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ecthompson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death and Death
redheadorganist'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Abandonment, Grief, Racism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault
mdavis26's review
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Abandonment, Animal death, Death, and Death of parent
voela321's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Adult/minor relationship
mandi4886's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Medical content, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Medical trauma, and Sexism
Moderate: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, Racism, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Mental illness, Infidelity, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Racism, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Pregnancy
laura_berger's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Child death, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Rape, and Racism
leahsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Part of what made this story so engrossing was the fact that it was based on actual events, a devastating blizzard in 1888. This follows the story of several different characters, building a narrative that I couldn't stop listening to, and one that will stick with me for a long time.
First, it describes the very different paths that two sisters take - Raina and Gerda Olsen, who are both schoolteachers in their teen years, working in different areas of the prairie. It also tracks Anette, a young girl with a difficult life, and Gavin, a repentant news reporter who wants to redeem himself after being exiled to the plains from New York and being forced to write propaganda luring people out to buy property in the largely unpopulated area.
When the blizzard strikes out of nowhere on an unseasonably warm day, each of the main characters makes very different choices, which have unexpected consequences. I loved the way the story unfolded - we learn about backstories from each of the characters, so we understand their motivations and personalities. By the time the blizzard occurred, I was completely engrossed in the story and totally invested in the outcomes for each of the characters.
I also enjoyed that the story didn't end immediately after the blizzard. In fact, about half the story continued, focusing on the aftermath of the blizzard. It wasn't an easy read, because it dealt with difficult subject matter (death, death of children, racism, discrimination against indigenous people), but it was incredibly interesting. This is one that made history fascinating.
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, and Racism
nickyalex23's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Medical trauma
apassporttoliterature's review
4.0
Graphic: Child death and Death
kukushka'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Racism
Minor: Cannibalism