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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
DNF @ 44%
I'm bummed to be DNFing this, but I just don't find myself excited to keep going.
I'm bummed to be DNFing this, but I just don't find myself excited to keep going.
Excellent story with an ending that brought tears to my eyes. The author did an amazing job at representing a teen that is being bullied - a unique tale woven with the importance of the preservation of stories, both your own and ones entrusted to us.
I want to say 3.75 or low 4. This had some pacing issues for me. I loved the rolling head story and thought that was really interesting. Part two moved along great and really gripped:moved me. Lots of good themes and representation. I thought maybe too many themes were explored and (marriage issues, drugs, alcohol, gender, bullying, trafficking, missing indigenous women etc etc. ) and may have been stronger with more focus on the main themes. Definitely more thriller or general fiction than horror. Reminded me of Fire Keepers Daughter but I believe I enjoyed that more.
Really complicated feelings about this book. Excellent premise, but the execution did not work for me. There a part of me that wishes the author wrote this later instead of as his debut. Too much is tackled in this story that my focus was split and I started to wonder what the story was about. To me, this book had 2 half finished novels in one - one that the premise promised and the other about the narrator and their struggles with identity. They should definitely live in the same world and be connected, but together in one story is too much and they weren’t in sync.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
I listened to the book on audio and at the beginning it includes a thorough list of triggers. Pay attention to this list. If you have spent time in Indian Country you will recognize the nuances of life with the inside and outside. Nick has written them beautifully. I hope you are inspired to learn, understand and act on what you encounter.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was fine, but not great. The fraught sisterly relationship between Anna (our protagonist) and Grace (her younger sister) was the emotional core. Medina addressed the epidemic of missing Indigenous women and girls, but I didn’t fully connect with any of the characters. Anna felts clueless at times in a way that didn’t fit with her behavior the rest of the time.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-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
A good story that deals with some heavy topics. A lot of the progression is predictable but, in this case, I don't think that subtracts from the story. I also enjoy all the nat9ve traditions weaved throughout.
Though it took a while to finish, I’m in complete awe of this book. A thrilling, heartbreaking, and a little too realistic debut. A fantastic way to connect an epidemic still happening today, with Native legends and tales. I can’t wait to read more of Medina’s work because I will eat up every. Last. Bit.
sad
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