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4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
No notes.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Rape
I listened to this one on audiobook (which I don't typically do) and it was great especially to be able to hear the language -- so much of the good stuff about this book comes through in the way it portrays the language, culture, beliefs, history, challenges, and community of the Anishinaabe. I loved getting a glimpse into that world, and I enjoyed Granny June, the elders, aunties and her friendship with Lily the most.
Less effective, for me, was the mystery/crime storyline and the romance. She is 17 at the start, and an undercover cop 4 years older seems like a creepy relationship, especially for a girl who is grieving and suffering from trauma. Initially I was getting a bit of a Veronica Mars vibe, and willing to follow the premise of this girl being a CI, and investigating these mysteries on her own (were the FBI doing a lot of their own investigating? It seems like they are waiting around for her to figure it all out for them). The plot just got overstuffed with all of the different things happening, with varying degrees of plausibility.
The ending was too over the top, and I had trouble believing some of the characters would act the way that they did, though I loved how her community did rally around her.
*spoilers ahead*
Levi never really asks Daunis about the "business deal" in any real way, so it seemed insane that the next step for him to "convince" her would be to kidnap her boyfriend, have her drugged, and chain her inside a trailer as a way to do it. His motivation for getting involved in the first place seems flimsy, and to think she would ever be on board after what happened with Travis and Lily is baffling. More believable that creepy Mike and his horrible, disgusting predator father would be involved, and not such a stretch for the lovable coach to turn out to have a more devious side. But the brother, no, and that she was able to fairly rationally and calmly appeal to him rather than trying to beat the crap out of him for being such a freakin' moron or screaming or lashing out in any real way also felt strange to me.
Less effective, for me, was the mystery/crime storyline and the romance. She is 17 at the start, and an undercover cop 4 years older seems like a creepy relationship, especially for a girl who is grieving and suffering from trauma. Initially I was getting a bit of a Veronica Mars vibe, and willing to follow the premise of this girl being a CI, and investigating these mysteries on her own (were the FBI doing a lot of their own investigating? It seems like they are waiting around for her to figure it all out for them). The plot just got overstuffed with all of the different things happening, with varying degrees of plausibility.
The ending was too over the top, and I had trouble believing some of the characters would act the way that they did, though I loved how her community did rally around her.
*spoilers ahead*
Levi never really asks Daunis about the "business deal" in any real way, so it seemed insane that the next step for him to "convince" her would be to kidnap her boyfriend, have her drugged, and chain her inside a trailer as a way to do it. His motivation for getting involved in the first place seems flimsy, and to think she would ever be on board after what happened with Travis and Lily is baffling. More believable that creepy Mike and his horrible, disgusting predator father would be involved, and not such a stretch for the lovable coach to turn out to have a more devious side. But the brother, no, and that she was able to fairly rationally and calmly appeal to him rather than trying to beat the crap out of him for being such a freakin' moron or screaming or lashing out in any real way also felt strange to me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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:
No
challenging
emotional
informative
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder
Moderate: Racism
This book is just not my cup of tea.
The mystery is too much of a slow burn. I love the fact that a native American community gets attention in a book, but all the names and especially the long prayer in chapter 13 got me losing attention.
And it doesn't help that Daunis and I almost share the same last name and that my brother's name is David. 😅
The mystery is too much of a slow burn. I love the fact that a native American community gets attention in a book, but all the names and especially the long prayer in chapter 13 got me losing attention.
And it doesn't help that Daunis and I almost share the same last name and that my brother's name is David. 😅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow, I was completely unprepared for this book. The storyline follows an indigenous community, weaving together lives of native and modern day culture. Like many neighborhoods in America today, a drug epidemic is slowly unraveling its members. And it is up to the main character to uncover its source. The writing style of the author gripped me from beginning to end, highlighting the many things I never knew about the ways native culture and the US government clash and intersect. I will definitely be reading more from this author!