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A review by serendipitysbooks
Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Crow Mary was a satisfying historical fiction read. It’s based on the life of an indigenous woman Goes First who became known as Crow Mary after she married a white fur trader, and features real historical events including the little-known Cypress Hills Massacre. Crow Mary, as portrayed here, is a wonderful character - adventurous, intelligent, passionate, resourceful, loyal, determined, fierce and brave, qualities clearly demonstrated during the Cypress Hills Massacre when she single-handedly rescued a group of Nakoda women who had been kidnapped and raped by white traders. I always enjoy reading about a strong female protagonist, especially those overlooked by traditional history.
Crow Mary’s story unfolds against a background of rapid change forced on the Crow and other Native American people by the expanding white population and their insatiable demand for land and power. Among the most egregious to impact Mary and her family were traders, alcohol, reservations and residential schools. The portrayal of the increasing impact white society had on the traditional Crow way of life, not to mention the vulnerability of the Crow people to white injustice was one of the strong points of the novel.
This book was written by a white author. She had done a lot of research and consulted widely with Crow people including some of Mary’s descendants. An author’s note separates fact from fiction and outlines the care she took to tell Mary’s story in a culturally respectful way which I appreciated. However, the story is inevitably told through a white lens for a predominantly non-indigenous readership. I hope that readers who enjoy it will take the time and effort to seek out own voices indigenous stories. I know I’ve got several lined up.
Crow Mary’s story unfolds against a background of rapid change forced on the Crow and other Native American people by the expanding white population and their insatiable demand for land and power. Among the most egregious to impact Mary and her family were traders, alcohol, reservations and residential schools. The portrayal of the increasing impact white society had on the traditional Crow way of life, not to mention the vulnerability of the Crow people to white injustice was one of the strong points of the novel.
This book was written by a white author. She had done a lot of research and consulted widely with Crow people including some of Mary’s descendants. An author’s note separates fact from fiction and outlines the care she took to tell Mary’s story in a culturally respectful way which I appreciated. However, the story is inevitably told through a white lens for a predominantly non-indigenous readership. I hope that readers who enjoy it will take the time and effort to seek out own voices indigenous stories. I know I’ve got several lined up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Racism