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readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Death, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Homophobia, and Chronic illness
Minor: Slavery and Fire/Fire injury
Absent parent, prostitution, f slur, residential schools, MMIWG2S, injured animal, broken bones, mention of lynching, e slur, child birth death, overdose,kelly_e's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.5
Title: Jonny Appleseed
Author: Joshua Whitehead
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5
Pub Date: May 15 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Raw • Heartbreaking • Beautiful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Jonny Appleseed is a coming-of-age story of a young Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer person who has left the rez for a new life in the city. Here Jonny is working as a cybersex worker, while doing his best to make ends meet. After the death of his step-father, Jonny has a week to come up with enough money in order to return to the rez, and his former life for the funeral. A cultural exploration of love and desire, of pain and suffering, of family and community, of culture and self.
💭 T H O U G H T S
June is Indigenous History Month and Pride Month in Canada, so there was no better place to kick start my reading this month than with the Canada Reads 2021 winner, Jonny Appleseed. Let me just start out by saying - Wow!
This story is equal parts shocking, heartbreaking and informative as we follow Jonny, a young Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer, as he grapples with returning to the reservation where we grew up, following the death of his stepfather. The writing is vivid and honest, the plot compelling, and the cast of characters endearing. The non-linear structure, transformed the story into a unique dream like experience. However, it is this inconsistent flow (a tool, I realize, specifically and flawlessly utilized by the author to share all of the Jonny's experiences) that lead to my being unable to give that elusive 5th star. With that said, this is a beautifully crafted, complex and layered story so well versed in love and loss, in trauma and kinship, in sex and ambition that it opened my eyes. Everyone needs someone in their lives like Jonny's beloved kokum. The heartwarming and intimate bond between them is heartwarming.
A powerful and timely read I cannot recommend this story of acceptance, self-expression and self-discovery enough. Joshua Whitehead has delivered a truly unique and unforgettable novel, an important read for so many different reasons, and I will be hard pressed to find something so real and vulnerable. Do yourself a favour and read this book, I guarantee you'll never have read anything like it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Everyone!
• All ages!
• readers looking to diversify their TBR
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"There are times when you have to scare yourself to find yourself."
"Sometimes I don't like how life goes on.
And sometimes I don't think it should."
"I was back, and the whole damn rex looked, felt, even smelled the same. All my cousins were still here, for the most part. Maybe Nates stay on the rez because they've been pushed so far already. But wherever we end up, we can take pride in knowing that we can survive where no one else can, and that we can make a home out of the smallest of placed, and still be able to come home and say, 'I love you, Mom.'"
"We held each other for what seemed a lifetime after that. We were so fucking helpless in our nostalgia, both so heavy with our sadness. When you really let yourself fell, well, you end up scaring yourself from all the hurt and pain."
"When I look back at these old photos, I see my family come alive; I see their youth, but I also see them aging and dying and living their lives. It's overwhelming to think about all the stories that we've made, helped to tell, help to create - out bodies are a library, and, our stories are written like braille on the skin. I wouldn't trade it for the world; I love the noise, the liveliness of voices that are laughing, arguing, bingo-calling, and telling stories in a too packed home. In fact, I'd say, that's my world."
Author: Joshua Whitehead
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5
Pub Date: May 15 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Raw • Heartbreaking • Beautiful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Jonny Appleseed is a coming-of-age story of a young Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer person who has left the rez for a new life in the city. Here Jonny is working as a cybersex worker, while doing his best to make ends meet. After the death of his step-father, Jonny has a week to come up with enough money in order to return to the rez, and his former life for the funeral. A cultural exploration of love and desire, of pain and suffering, of family and community, of culture and self.
💭 T H O U G H T S
June is Indigenous History Month and Pride Month in Canada, so there was no better place to kick start my reading this month than with the Canada Reads 2021 winner, Jonny Appleseed. Let me just start out by saying - Wow!
This story is equal parts shocking, heartbreaking and informative as we follow Jonny, a young Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer, as he grapples with returning to the reservation where we grew up, following the death of his stepfather. The writing is vivid and honest, the plot compelling, and the cast of characters endearing. The non-linear structure, transformed the story into a unique dream like experience. However, it is this inconsistent flow (a tool, I realize, specifically and flawlessly utilized by the author to share all of the Jonny's experiences) that lead to my being unable to give that elusive 5th star. With that said, this is a beautifully crafted, complex and layered story so well versed in love and loss, in trauma and kinship, in sex and ambition that it opened my eyes. Everyone needs someone in their lives like Jonny's beloved kokum. The heartwarming and intimate bond between them is heartwarming.
A powerful and timely read I cannot recommend this story of acceptance, self-expression and self-discovery enough. Joshua Whitehead has delivered a truly unique and unforgettable novel, an important read for so many different reasons, and I will be hard pressed to find something so real and vulnerable. Do yourself a favour and read this book, I guarantee you'll never have read anything like it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Everyone!
• All ages!
• readers looking to diversify their TBR
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"There are times when you have to scare yourself to find yourself."
"Sometimes I don't like how life goes on.
And sometimes I don't think it should."
"I was back, and the whole damn rex looked, felt, even smelled the same. All my cousins were still here, for the most part. Maybe Nates stay on the rez because they've been pushed so far already. But wherever we end up, we can take pride in knowing that we can survive where no one else can, and that we can make a home out of the smallest of placed, and still be able to come home and say, 'I love you, Mom.'"
"We held each other for what seemed a lifetime after that. We were so fucking helpless in our nostalgia, both so heavy with our sadness. When you really let yourself fell, well, you end up scaring yourself from all the hurt and pain."
"When I look back at these old photos, I see my family come alive; I see their youth, but I also see them aging and dying and living their lives. It's overwhelming to think about all the stories that we've made, helped to tell, help to create - out bodies are a library, and, our stories are written like braille on the skin. I wouldn't trade it for the world; I love the noise, the liveliness of voices that are laughing, arguing, bingo-calling, and telling stories in a too packed home. In fact, I'd say, that's my world."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, and Violence
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Sexism
sexual trauma, substance misuse, sex work, poverty, foster care, overdose mentioned
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