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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
4.5 stars for Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. This is a fictionalized account of the life of one boy taken from his home and his parents when he was 12 and the trauma he endured at a Canadian Boarding School for Native American children under the reign of Catholic nuns and priests. It is equally heartbreaking and hopeful. I greatly appreciated the resolution that the main character found at the end of the book by circling back to where all of his trauma began. This is a tough read. Because it happened. And, I'm embarrassed to say I really don't know if I could have read this if it were more than a short book because it was hugely depressing. That being said, I think it is so important we push ourselves through and learn about the atrocities done in the name of religion and race. If we don't, how will we ever teach our children to become good humans? And, I think that the way Wagamese used hockey as both a lifeline and an anchor really keeps the reader from becoming so weighed down you just can't finish it. There is resolution. It may be complete fantasy to think that children survived the Hell of those boarding schools, but it helped in this fictionalized account to crack that door for me. And, we all start where we can. Trigger warnings across the board - child abuse both psychological/sexual (not explicit)/physical and child death.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
For a book we were forced to read in class... not bad. There definitely needs to be more awareness surrounding the injustices Indigenous Peoples and Natives face in this world.
And of course for all minorities too :(
Pre-read Review:
ah, assigned reading :' )
And of course for all minorities too :(
Pre-read Review:
ah, assigned reading :' )
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
Extremely good book.
Really important read, especially now.
I thought this was well written and interesting.
Highly recommended Indigenous read.
4.6/5
Really important read, especially now.
I thought this was well written and interesting.
Highly recommended Indigenous read.
4.6/5
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So much is packed into this short book, and it was a painful pleasure to read it. We experience a deep connection to the land, then the horrors of residential school life, then hockey as a cultural icon and a way forward. Racism and constant pressure to deal with it is present throughout the story, and it is heartbreaking to feel the extent of the damage.