Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

60 reviews

spicycronereads's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was an interesting concept - a post apocalyptic North America where the apocalypse was a combination of climate change, colonialism, and capitalism. So…near future sci fi. The central concept - that non-indigenous people have lost the ability to dream and now hunt and try to harvest dreams from indigenous folks, killing them in the process - was really strong.

The story initially follows MMC Frenchie as his family is displaced and eventually lost. He joins a group of other indigenous folks in his quest to continue following his parents’ direction to travel North. But it feels more like an ensemble of characters rather than necessarily Frenchie’s story. We get glimpses of the backstories of a few of the secondary characters and as result they seem to almost have more dimension than Frenchie or his love interest Rose, the multi racial character who joins the band of travelers. There was a bit more showing rather than telling in terms of character development so I didn’t quite feel as drawn in as I could have.

I would have liked more back story on Minerva. Obviously her role as elder is really important but that and the brief story of her SA is kind of all we know. Similarly, there was no attention to where Frenchie’s dad had been all this time or how he came to be where he was. Same for Isaac. Though I was pleasantly surprised when it was him among the other group. I expected it to be someone else from Frenchie’s family

That said, it was still an enjoyable read. As I said, the concept is really interesting. It is well-paced. I read most of it in a day. And there are a few twists that are simultaneously predictable and surprising. Don’t want to say more for fear of spoiling.

In terms of diverse representation, the book is primarily indigenous characters, with a few multi racial characters here and there. There is a gay man among the main characters. 

There is a romance subplot but it is also suffers from the author telling rather than showing. It also goes from the character stating they are in love with the other person to later only really liking them. So that was a bit confusing.  I give it one swoony heart. 💖

Overall, I liked it, despite these issues. They didn’t accumulate to the light where I didn’t enjoy the book. I will likely read the second one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 💖

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Colonisation

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, and Animal death

Reservation schools, SA happens once on page (though not described in detail) and once mentioned in passing.

purplepickle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Child death, Drug use, Genocide, Death of parent, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Grief

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

kaymaxwell's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Genocide, Sexual violence, and Forced institutionalization

tlaynejones's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, Medical trauma, Racism, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, and Genocide

Moderate: Drug use and Sexual assault

lisettemarie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Colonisation, and Child death

Moderate: Rape, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Murder, and Violence

munchkennina's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Child death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Rape

Minor: Alcoholism and Cannibalism

leenzreadz's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Death, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Violence, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Blood

kchin's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Heartbreaking, heartwarming, love, loss, fear, hopeful, devastating, all at once. An incredible YA read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Murder, War, Abandonment, Addiction, Blood, Child death, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence

thenextbookdilemma's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Confinement, Child death, and Trafficking

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Death of parent, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Alcoholism

enyltiak's review against another edition

Was assigned this book for a class on historical perspectives in young adult literature and just somehow never finished it during the term. This was a year ago and I have just had zero desire or drive to finish it despite being so close. As a concept it was so intriguing, but ultimately the execution did nothing for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Racism, Death, Genocide, and Violence