Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - The Seed Keeper

This is one of the best literary fiction novels I’ve read in a long time. I think what resonated with me about this one, is that there was something comforting, familiar, and relatable about the way Rosalie’s surroundings are portrayed, with the setting described so similar to the environment I know. The most memorable moment for me came during Marie Blackbird’s (one of Rosalie’s ancestors) reflections on sandhill cranes:

“It was that sound that got to me, as if he had called up the past in a circle around us. Like he was telling me that he had always been here, would always be here, despite the fences, the cutting down of trees, the wooden brick buildings that were springing up across the land.”

I read this chapter just as the sandhill cranes were migrating across Edmonton (which for those of you don’t know, have an extremely loud and noticeable call) and this was such a special moment for me, and made me feel tied to the story, to her world.

I loved that there is a strong thread of environmental justice weaves through the book, that encourages the reader to make connections between our actions and its ramifications on people and planet across time. I also appreciated how scenes of belonging and alienation contrasted in a way that welcomed the reader into Rosalie’s world, and felt very relatable to me. While she comes across shy and silent; her actions misunderstood, but her internal thread so strong and direct. It is a privilege to see her rich inner life. This is one of the most stunning, immersive and heart wrenching books I’ve read in a long time and will stick with me for years to come.

Pick up this book if you:

Enjoy multilayered and non-linear timelines
Want to learn more about Dahkóta history, ways of knowing and continued impacts of settler colonialism
Are looking for a book where the setting is a main character

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lettuce_read's review

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4.5

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storiesofsophie's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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annemaries_shelves's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-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

5.0

This was an absolutely beautiful novel of a Dakota woman through her life who, as a young teen, was stolen from her community in the 70s after her father died and put into foster care. She ended up marrying a white farmer, having a son, and making something of a life for herself for a while. Until her husband dies (at the beginning of the novel) and she finally returns home to the cabin she was raised in, only to rediscover the community she still has.

There's so much to unpack in this novel about specific Dakota experiences (such as the Minnesota-Dakota war of 1862), intergenerational trauma, the importance of family and community, the reciprocal relationships with the land and water (and how modern day colonial farming practices are actively harming those relationships), and most importantly, the literal and metaphorical importance of seeds.

And while I'm sure it wasn't the goal of the author, I personally learned a lot about Dakota history and colonization in Minnesota, especially with respect to the role seeds have played in historical and contemporary Dakota culture.

While Rosalie was our main character and provided the majority of the perspective for the novel, we did spend some time (but not enough) with a few other women. I would have loved some additional chapters with Marie Blackbird or Gaby Makepeace. I felt they had a lot to offer the story and could have rounded it out even further. Some POVs from Rosalie's family (especially her mother or grandmother) would have also worked well.

My favourite part is probably the absolutely stunning nature writing that was woven throughout this novel. If you're a fan of Braiding Sweetgrass or other nature writing I think you'll love this aspect.

Overall, The Seed Keeper was a beautiful story with memorable characters with a strong message of strength, resilience, and hope. It was an absolutely pleasure to read and I made a lot of annotations of various passages and scenes that stuck with me.

It also didn't hurt that it was partially set in the deep Minnesotan winter and I could relate while reading with my current frigid snowy Canadian winter.

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bedtimesandbooks's review

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emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

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