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dude_watchin_with_the_brontes's review against another edition
4.0
This was a much harder read than The Marrow Thieves. This is a very vague spoiler:
One reason I don't read a lot of YA (besides the fact that I am not in that age group) is that so many books in that genre elevate emerging romantic relationships above all else. This book is the perfect answer to that tendency.
Spoiler
we see the way people can completely lose themselves in the face of extreme and continuous trauma. The level of dissociation could be really hard to take.One reason I don't read a lot of YA (besides the fact that I am not in that age group) is that so many books in that genre elevate emerging romantic relationships above all else. This book is the perfect answer to that tendency.
bookishlychar's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazing sequel to The Marrow Thieves. This book picks up right as the previous book finished off and I found it so much darker than the previous book, which I found dark itself. This review has some spoilers for The Marrow Thieves, so proceed at your own risk.
In this world, people have stopped dreaming except Indigenous people. Without dreams, people start to become mad and sick. It is rumoured that the ability to dream is within the marrow and non-indigenous folks have taken too extracting marrow from indigenous people so they can dream. Residential schools have again been set up to capture indigenous people and harvest their marrow. Our main character, French, has been captured by these schools and his found family is on the outside searching for him.
This story is heartbreaking, while also providing a glimpse into what one would do for the ones they love. Though the experiences of all the characters were harrowing and scary, there is so much love in this found family.
Cherie Dimaline does an incredible job exploring residential schools by combining realism of Canada's history with a dystopian world she has created. She also continued to explore the importance of family and its definition, whether it be by blood or being found.
This book was a hard read. I found myself having to take breaks throughout because of the pure emotional impact of the book. Cherie Dimaline continues to amaze me with her story telling and I will continue to read what she writes.
In this world, people have stopped dreaming except Indigenous people. Without dreams, people start to become mad and sick. It is rumoured that the ability to dream is within the marrow and non-indigenous folks have taken too extracting marrow from indigenous people so they can dream. Residential schools have again been set up to capture indigenous people and harvest their marrow. Our main character, French, has been captured by these schools and his found family is on the outside searching for him.
This story is heartbreaking, while also providing a glimpse into what one would do for the ones they love. Though the experiences of all the characters were harrowing and scary, there is so much love in this found family.
Cherie Dimaline does an incredible job exploring residential schools by combining realism of Canada's history with a dystopian world she has created. She also continued to explore the importance of family and its definition, whether it be by blood or being found.
This book was a hard read. I found myself having to take breaks throughout because of the pure emotional impact of the book. Cherie Dimaline continues to amaze me with her story telling and I will continue to read what she writes.
falana's review against another edition
4.0
The Marrow Thieves has been on my TBR list for awhile. I found this title on Hoopla, not realizing that it was 2nd in line to Marrow Thieves. I caught on quickly and enjoyed this sometimes grotesque, dystopian novel.
cloudy__queer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
babsxi123's review against another edition
5.0
A heartbreaking, face paced, couldn’t-put-it-down follow up to Marrow Thieves. A beautiful and harrowing tribute to generational trauma, building and fostering community, and recognizing that love is stronger than our greatest mistakes.
Characters kept facing impossible vs impossible choices and just when you think “there’s no way this gets worse” - it did, in fact, keep getting worse. When faced with impossible vs impossible choices, what one would you take?
I think it’s easy to say you’d rather die than betray your family or others like you, but as we saw with Frenchie and his brother, it’s not ever that simple. Would you doom a stranger to torture if that meant you could save your family from the same fate? If the answer is yes, how do you live with the choices? Would you sacrifice someone else’s newborn if it meant your 9 year old could have a longer life? And how do you forgive your loved one knowing they sacrificed an innocent stranger so you could live? Would you allow state sponsored genocide of millions of people if it meant you and your family would live?
These are only some of the ethos in this book and we haven’t even touched on surviving the horrors of residential schools. And what those survivors, and those who love them, have to live with once they’re out.
The last question above is a little too on the nose, honestly. Modern USA and Canada (just to name 2 of many) citizens are currently living our lives at the cost of state sponsored genocide of indigenous people. The basic underlying driver of this plot has already happened in real life, and I think that’s what makes this book so haunting.
Among the horrors and unimaginable suffering, there were moments of immeasurable beauty. Taking care of community when all else seemed hopeless. Not leaving the dead unburied. Learning as many indigenous languages as possible as to keep the languages living. Telling stories and honoring traditions. Holding onto bells for a future where jingle dresses could be worn again.
And the author’s writing? Top tier.
The author’s note at the end is also important to read. Lots of love and care went into this series, and I’m so glad I read it.
Characters kept facing impossible vs impossible choices and just when you think “there’s no way this gets worse” - it did, in fact, keep getting worse. When faced with impossible vs impossible choices, what one would you take?
I think it’s easy to say you’d rather die than betray your family or others like you, but as we saw with Frenchie and his brother, it’s not ever that simple. Would you doom a stranger to torture if that meant you could save your family from the same fate? If the answer is yes, how do you live with the choices? Would you sacrifice someone else’s newborn if it meant your 9 year old could have a longer life? And how do you forgive your loved one knowing they sacrificed an innocent stranger so you could live? Would you allow state sponsored genocide of millions of people if it meant you and your family would live?
These are only some of the ethos in this book and we haven’t even touched on surviving the horrors of residential schools. And what those survivors, and those who love them, have to live with once they’re out.
The last question above is a little too on the nose, honestly. Modern USA and Canada (just to name 2 of many) citizens are currently living our lives at the cost of state sponsored genocide of indigenous people. The basic underlying driver of this plot has already happened in real life, and I think that’s what makes this book so haunting.
Among the horrors and unimaginable suffering, there were moments of immeasurable beauty. Taking care of community when all else seemed hopeless. Not leaving the dead unburied. Learning as many indigenous languages as possible as to keep the languages living. Telling stories and honoring traditions. Holding onto bells for a future where jingle dresses could be worn again.
And the author’s writing? Top tier.
The author’s note at the end is also important to read. Lots of love and care went into this series, and I’m so glad I read it.
chawntay's review against another edition
5.0
This really needs to be a trilogy! So good. Very well written like I was IN THE SCENE.
skrajewski's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
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
This sequel to The Marrow Thieves picks up right where the story left off. After Miig just got back his husband and everyone is celebrating, Frenchie is captured by the Recruiters. Locked away in one of the dreaded schools, Frenchie does all he can to stay sane, from communicating with other “inmates” to talking with his long-lost brother Mitch, who was captured at the beginning of The Marrow Thieves. Meanwhile, readers gain insight into what Rose and other members of the family are doing while Frenchie is locked up. Rose is unwilling to accept that Frenchie is dead. Along with Derrick, who clearly likes her, they begin to search for him. The family plans to wait for Rose, but when they receive disturbing news about new plans that threatens the life of the baby Wab and Chi Boy are expecting, they decide to move south toward the United States. But there is danger at every turn for all of them, people that can’t be trusted, and all of them must make tough decisions to stay safe.
What a heartbreaking, yet often hopeful, sequel that will keep readers up late at night, eager to learn what happens next. It was hard to venture back into the horrific world Dimaline created, but I was left with hope, for Frenchie and his family were bound by love for one another.
What a heartbreaking, yet often hopeful, sequel that will keep readers up late at night, eager to learn what happens next. It was hard to venture back into the horrific world Dimaline created, but I was left with hope, for Frenchie and his family were bound by love for one another.
rebelqueen's review against another edition
4.0
Great expansion on the Marrow Thieves dystopian universe.
samhhester's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5