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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
This feels more like magical realism than fantasy to me and I think this just solidified that is just not a genre I enjoy. I wanted to love this so bad but I hate the feeling of like “wait was that real or not??” I wanna be fully into fantasy or fully in the real world, something about this just does not work for me.
adventurous
funny
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
I know this sounds terrible, but... It would have been better if the dog didn't make it back. It is a series, so it would have given readers a pleasant surprise in the second book, but oh well, lol. I liked it! It was unique and written in a manner that didn't leave you bored. Unfortunately, it is like most YA books where world-building isn't a priority. Considering this is a debut novel, though, there is hope that the author is going to go full tilt into this magical USA and more into Native lore. The ending left a lot to be desired because I don't particularly have the yearning to go get book two. Regardless, I enjoyed the book for what it was.
adventurous
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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
Popsugar 2021: a book by an indigenous author.
This is an enjoyable little book for one that centers around loss and dispossession. Elatsoe, or Ellie ( and I do wish that the author had let me in on how to pronounce that name earlier in the book) is a high school senior with a family legacy- her family knows how to talk to the dead. Each generation has one person who is taught this magic. Ellie is accompanied by her dead dog's spirit, Kirby-it's great because you know that the dog won't die in this book- he's already a ghost! It's taboo to raise human spirits, though, because human ghosts aren't like who they were in life but are consumed with seeking vengeance and violence.
Ellie ends up going down to Texas with her family because her cousin is killed in a car accident. All doesn't seem to be usual with this accident, though, and Ellie wants to poke around to find out more. Her cousin's widow is perhaps a bit too interested in how Ellie's powers work. Her parents don't want her doing anything that could be dangerous at all. Ellie dreamt about her cousin as he died, and she feels an obligation to him even while she understands the dangers of focusing too much on the recently dead.
There are also vampires and other supernatural creatures in this book that end up being part of the mystery. Ellie thinks a lot about the stories of her Great-Six, her six-times great-grandmother, the most famous of all those who could control and talk to spirits in her family. The stories of Great-Six are how Ellie learns more about her powers and more about how to handle the world of the supernatural.
This is also a book that points out how Indigenous people like the author relate to the world. At one point, Ellie's mother vanquishes a vampire by saying that he was not welcome in her people's home- the land which was taken from her people by white colonists. Ellie is very aware of how her land and people were affected by colonization and by reading the book, those who haven't thought about this topic much will hopefully get a bit of an education. In the end, Ellie's connection to the land is the key to victory.
This is a quick little book that reads easily. It's a bit like a Scooby-Doo adventure. But underneath that breeziness there's a lot of substance.
This is an enjoyable little book for one that centers around loss and dispossession. Elatsoe, or Ellie ( and I do wish that the author had let me in on how to pronounce that name earlier in the book) is a high school senior with a family legacy- her family knows how to talk to the dead. Each generation has one person who is taught this magic. Ellie is accompanied by her dead dog's spirit, Kirby-it's great because you know that the dog won't die in this book- he's already a ghost! It's taboo to raise human spirits, though, because human ghosts aren't like who they were in life but are consumed with seeking vengeance and violence.
Ellie ends up going down to Texas with her family because her cousin is killed in a car accident. All doesn't seem to be usual with this accident, though, and Ellie wants to poke around to find out more. Her cousin's widow is perhaps a bit too interested in how Ellie's powers work. Her parents don't want her doing anything that could be dangerous at all. Ellie dreamt about her cousin as he died, and she feels an obligation to him even while she understands the dangers of focusing too much on the recently dead.
There are also vampires and other supernatural creatures in this book that end up being part of the mystery. Ellie thinks a lot about the stories of her Great-Six, her six-times great-grandmother, the most famous of all those who could control and talk to spirits in her family. The stories of Great-Six are how Ellie learns more about her powers and more about how to handle the world of the supernatural.
This is also a book that points out how Indigenous people like the author relate to the world. At one point, Ellie's mother vanquishes a vampire by saying that he was not welcome in her people's home- the land which was taken from her people by white colonists. Ellie is very aware of how her land and people were affected by colonization and by reading the book, those who haven't thought about this topic much will hopefully get a bit of an education. In the end, Ellie's connection to the land is the key to victory.
This is a quick little book that reads easily. It's a bit like a Scooby-Doo adventure. But underneath that breeziness there's a lot of substance.
Review for Battle of the Books 2024
353 pages. Pronounced Eh-lat-so-ay. On Debbie Reese’s list of Best Books, American Indians in Children's Literature, also an honor book for American Indian Library Association 2022. Author Lipan Apache tribe of Texas (she/her). MC 17 year old Apache(she/her), offhand mention about her being asexual. When Ellie’s cousin dies, he visits her in a dream to warn her that it was no accident and she has to protect his family. MC has the ability to bring the dead back and there are other paranormal/fantasy elements. Tales woven in-between the main story about Great-Six (Ellie’s great grandmother) and mythologies that are more common in west (Oberon, Icarus) mark the importance of stories, stories are knowledge. Even though Ellie is 17 the book is both accessible and appropriate for Battle age range, it honestly reads more middle grade than YA despite MC’s age (strongest language is 2 damn, 2 asshole, 1 bitch, 1 shit). MC's parents are actually active in supporting their daughter solve the mystery of her cousin’s death. Fulfills the spooky/mystery vibes of books like The Clackity and Doll Bones. If I was there, I would be fighting hard for this book to be one of the two books picked.
353 pages. Pronounced Eh-lat-so-ay. On Debbie Reese’s list of Best Books, American Indians in Children's Literature, also an honor book for American Indian Library Association 2022. Author Lipan Apache tribe of Texas (she/her). MC 17 year old Apache(she/her), offhand mention about her being asexual. When Ellie’s cousin dies, he visits her in a dream to warn her that it was no accident and she has to protect his family. MC has the ability to bring the dead back and there are other paranormal/fantasy elements. Tales woven in-between the main story about Great-Six (Ellie’s great grandmother) and mythologies that are more common in west (Oberon, Icarus) mark the importance of stories, stories are knowledge. Even though Ellie is 17 the book is both accessible and appropriate for Battle age range, it honestly reads more middle grade than YA despite MC’s age (strongest language is 2 damn, 2 asshole, 1 bitch, 1 shit). MC's parents are actually active in supporting their daughter solve the mystery of her cousin’s death
Spoiler
even though it is Ellie with the help of her best friend Jay who put most of the pieces together and Ellie who saves the day.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced