.”

Angie speaks these lines. This passage embodies the theme of The Scars of War in that it acknowledges that so many in town bear the emotional (and physical) scars of their trauma. Although trauma is different for each character, they all share a history of pain, and each, in their own way, tries to process that grief during the narrative. This passage also foreshadows the reveal of Angie’s past traumas.

“What he shared with his brother’s wife was all that he’d ever share, and although in the end it always left him feeling lonely, even the loneliness was familiar and safe.”

Brody is a deeply wounded man, in no small part because of the many secrets he keeps. In addition to what he perceives as his shameful role in the war, his clandestine affair with his brother’s wife is, although fulfilling in that he loves Garnet, also a source of pain. This passage demonstrates the novel’s interest in exploring characters who are morally complex, engaging in both good and bad behavior.

“Most cultures have a rite or ritual of some kind that marks the end of childhood and the assumption of the responsibilities and standing of an adult. In the tradition of the Sioux or the Chippewa, our native tribes here in Minnesota, that’s a vision quest.”

This passage speaks to the theme of Masculinity and Coming of Age. This observation—that except for the war, there has not been any kind of ritualistic coming-of-age ceremony, particularly for young men—is at the core of this novel’s interest in the societal function of such rites of passage.

“Who in this county would believe what an Indian says?”

This passage speaks to the theme of Bigotry and Prejudice. Indigenous, Japanese, and German people are all shown to be targets of prejudice, and the speed with which Noah Bluestone is assigned guilt speaks to how pervasive such attitudes are within the general public.

“His father had never been a cruel man, never raised his hand against Brody. But in Brody’s opinion, that was setting the bar pretty damn low for love.”

This passage speaks to the theme of Masculinity and Coming of Age. Many of the boys and men depicted in this novel struggle to find their identity and their positions in society. That is in part because of the lack of a distinct rite of passage, but also because of a lack of proper parenting. Brody and his brother Tom were not shown true love or empathy by their father, and because of that, they struggled to process and show their own emotions.

“You’re sticking your neck out for Noah Bluestone, Charlie, and I guess I just wanted you to know that you’re not alone.”

This passage speaks to the theme of Community Cohesion Versus Community Conflict. Although Bigotry and Prejudice are shown to be sources of strife and conflict in Jewel, the residents who rally not only around Noah Bluestone but around acceptance and inclusion, are a kind of counterbalance. The community includes both good and bad forces. Because the novel ends on a note of hope and acceptance, the author suggests the power of good to triumph over hate and racism.

“Jewel has its problems, but it’s the only place I’ve ever thought of as home.”

This passage speaks to the importance of community in the novel. Many of the characters return to Jewel after travel and trauma. Although not perfect, Jewel is home to many. Small, midwestern communities like this are often stereotyped and dismissed, and Krueger portrays rural Minnesota in a complex, humanizing light.

“Folks in Jewel don’t necessarily love your father, but he was one of them.”

This sentiment is repeated multiple times, and it shows the complex web of grievances and allegiances in the town. Although Jimmy Quinn had been widely disliked, he was also white, and because Noah is Indigenous, he is not seen as “one of” the townspeople.

“I have lived in a white man’s world all my life. But you have never lived in mine. It’s like hearing a foreign language and not knowing any of the words.”

This passage speaks to Noah’s characterization. He is acutely aware of the way that racial difference impacts how he is perceived and has lived much of his life separated from his community members by this difference. Despite many years of mistreatment, Noah remains measured and equitable in his treatment of others. At this moment, he is trying to teach Sam an uncomfortable lesson, and he does so without rancor.

“First off, I’m Dakota. Sioux, yes, but Dakota Sioux. Other Sioux are Lakota or Nakota. There are differences, but to white people it’s all the same, so call me Dakota.”

This is an important moment within the text. The novel has, up until this moment, used terminology that, while considered incorrect and offensive today, would have been widespread at the time the novel is set. Here, Noah corrects Sam about both the name of his Indigenous nation and the truth of the Dakota War, long thought of as the Sioux Uprising. Going forward, both Sam and the narrative adopt the correct terminology, demonstrating the possibility for learning and change.

“Fort Beloit stood at the river’s edge just south of town. It was a recreation of an enclosure that had been used to protect families just prior to and during the great Sioux uprising of 1862.”

This passage shows the importance of Indigenous history within Black Earth County and is a moment of intertextual connection with Krueger’s other novels. Although many of his books are mysteries, Krueger is also a writer of historical fiction, and he has a particular interest in the Indigenous history of Minnesota and its surrounding states.

“The war killed what was best in a lot of men.”

This passage speaks to the theme of The Scars of War. Many men in Jewel are haunted by the war, and although for individuals such as Brody and Sam reconciliation and self-forgiveness seem possible, for others such as Tyler Creasy, the war’s impact is lasting and damaging.

“Did you know this was an important gathering place for Indians before white people came?”

Indigenous history looms large over this text. Through his depictions of the persistence of Indigenous place names, history, culture, and values, it is evident that Krueger is interested in showing the way that nations such as the Dakota have held onto their traditions even in the face of assimilationist policies, land theft, and even genocide.

“The people of Black Earth County had never been welcoming of the Bluestones, Charlie thought. Many, in fact, had carried in their hearts a deep enmity from wounds that neither Noah nor Kyoko had any part in delivering.”

This passage speaks to the theme of Bigotry and Prejudice. The Bluestones, because they have both Indigenous and Japanese heritage, are stigmatized by those in town. There is a long history of animosity between white and Indigenous communities, and the war is so recent in cultural memory that few people trust the Japanese. That Noah and Kyoko are some of the most ethical people in Jewel is not evident to many until the novel’s conclusion.