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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
It's so refreshing to read a book written by a man, centered around teenage girls, and for it to actually feel like it's about real teenage girls, not some weird fantasy. I especially appreciate it given the topics of sexual assault and child trafficking, and I feel like they were handled really well. The issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women is such a widespread issue that doesn't get nearly enough attention. I liked that this book showed multiple factors that influence how and why it happens and how it gets swept under the rug due to social pressures and failures in the legal system. I enjoyed how developed all the characters were, especially the way they struggled. All of the problems they faced were so real and the flaws that they show while working through them did a lot to help the reader connect to them. I also loved the fantastical/mythological realism side to it, it kind of reminded me of Sherman Alexie. The focus on struggling to keep tradition and mysticism alive contrasted the modernization and corruption that the casino brought very well. I appreciated the inclusion of the idea of being two-spirit and how modern forms of gender expression fit into centuries old cultural beliefs.
dark
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
Crying in the club, the scene where Anna goes to Sawyer to comfort him is so so heart wrenching.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Sisters of a Lost Nation was a slow, difficult but ultimately rewarding read. Unlike in Medina’s follow up novel, I think he stuck the landing — with both the storytelling and the included themes.
This novel was actually the predecessor, and Indian Burial Ground is seconds book, exploring further issues plaguing the same, fictitious Native American tribe and focusing on characters who make a brief appearance in the initial novel. (I’d thought Lula and Noemi were making a cameo. Oops.)
This novel focuses on Anna, whose sister, Grace, disappears off the reservation. Alternating between the month long span of events leading up to the disappearance as well as the search thereafter, we see the red flags that teenage Anna can’t ignore but isn’t yet equipped to address. On top of being a fusion of genres (specifically horror meets thriller), this is also a coming-of-age story for Anna. As a senior in high school, Anna faces some extreme and horrific bullying. She is struggling with her gender identity and doesn’t fully know it yet (though it’s pretty obvious to the reader). This is on top of family problems as her parents fight with increasing frequency and as Grace continues pulling away, sneaking off at night and returning in the wee hours of the morning.
I loved the fusion of Native American culture as Anna tries, in her way, to hold onto the stories of her people’s past and the way Medina incorporates two spirit individuals. I found the rolling skull aspect a little hard to wrap my head around, and it initially pulled me out of the story. But ultimately, with its tie in to traditional Takoda stories, I thought Medina pulled it together nicely.
This was a 3.5 star read, rounded up because of how Medina ultimately, skillfully wove everything together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Heartbreaking. When I came across the title in the book, I sobbed. I will be thinking about it for a long time, I believe.
Here are some websites for you to visit, retrieved from Nick Medina’s author note at the back of the book:
www.nativehope.org
www.csvanw.org
www.mmiwusa.org
www.nativewomenswilderness.org
Here are some websites for you to visit, retrieved from Nick Medina’s author note at the back of the book:
www.nativehope.org
www.csvanw.org
www.mmiwusa.org
www.nativewomenswilderness.org
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Just couldn't get invested into the characters and the storyline. Felt like it was a little all over the places, especially with the timeline jumping so much all over the place(the dates were fine, it was trying to remeber the timestamps). I tired reading and listening to it, but I just couldn't get into it. I'm going to give another go later in the future, because I'm feeling the reading slump creeping in, and I have more books I want to read this month.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Racism, Trafficking, Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder