Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
This book was a really good, and from what I can tell, accurate view of certain Native American reservations, while also dealing with LGBTQA+ topics and the idea of two-spirited persons in Native American culture. I definitely recommend this book with the warning to keep in mind that this story does not represent all of the different values and traditions held throughout the various tribes and/or bands.
*Book received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
*Book received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
i was so excited to read this book but once i opened it i wanted to cry. the way this book is narrated.. is the one style i cannot read. i was so sad . the idea of the story sounded amazing though
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
This is a beautiful story dealing with several difficult topics. Chief among them is the epidemic of Indigenous suicide; as well as drug and alcohol addiction, and homophobia. It is an incredibly nuanced and delicate look at these topics with a lot of internal thoughts and searing images. I didn't know this is the rare instance of a book written after a movie is made; I can see the cinematography of the scenes here.
I am not Indigenous and can therefore not speak to the cultural aspects of this book, nor of the experiences of the characters related to their culture and lives. What I can say is I deeply appreciated the spirituality expressed in the book. I thought it aided the story in great ways.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book. Well-written and exploring, the prose sang on the page to the point I was deeply feeling the same emotions being expressed by the characters. An absolute read-this-now as this book should not be slept on.
I am not Indigenous and can therefore not speak to the cultural aspects of this book, nor of the experiences of the characters related to their culture and lives. What I can say is I deeply appreciated the spirituality expressed in the book. I thought it aided the story in great ways.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book. Well-written and exploring, the prose sang on the page to the point I was deeply feeling the same emotions being expressed by the characters. An absolute read-this-now as this book should not be slept on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*Pick for the month of July's OMG She's Indigenous book club
I...am so conflicted.
I found this at my library in 2019 hoping to read it for my first time host of IndigAThon. Sadly, I didn't get to it, so I put it on my wishlist. One of my many mamas bought it for me, and it sat on my shelf until I mentioned this to Autumn and we chose it.
First off...there's so much wrong with this movie-to-book adaptation. I feel like the movie and the book both shit on Shane ridiculously. Tara...oh god, the most annoying girlfriend character in the history of annoying. I hated how in the movie she's painted as this victim, when in reality, she's a rapist and mentally abusive to Shane. Almost everyone shits on Shane, even David, whos's supposed to be his boyfriend. But everyone is trying to keep him contained to the reserve.
Honestly there's so much wrong with it that I can't even write it all.
The only thing that satisfied me with this was the way grief is explained in Native terms, and the way Shane feels it vs his mother. The house gets dirty, the roof starts leaking a little harder, until the house can't take it anymore.
I...am so conflicted.
I found this at my library in 2019 hoping to read it for my first time host of IndigAThon. Sadly, I didn't get to it, so I put it on my wishlist. One of my many mamas bought it for me, and it sat on my shelf until I mentioned this to Autumn and we chose it.
First off...there's so much wrong with this movie-to-book adaptation. I feel like the movie and the book both shit on Shane ridiculously. Tara...oh god, the most annoying girlfriend character in the history of annoying. I hated how in the movie she's painted as this victim, when in reality, she's a rapist and mentally abusive to Shane. Almost everyone shits on Shane, even David, whos's supposed to be his boyfriend. But everyone is trying to keep him contained to the reserve.
Honestly there's so much wrong with it that I can't even write it all.
The only thing that satisfied me with this was the way grief is explained in Native terms, and the way Shane feels it vs his mother. The house gets dirty, the roof starts leaking a little harder, until the house can't take it anymore.
This had some major insight for someone living on a rez in Canada. There was numerous of moments mentioning the relationship between the aboriginal people and the Canadian government. It was fascinating book and beautifully written. It was just lacking something that I'm not quite sure it is. I can say I don't like when people are mean to each other, especially if they know others are suffering, but they are just relentless.
My heart went out to the main character, Shane the whole book. Grief is such a hard topic and everyone deals with differently. I think that was nicely captured through Shane and Jackie, his mom, and their relationship.
I would definitely recommend this as a LGBT book, as well as an aboriginal (own voices) represented book.
My heart went out to the main character, Shane the whole book. Grief is such a hard topic and everyone deals with differently. I think that was nicely captured through Shane and Jackie, his mom, and their relationship.
I would definitely recommend this as a LGBT book, as well as an aboriginal (own voices) represented book.
This was cute. I do think a few plot lines wrapped up either too quickly or too neatly, but overall I did like my time with this.
It is a contemporary novel so I don’t have a TON of thoughts.
Interested in seeing how the movie handles this.
It is a contemporary novel so I don’t have a TON of thoughts.
Interested in seeing how the movie handles this.