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kappafrog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is a lot heavier than what I usually read. The enjoyment for me was limited somewhat by how dark it got at times. I really admire this book though and want to read more by Hokeah. My favourite story in the book was probably Vincent's, and I loved Ever's and Opbee's too. Turtle's was the most opaque for me. Overall, Hokeah absolutely excelled at telling this multi generational story.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Genocide, Incest, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and War
mandaazzi's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
biobeetle's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Terminal illness, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
lilcoppertop's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
alexisgarcia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Alcohol, and Colonisation
just_one_more_paige's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
ulogil's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt
caseythereader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
- The way the many voices of this book weave together is masterful. Each perspective gave more dimension and life not only to Ever but to everyone and everywhere in his life.
- It's alternately uplifting and heartbreaking, watching these characters hurt each other while struggling to break cycles of trauma, but ultimately coming together to try again because their love stretches back generations.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
shelleyanderson4127's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Ever's mother Turtle, of Kiowa and Cherokee heritage, struggles to provide a secure home for her children and to put food on the table. In a last act of redemption, Ever's alcoholic grandfather makes Ever and his cousin dance regalia and introduces them to pow-wows and the Kiowa Gourd Dance. His Cherokee grandmother gifts Ever, and later Ever's own children, hand-made quilts full of their own healing.
The details of indigenous life and the different family voices form the gripping emotional core of this work. Poverty, addiction, corruption and the struggle for affordable housing are clearly depicted, alongside the strength of family, community, and knowing one's roots.
There are many moving chapters that will stay with me from this debut novel. These include the story of Vincent Geimausaddle, who abandoned Turtle as a child, dying as a result of alcohol abuse, but who fights to build a good relationship with his grandsons, and to pass on some of his Kiowa culture. And the story of Opbee Geimausaddle, a relative of Ever's, who understands the power of her grandmother's quilts to save lives. The blanket dance in the title refers to a custom of community members contributing money on a blanket and presenting it to honor or to help a family in need. Ever has sold his grandmother's quilts in order to keep his family together, and Opbee embarks on a journey to reunite his children with their quilts, a journey that will heal both her and the children.
"If we were echoes from one voice we wouldn't carry very far," says a character in the book. "We've echoed through endless generations because we are constructed by the voices of many." Ultimately this very moving novel is about survival in the face of devastating violence.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Police brutality, and Colonisation
schnurln's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Child death
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Self harm, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Vomit
Generational trauma