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bookjockeybeth's review against another edition
2.0
My review on The Crimson Review of Children's & YA Literature:
Aspiring to fit in as a new teacher at an elite Cherokee girl’s seminary in 1896 Indian Territory, Willie Hammond assumes a new identity and begins to explore the mysterious events of the year before her arrival, while trying to maintain the façade she’s created. Fans of the Anne of Green Gables series will find comfort in a similar story of a new teacher’s struggles, while those wishing to immerse themselves in an intriguing mystery will keep turning the pages until the end. Gensler’s fanciful narration is off -putting at the onset and some elements were not developed with great care, but once the story gets going the many facets of the story keep the reader engaged. Willie is depicted with great depth and the story doesn’t conclude with a nice pat ending – a real treat for the genre and target audience. Recommended.
Aspiring to fit in as a new teacher at an elite Cherokee girl’s seminary in 1896 Indian Territory, Willie Hammond assumes a new identity and begins to explore the mysterious events of the year before her arrival, while trying to maintain the façade she’s created. Fans of the Anne of Green Gables series will find comfort in a similar story of a new teacher’s struggles, while those wishing to immerse themselves in an intriguing mystery will keep turning the pages until the end. Gensler’s fanciful narration is off -putting at the onset and some elements were not developed with great care, but once the story gets going the many facets of the story keep the reader engaged. Willie is depicted with great depth and the story doesn’t conclude with a nice pat ending – a real treat for the genre and target audience. Recommended.
mamagarrett3's review against another edition
4.0
We live just outside of Tahlequah, my husband works there. Lots of fun to be able to picture the settings of this book. Very interesting and quick read, that dealt thoughtfully, if not at all thoroughly, with the relationships between Caucasians and Native Americans in that time period as a backdrop to the mystery. Look forward to more by this author
imnobody's review against another edition
I had the privilage of meeting the author when she came to my school recently. I knew she was an Oklahoman, but not that she taught at the other high school in Norman a few years ago. She gave an excellent lecture on how to publish a book, and was also kind enough to sign the copy of her book I bought.
drakean8's review against another edition
2.0
Felt like a high schooler wrote this book, who was trying to sound more mature and experienced than she actually was. People don't talk like that. Try again sweetheart.
shalenaimathews's review against another edition
5.0
The Revenant is a great YA historical novel that is so much more. It has so many things that keep you reading: the headstrong protagonist who is in over her head, the mystery of a girl's death, the possible haunting of the Cherokee girls' school, the twists and turns that keep you guessing. All of these aspects combine to craft an engrossing story and satisfying read that you will return to again and again. As a reader, I'm generally hesitant of books outside my usual modern-day paranormal classification, but after this amazing book, anything Sonia Gensler writes will be something I read.
Read my full review: Quirk Review: The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
Read my full review: Quirk Review: The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
taylorfennerwrites's review
5.0
When Willie learns that she must leave school to come back to the farm her mother lives on with her new husband and children she steals a classmate's teaching certificate and runs away to Cherokee Indian Territory.
When she arrives in Tahlequah, in what is present-day Oklahoma, she expects to find uncivilized people living in teepees. What she finds is a bustling city and a female seminary for the Cherokee elite. The school, however, is cloaked in darkness after the mysterious drowning of a student the previous spring.
All of the students believe the school is haunted by the dead girl's spirit. At first Willie balks at the idea of ghosts but when a series of unexplained occurrences begin she doesn't know what to believe. Soon Willie finds herself participating in midnight seances and falling into a forbidden romance with Eli Sevenstar, a boy from the male seminary. But is Eli a cold blooded killer? Or is the killer someone nobody has even considered?
I love this book. It's an amazing ghost story combined with rich history of the Cherokee Nation during and after the Trail of Tears. My only disappointment is at the end when Eli asks Willie to marry him and she tells him they must wait a year. If I were her I would have married him immediately!
When she arrives in Tahlequah, in what is present-day Oklahoma, she expects to find uncivilized people living in teepees. What she finds is a bustling city and a female seminary for the Cherokee elite. The school, however, is cloaked in darkness after the mysterious drowning of a student the previous spring.
All of the students believe the school is haunted by the dead girl's spirit. At first Willie balks at the idea of ghosts but when a series of unexplained occurrences begin she doesn't know what to believe. Soon Willie finds herself participating in midnight seances and falling into a forbidden romance with Eli Sevenstar, a boy from the male seminary. But is Eli a cold blooded killer? Or is the killer someone nobody has even considered?
I love this book. It's an amazing ghost story combined with rich history of the Cherokee Nation during and after the Trail of Tears. My only disappointment is at the end when Eli asks Willie to marry him and she tells him they must wait a year. If I were her I would have married him immediately!
beththebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
A good historical novel about a non-standard place: a Midwestern Cherokee girls' school. Moderately suspenseful Gothic ghost story with a bit of romance. Major characters had at least a bit of three-dimensionality to them that kept them from being entirely stock characters. The plot was somewhat predictable but did have some twists.
One thing I liked about the story was the fascinating and respectful insight into the nature and social structure of middle-class (and to a lesser extent, poor) Native American young women.
That being said, there was nothing about the story that set me on fire. But then, I am a "hard grader" in order to make good use of the distinctions between three, four and five stars or this would have gotten three stars.
Recommended for teen girls who like supernatural stories and/or historical romance.
One thing I liked about the story was the fascinating and respectful insight into the nature and social structure of middle-class (and to a lesser extent, poor) Native American young women.
That being said, there was nothing about the story that set me on fire. But then, I am a "hard grader" in order to make good use of the distinctions between three, four and five stars or this would have gotten three stars.
Recommended for teen girls who like supernatural stories and/or historical romance.
emslovestoread's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this one up at the local library because I thought the cover was stunning. I'd never heard of Sonia Gensler before, so I went into it blind on her writing style. I've discovered that I kind of like that. I like not knowing anything beforehand, because it really lets me start with a clean slate and no preconceived notions gleaned from others.
I found the combination of historical fiction and a little bit of paranormal quite fascinating. I really enjoyed the story. Willie made a fairly strong main character (I wish she could have stood up to Miss Crenshaw a bit more, but I do understand why she didn't) and I quite liked her. I thought she was very believable and did things that a teenager would have done. Running away may not seem like a very smart thing to do, but it was very age-appropriate considering her situation.
I liked the other characters as well. Fannie was nicely horrible, and her minions were just fawning enough. It was set up just exactly like a high school clique.
The story was nicely paced and I thought it was quite well done. Also, it's a stand-alone and I love that. It ended in a place where it *could* go into another book, but I like that so far, it's not. It's a very appropriate ending that lets the reader draw their own conclusions without being completely obtuse about it.
I liked it well enough, but probably wouldn't totally gush. For that reason, it's getting a 'Drool Worthy' rating.
I found the combination of historical fiction and a little bit of paranormal quite fascinating. I really enjoyed the story. Willie made a fairly strong main character (I wish she could have stood up to Miss Crenshaw a bit more, but I do understand why she didn't) and I quite liked her. I thought she was very believable and did things that a teenager would have done. Running away may not seem like a very smart thing to do, but it was very age-appropriate considering her situation.
I liked the other characters as well. Fannie was nicely horrible, and her minions were just fawning enough. It was set up just exactly like a high school clique.
The story was nicely paced and I thought it was quite well done. Also, it's a stand-alone and I love that. It ended in a place where it *could* go into another book, but I like that so far, it's not. It's a very appropriate ending that lets the reader draw their own conclusions without being completely obtuse about it.
I liked it well enough, but probably wouldn't totally gush. For that reason, it's getting a 'Drool Worthy' rating.
swirlnswing's review against another edition
3.0
Though this story was filled with a couple of twists and turns that I really didn't see coming, something about the language was just not my cup of tea.