Jonny Appleseed (novel)
is a 2018 novel by Canadian First Nations author Joshua Whitehead. It is Whitehead's debut novel, and his second published book after the 2017 poetry collection Full-Metal Indigiqueer. Jonny Appleseed follows Jonny, a two-spirit sex worker, as he reckons with his identity and family history. It won the 2018 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction and the 2021 Canada Reads award.
Summary
Jonny Appleseed follows a non-linear structure, with the protagonist narrating several days of his life but frequently turning to describe key memories of his youth. After moving to Winnipeg from his home reserve, Jonny makes a living as a camshow sex worker, catering to his male clients' fantasies as an Indigenous femme bottom. He recalls a series of homoerotic awakenings throughout his childhood as he grew to understand his sexuality, including hooking up with an older counselor at a Christian summer camp named for Johnny Appleseed; the other children ostracized Jonny as "Rottenseed" after the affair was discovered and the counselor fired.Jonny is particularly close to his mother and his late throughout his life, with the two helping him grow into his feminine identity and occasionally competing for his affection. His kokum introduces Jonny to the concept of two-spirit after he questions his sexuality. Jonny's mother is widowed and remarries a man named Roger, who physically punishes Jonny for his homosexuality, while his kokum dies after Jonny moves to the city. Jonny's closest Indigenous Canadian friend in Winnipeg is Tias, a foster abuse survivor whom he hooks up with frequently despite Tias insisting he isn't gay. Jonny both fears and admires Tias's Indigenous girlfriend, Jordan, as a friend and a romantic rival, with the two silently agreeing to "share" Tias as their desires allow. Jonny makes reports of his dreams, which frequently focus on apocalyptic or highly spiritual themes. His most frequently recurring stress-dream involves him having sex with a spirit, connecting to the land through his semen.
In the present day, Jonny finds out Roger has died of cancer and is determined to support his mother at the funeral, set to coincide with his kokum's birthday. Penniless and struggling with substance abuse, Jonny resolves to make 300 dollars in the few days left, redoubling his sex work while relying on Tias for emotional support. He makes the cash the night before the function, however Tias comes in drunk and reveals Jordan is pregnant. Jonny gets a ride from Peggy, another woman from the reserve, on the next day and reconciles with his mother. The community gather to commemorate Roger and Jonny's kokum, with his mother passing around anecdotes of their lives.