Reviews

Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger

brulereads's review

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adventurous reflective 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

4.5

Very enjoyable prequel to Elatsoe! I was fully invested in Shane's quest. Yet, I didn't think it was perfect as the side characters could have been stronger and the brief wrap up of a major plot line was too brief. Also, the dog is FINE.
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lamanda_quiring's review

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

susannelucyluisa's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

4.75

inkpressedpage's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

arcly's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

tyches_dice's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.75

cmckayo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

riahwamby's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

starrysteph's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

Between ghost dogs & wooly mammoths, rings that transport you across space and time, and mystical journeys to Below to save lost children – Sheine Lende is certainly an adventure. But beneath all its exciting magic, it’s ultimately an incredibly touching story of grief, community, and love. 

We follow seventeen-year-old Shane, who helps her mom on search-and-rescue missions for lost children in between her shifts at a pizza restaurant. By her side are three loveable dogs (two alive, one ghostly) and her little brother Marcos who she shields fiercely. 

Shane’s mother doesn’t accept any payment, and their whole family was devastated and displaced after a flood took away their home and Shane’s father and grandparents. And then - one rescue mission goes bizarrely wrong, and Shane’s mother and two kids go missing. Shane will do whatever it takes to find them, even if they’ve crossed boundaries of space, time, and realms. 

I love how Darcie Little Badger writes young voices. The characters feel very earnestly like teenagers, and it’s all so grounded and connected. It feels like she’s writing for a younger version of herself.

There are beautiful themes here: community and home and the act of fiercely protecting loved ones. Plus the process of grief and healing while keeping memories of those you’ve lost alive. Shane is Lipan Apache, and she wants to preserve and protect her people, her ancestors, and even her language. She’s also had to navigate diminishing herself for protection. There’s a heart-wrenching flashback where her little brother refers to their family as ‘extinct’, and they all grapple with preventing that extinction of life and culture.

It’s a whimsical world, and Shane is filled with bright optimism and spirit. She never, ever gives up, even though she’s lived through horrific trauma that would make anyone reasonably pessimistic & doubtful. It hits hard - it made me tear up for sure.

I wished that some of the cryptids and creatures were explored more - I felt left with a smattering of loose ends. I also think that conflicts could have been elevated. It didn’t feel like there were any true risks or true danger here, and I think it would have been more impactful to linger a bit closer to disaster, especially in the underworld. 

But this was a phenomenal read, and I want to put it in the hands of every young teenager! It’s filled with caring adults, thoughtful metaphors, wonderful friendships, fierce resilience, GHOSTLY MAMMOTHS, and so much heart.  

And I have to add SO much love for the cover. Just as beautiful as Elatsoe (if not more), and the illustrations at the top of each chapter were so lovely as well. 

CW: death (parent/child), grief, colonization, injury, abandonment, terminal illness, animal death, alcohol, car accident, racism

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(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

lisbethwhite's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0