A review by foldingthepage_kayleigh
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • 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

“You can’t have science without caring about how it’s used. You have to be a good relative.”

This is one of the best literary fiction novels I’ve read in a long time. I think what resonated with me about this one, is that there was something comforting, familiar, and relatable about the way Rosalie’s surroundings are portrayed, with the setting described so similar to the environment I know. The most memorable moment for me came during Marie Blackbird’s (one of Rosalie’s ancestors) reflections on sandhill cranes:
“It was that sound that got to me, as if he had called up the past in a circle around us. Like he was telling me that he had always been here, would always be here, despite the fences, the cutting down of trees, the wooden brick buildings that were springing up across the land.”
I read this chapter just as the sandhill cranes were migrating across Edmonton (which for those of you don’t know, have an extremely loud and noticeable call) and this was such a special moment for me, and made me feel tied to the story, to her world.

I loved that there is a strong thread of environmental justice weaves through the book, that encourages the reader to make connections between our actions and its ramifications on people and planet across time. I also appreciated how scenes of belonging and alienation contrasted in a way that welcomed the reader into Rosalie’s world, and felt very relatable to me. While she comes across shy and silent; her actions misunderstood, but her internal thread so strong and direct. It is a privilege to see her rich inner life. This is one of the most stunning, immersive and heart wrenching books I’ve read in a long time and will stick with me for years to come.

Pick up this book if you: 
  • Enjoy multilayered and non-linear timelines 
  • Want to learn more about Dahkóta history, ways of knowing and continued impacts of settler colonialism
  • Are looking for a book where the setting is a main character 
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