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nicolefrailedits's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Racism, Pregnancy, and Child death
Minor: Alcoholism
kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
I’m so glad that Heartdrum Press republished this book of Smith’s as I did not have it on my radar, and I truly loved it. It was such an emotional book, looking at grief and trauma, but also a heart-filling story, showing how to survive after a loss and how your passions can help with your healing.
miszjeanie's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
3.5
dukeml29's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I had read this as a kid. There were so many messages within it about family, friendship, love, and culture that I think everyone should hear.
tcdancer4u's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
3.5
clesuma's review against another edition
3.0
It was refreshing to read a contemporary YA novel with a Native American protagonist that avoids--and often pokes fun at--typical stereotypes of Natives as noble savages or mystical Others, a sentiment illustrated by the book's title. Cassidy Rain Berghoff is a very typical teen dealing with difficult issues--absentee parents (her mother is dead and her father serves overseas in the military), the death of her best friend, her brother's engagement to his pregnant fiancee, and the town's opposition to funding her aunt's summer Indian Camp for Native youth. While I enjoyed the book overall, it was a little slow in places, despite only being around 150 pages long. I'd recommend this for girls and anyone looking for insight into a more modern portrayal of Native Americans.
caittschida's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I got 75% of the way through and couldn’t finish it. While it’s short it was rather surface level and is definitely geared more towards Middle-grade than YA. I think this distinction in genre could really help the author find the target audience. While it was republished and “updated” it still feels pretty dated. Not to say that others shouldn’t read this, it just didn’t fit my expectations for a YA book.
ali___cat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
A quiet, short YA story about 14 yo Rain and her healing process after the death of her best friend. The other main story line is Rain grappling with her Native heritage on her (deceased) mother’s side of her family and growing up as one of the only Native American kids in a small town. This book was originally published in 2001 and was re-released in 2021 by Heartdrum, an imprint dedicated to children’s literature by Indigenous authors. Should you decide to read it, please find the 2021 edition as the author did line edits to change some race, gender, and ability related language. The new cover is much better too.