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saturnsmoons's review against another edition
4.0
a beautiful tribute to such a tragic history.
the changes in writing based on the characters truly brought out the severity of the traumas.
incredibly devastating, but gorgeously written.
the changes in writing based on the characters truly brought out the severity of the traumas.
incredibly devastating, but gorgeously written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Death, and Child death
s0ph1e_a's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is beautifully written, and the stories it tells are in some cases incredibly sad and in others very uplifting. Following the characters in this book felt special and I would definitely recommend Canadians read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Rape, and Misogyny
nasvans's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Cultural appropriation, Child death, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
katietotallybooked's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am happy that I can finally say I've read this book. I also understand why it won the Canada Reads competition in 2022. I do believe it is a must read for Canadian readers.
Liked Most:
Liked Most:
- How each of the character's storylines intertwined, even when it wasn't obvious that would happen from the beginning.
- How different each character's story was. Their experiences were varied and how they handled their traumas varied. I think this helps make the book more representative (while still fictionalized) of the many shared histories of our Indigenous community.
Liked Least:
- The timeline of the story felt unclear while I was reading, and I found it hard to follow at times because there was so many characters to keep track off.
Themes/Topics:
- Residential Schools
- Indigenous History
- Child Abuse (Physical, Sexual, Emotional)
- Grief
- Loss of Innocence
- Suicide
Would Recommend To:
- All Canadian adult fiction readers
- Those interested in Indigenous lives, experiences, and histories
The audio is well done too!
Quotes:
“…she told me she was sorry about my mom. I didn't know, but she didn't need to say more. I had so many dreams at the Indian School about going home to her. Dreams about sleeping safe in my own room, playing on the beach at ease and without fear, and cooking with her. What I so desperately needed was to be standing on that stool by the stove, carefully stirring under her watchful eye like when I was little. To be little again, living without fear and brutality-no one gets that back. All that's left is a craving, insatiable empty place.”
“Kenny walked along the meandering creek, enjoying the sound of it when it narrowed and quickened, the peace of it when it widened and slowed, deeper and quieter, the rusty-coloured stones casting a sparkling copper tone on the crystalline water. There was a bitter sweetness in seeing his old friend. He was happy to share their tricky survival memories; it was the other ones, the ones that slipped in through the silences, that he was relieved to lose in his usual solitude.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief
zero_sjl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Everyone should read this book to understand the atrocities done to Indigenous children across Canada. It coveres a lot of difficult topics but topics that need to be talked about and acknowledged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicide
hilwithonel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book feels as important of a read as the story itself was compelling. Absolutely devastating atrocities were committed and this book allows us to gather historical context through the lense of complex characters each loveable and heartbreaking. I have so many feelings I cant begin to collect them into real thoughts here. Just...fantastic 5 star read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Violence, Trafficking, Suicide, Addiction, Pedophilia, Child death, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
brindlebooklover's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Child abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse and Sexual assault
kristy_lyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Heart wrenching. Eye opening. A beautifully delivered telling of what aboriginal children experienced at the hands of Residential schools in Canada. We follow the stories of five children and how their paths weave, stumble, and intertwine. From the horrors of residential school, to the friendships and the strength required to survive it, to the impact and scars it leaves on their lives - we get an humbling look at the resilience required, the demons fought, and the reality of how deep the damage truly ran.
Characters you’ll fall in love with, cheer for, weep for, that your heart will break for. So many heavy, dark moments, but so many beautiful ones. This should be required reading in Canadian schools. So well done.
Characters you’ll fall in love with, cheer for, weep for, that your heart will break for. So many heavy, dark moments, but so many beautiful ones. This should be required reading in Canadian schools. So well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
seductive_cactus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
A VERY emotional and reflective book - seriously, I cried on the plane while reading this (I’m so sorry to the people who were sitting next to me).
This book gives the reader a raw look into what the Indian Residential Schools were like and holds nothing back. In the author acknowledgements, Good mentions that part of the situations in the books were based on her own mother’s personal experiences.
This is not for the faint of heart, but is definitely something that needs to be discussed. I only picked it up because my book club choose this book for January - and I’m glad I did. I knew that the Indian residential schools were bad, but never to this level of detail. While the character journey and development is the big driving plot point, it can be a bit confusing to read at times. Some of the POVs jump around a bit without warning and can give you a bit of whiplash.
The book follows five children and their trauma as they go from “graduating” from the schools to becoming adults. Recovering from a childhood of trauma is not easy, and this book puts an emphasis on the lifetime and generational scars this caused.
Other than the sometimes confusing chapter jumps, I highly recommend giving this a read, and taking a look into other historic sources.
This book gives the reader a raw look into what the Indian Residential Schools were like and holds nothing back. In the author acknowledgements, Good mentions that part of the situations in the books were based on her own mother’s personal experiences.
This is not for the faint of heart, but is definitely something that needs to be discussed. I only picked it up because my book club choose this book for January - and I’m glad I did. I knew that the Indian residential schools were bad, but never to this level of detail. While the character journey and development is the big driving plot point, it can be a bit confusing to read at times. Some of the POVs jump around a bit without warning and can give you a bit of whiplash.
The book follows five children and their trauma as they go from “graduating” from the schools to becoming adults. Recovering from a childhood of trauma is not easy, and this book puts an emphasis on the lifetime and generational scars this caused.
Other than the sometimes confusing chapter jumps, I highly recommend giving this a read, and taking a look into other historic sources.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Colonisation, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Violence, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault
liferhi_inspired's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, Drug use, and Suicide
Moderate: Child death and Sexual assault