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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
Wow, so this was great. I started to draft a long, largely incoherent love letter to this book, and then I remembered Debbie Reese had this to say about Eric Gansworth's first young-adult novel, If I Ever Get Out of Here: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-i-like-about-eric-gansworths-if-i.html , which is both more authoritative and better written than my ramblings. (This isn't a series, but there is some overlap in the two books.)
Anyway, I thought this book was even better than If I Ever Get Out of Here, and I loved the stuffing out of that book. Give Me Some Truth is moving, funny, and amazing in every possible way. Unpretentious stories about young people creating art are my kryptonite, and this novel excels in that regard. (There's a playlist!) As with If I Ever Get Out of Here, I learned a lot about Tuscarora Nation culture and history, as well as racism that targets Indigenous people, and that information is interwoven into the plot and the characters' voices in ways that feel completely organic.
There is also an extremely realistic portrayal of adults who prey on teenagers. There's very little—beyond the age difference--about the adult that screams, “Predator, stay away!” at first, and we see it from the teenager's point of view. I don't want to spoil anything, but it's really well done, and I think that's an important thing to have in a young-adult novel. Like many of my generation, I second-guessed myself a lot when a sexual predator was, say, a super likable high school math teacher instead of a mustache-twirling villain who popped out from behind the bushes, so I am beyond thrilled about the nuanced, realistic description here.
I also really liked that one of the two narrative voices was a teenager who didn't drive a main story line, but closely watched it as it developed.
Okay, so I guess I've written a long, largely incoherent love letter to Give Me Some Truth after all. TL;DR: This is an utterly amazing novel. Read it.
This is own-voices for Tuscarora Nation resident representation.
The dual narration by Eric Gansworth and Brittany LeBorgne is excellent.
Anyway, I thought this book was even better than If I Ever Get Out of Here, and I loved the stuffing out of that book. Give Me Some Truth is moving, funny, and amazing in every possible way. Unpretentious stories about young people creating art are my kryptonite, and this novel excels in that regard. (There's a playlist!) As with If I Ever Get Out of Here, I learned a lot about Tuscarora Nation culture and history, as well as racism that targets Indigenous people, and that information is interwoven into the plot and the characters' voices in ways that feel completely organic.
There is also an extremely realistic portrayal of adults who prey on teenagers. There's very little—beyond the age difference--about the adult that screams, “Predator, stay away!” at first, and we see it from the teenager's point of view. I don't want to spoil anything, but it's really well done, and I think that's an important thing to have in a young-adult novel. Like many of my generation, I second-guessed myself a lot when a sexual predator was, say, a super likable high school math teacher instead of a mustache-twirling villain who popped out from behind the bushes, so I am beyond thrilled about the nuanced, realistic description here.
I also really liked that one of the two narrative voices was a teenager who didn't drive a main story line, but closely watched it as it developed.
Okay, so I guess I've written a long, largely incoherent love letter to Give Me Some Truth after all. TL;DR: This is an utterly amazing novel. Read it.
This is own-voices for Tuscarora Nation resident representation.
The dual narration by Eric Gansworth and Brittany LeBorgne is excellent.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I had a harder time getting into this one, but ultimately enjoyed it. I liked and cared about both characters. I preferred Maggi's POV chapters to Carson's in the beginning, and then flip-flopped about halfway through and much preferred Carson's. Maggi's relationship with Jim really creeped me out and was something I just couldn't get past. The thing I loved most about this book is the powerful sense of setting. Gansworth really brings Maggi and Carson's world to life.
Unfortunately I was unable to enjoy this book as much as others.
I had to force myself to finish reading it, and I feel bad for even admitting that.
Its not that the writing was bad - or even the plot- its just that I couldn't seem to connect with the characters enough to even want to keep reading chapter after chapter.
Maybe I will try again at a later date.
I had to force myself to finish reading it, and I feel bad for even admitting that.
Its not that the writing was bad - or even the plot- its just that I couldn't seem to connect with the characters enough to even want to keep reading chapter after chapter.
Maybe I will try again at a later date.
I don't know anything about the Beatles, or John Lennon, or Yoko Ono, which is how I know I missed some of the more subtle stuff in this book. It was still incredible, though--well written and emotionally true from start to finish. I loved the dual POV. It fit better and contributed to the story more than any other multi-POV story I can think off offhand.
I gave it 100 pages. The description described the teens forming a band. I think it needs to be described differently or the first 100 pages should have more going on in it. Wanted to like it, but at times it didn't feel like the book knew what it was. A YA? an adult book flashing back to growing up?
This book did not take me anywhere that I expected, and I loved it. As a white person who did not grow up in the 80s nor liked The Beatles any more than the very casual fan, this book was a little out of my depth in terms of...well, a lot. Told between two narratives, Give Me Some Truth shines some light on what it's like to grow up on a reservation in the 80s. Carson has grown up on the reservation for his life, and finds a renewed sense of purpose while preparing for the Battle of the Bands. Maggi, however, returns to the reservation, and discovers that she doesn't quite fit in with the rest of them--even though she knows all the same laws and understands the severity of race relations. And, they both really love John Lennon, so perhaps a first love is in store.
For seventeen year old Carson, that would be Maggi, and for Maggi, that would be Jim, the 30 year old white man who might be able to take her off the reservation in just a couple years. And, you know those characters that you know the moment they step on the page that you're going to dislike? Yeah, that's Jim. I mean, what business does a 30 year old man have to do with a girl half his age? He's even worse than the racist burger joint owner--at least the racist dude knows he's being shitty. Jim is somehow a victim of doublethink--both manipulative and knowledgeable of the power dynamic and helplessly in love. But alas, they are both necessary characters to this narrative. They're the kind of characters you love to hate.
In a similar vein, Carson is also a little unlikeable, though he's entirely necessary to the plot. He's your average seventeen year old who thinks he's done everything right in terms of romance--and doesn't get the girl. In fact, he gets a good ol' talking to by Maggi and his best friend Lewis, who he treats pretty poorly.
What isn't necessarily necessary, but is a whole lot of fun is the multi-media aspectof this book. Between the parts and interludes are Maggi's experimental beading artwork, and at the end of the novel is a playlist and discography of all the songs referenced to in Gansworth's book. I'd never seen that before, and it was a wholly creative move.
Overall, this book is long but worth it, especially if you're invested in Own Voices literature and Native American literature--there's a lot to be both learned and enjoyed, especially as a historical fiction and musical novel.
Review cross-listed here!
For seventeen year old Carson, that would be Maggi, and for Maggi, that would be Jim, the 30 year old white man who might be able to take her off the reservation in just a couple years. And, you know those characters that you know the moment they step on the page that you're going to dislike? Yeah, that's Jim. I mean, what business does a 30 year old man have to do with a girl half his age? He's even worse than the racist burger joint owner--at least the racist dude knows he's being shitty. Jim is somehow a victim of doublethink--both manipulative and knowledgeable of the power dynamic and helplessly in love. But alas, they are both necessary characters to this narrative. They're the kind of characters you love to hate.
In a similar vein, Carson is also a little unlikeable, though he's entirely necessary to the plot. He's your average seventeen year old who thinks he's done everything right in terms of romance--and doesn't get the girl. In fact, he gets a good ol' talking to by Maggi and his best friend Lewis, who he treats pretty poorly.
What isn't necessarily necessary, but is a whole lot of fun is the multi-media aspectof this book. Between the parts and interludes are Maggi's experimental beading artwork, and at the end of the novel is a playlist and discography of all the songs referenced to in Gansworth's book. I'd never seen that before, and it was a wholly creative move.
Overall, this book is long but worth it, especially if you're invested in Own Voices literature and Native American literature--there's a lot to be both learned and enjoyed, especially as a historical fiction and musical novel.
Review cross-listed here!
Carson tries to start a band so he can win a trip to NYC. Maggi falls for her sleaze-bag boss and plans to lose her virginity to him. Chapters are titled with John and Yoko songs.
I liked the alternating point of view and the interesting characters. The Native American perspective is much needed in literature and I'm considering adopting this one for the classroom.