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kimbyy's review against another edition
3.0
educational but the plot was kind of weirdly set up? i didn't love the characters or the ending
ninakeller's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful children’s book that features Native American identity, a reckoning with brutal child separation policy in the US, an exemplary writing and creative process by a child, and woven themes of belonging and gratitude for family.
pocketwatchcrow's review against another edition
5.0
Heartwarming. Sad. Family. A warm hug. A dark hole.
That’s how I would describe this book. There were so many ups and downs, but it kept me reaching for more the whole way. After I read the final pages, acknowledgments and all (which I don’t do often enough), I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Can’t stop thinking about it, and it’s been three days.
A quick overview: Edie has known that her mom was born to native parents but was adopted by a white family as an infant. Edie assumes that means her mom doesn’t know anything about her biological family. That assumption is wrong. Edie finds a box with her name on it, but while the woman in the photos bears striking resemblance to her, they’re not Edie. Could this beautiful woman be a part of the family she’s never known about? Could these letters be a clue to the past she’s always wondered about?
The answer is yes. The box is full of clues.
This story is so well done, the letters truly bring this other character to life even while following Edie’s own story of friendship and family.
That’s how I would describe this book. There were so many ups and downs, but it kept me reaching for more the whole way. After I read the final pages, acknowledgments and all (which I don’t do often enough), I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Can’t stop thinking about it, and it’s been three days.
A quick overview: Edie has known that her mom was born to native parents but was adopted by a white family as an infant. Edie assumes that means her mom doesn’t know anything about her biological family. That assumption is wrong. Edie finds a box with her name on it, but while the woman in the photos bears striking resemblance to her, they’re not Edie. Could this beautiful woman be a part of the family she’s never known about? Could these letters be a clue to the past she’s always wondered about?
The answer is yes. The box is full of clues.
This story is so well done, the letters truly bring this other character to life even while following Edie’s own story of friendship and family.
knittykittycraft's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Well, I didn't expect to sob like this over a middle grade book but here we are. Really well told story of a modern tween learning her mother's adoption story. It starts off very usual tween-girl-friend-drama. Most of the book is Edith, the main character, grappling with how to confront her parents about a secret. Talk of bullying and racism. The last chapter or two gets into an emotionally intense story of her mother's family history. Good for tweens and young teens grappling with big life stuff as well as education about the darker parts of American history and how it still effects families today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Colonisation, and Kidnapping
Minor: Cancer, Medical content, Death of parent, and Death
modernhobbitvibes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Toxic friendship
Minor: Kidnapping
madmollyann's review against another edition
4.0
3.5.
The Indian adoption racket was new to me. What a tragedy. I like how they used this story to bring it to light.
There were a few loose ends… the Amelia story line just kind of fizzled.
The Indian adoption racket was new to me. What a tragedy. I like how they used this story to bring it to light.
There were a few loose ends… the Amelia story line just kind of fizzled.
littleroseygirl's review against another edition
5.0
I love the way this middle grade book handles teaching real parts of our history through a fictional story. The author does a great job of tying a history lesson into her story in a way that enhances the story and doesn't take away from it. Native American history was downplayed in my own history education, so I appreciate any opportunity to learn more about Native Americans and the history of their treatment over the years. I will be filing this away to share with my own future children.
There was an added bonus in that this book was set in my area and centered around a tribe whose reservation is a short drive from my home. Seattle history has been on my "to learn" list ever since my husband and I took the Seattle Underground tour, so it was a nice surprise to start dipping my toes into that.
There was an added bonus in that this book was set in my area and centered around a tribe whose reservation is a short drive from my home. Seattle history has been on my "to learn" list ever since my husband and I took the Seattle Underground tour, so it was a nice surprise to start dipping my toes into that.
justicepirate's review against another edition
4.0
I never thought a middle grade book would make me sob. Most of the book, I was like, "Okay. You have a little girl struggling to want to learn about her culture. She understands a bit of racism for being an indigenous person. Her friends don't seem to take this situation seriously enough." Then as it gets near the end they hit you with information that reflects what is known as "The Sixties Scoop" which they don't state by name, but that it what it was. I am a mother. My heart broke. I couldn't contain my anger and sadness for what happened to thousands of native mothers in the time period that my siblings and I were even born in. This was a good book that I think many children can learn from. I really liked it.
darcieshultz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
Edie has always known that her Native mother was adopted. Her mother never talks about her heritage with Edie, though. When she finds a bunch of letters signed “Love, Edith” in the attic, Edie sets out to uncover some long buried family secrets.