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A review by ajeversole
Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell
5.0
This book is so good! It's like dipping into a CSI: Indian Reservation show. There is so much complexity in this story, and of course, it isn't based on a real story, but there are notes of every real MMIW story out there, too. The epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women is a serious reality for Native women and girls both on their reservations and off of it. K.A. Cobell dives into this in a way that shows our resilience, but also the heartbreak and fear that is never absent from our lives.
As a Native American myself (Cherokee), even though this wasn't my tribe I was left with such a feeling of kinship it was overwhleming. The realities of reservation life aren't hidden, but they aren't exploited in a way that feels like poverty porn. Or hopelessness. Im very thankful for that.
The story revolves between the four pov's of teenagers on the Blackfeet Reservation. Each one is present just before a girl who has ties to them is discovered strangled. They are all suspects in the case, and all have close ties to others that may also be suspects, each are motivated to clear their own names and those of their kin on the list while also dealing with the dissonance that at the end of the day the murderer will be someone's father, friend, son, cousin, etc.
There were several moments in the book that left me teary-eyed and emotional. The characters are all layered with feelings. Their actions are so understandable. Each one will tug on your heartstrings. They are each reflections of the Native experience manifested in different ways. I hope non-Natives find ways to relate to them, and I hope Natives get to see themselves or their communities in the characters. I know they will.
Lastly, this book was written by a Blackfeet author. I am so happy to see authors of Native heritage writing books that I know will help the Native youth across all of this nation. I am so thankful it was written and that it was picked up to be shared by a Native imprint, Heartdrum, at a major publishing house, Harper Collins. This book is a huge win for Natives everywhere. The spirit of resilience will be familiar to all the Natives who read this book and the best thing about it is that it will be helpful to past, present and, the one Im most grateful for, future Native young people.
Ultimately, please read this book! I love it. I can't wait to support K.A. Cobell's whole career, if this is how she debuts out of the gate, I can only imagine the power in the rest of her art.
Thanks, Heartdrum & Harper Collins, for the ARC!
As a Native American myself (Cherokee), even though this wasn't my tribe I was left with such a feeling of kinship it was overwhleming. The realities of reservation life aren't hidden, but they aren't exploited in a way that feels like poverty porn. Or hopelessness. Im very thankful for that.
The story revolves between the four pov's of teenagers on the Blackfeet Reservation. Each one is present just before a girl who has ties to them is discovered strangled. They are all suspects in the case, and all have close ties to others that may also be suspects, each are motivated to clear their own names and those of their kin on the list while also dealing with the dissonance that at the end of the day the murderer will be someone's father, friend, son, cousin, etc.
There were several moments in the book that left me teary-eyed and emotional. The characters are all layered with feelings. Their actions are so understandable. Each one will tug on your heartstrings. They are each reflections of the Native experience manifested in different ways. I hope non-Natives find ways to relate to them, and I hope Natives get to see themselves or their communities in the characters. I know they will.
Lastly, this book was written by a Blackfeet author. I am so happy to see authors of Native heritage writing books that I know will help the Native youth across all of this nation. I am so thankful it was written and that it was picked up to be shared by a Native imprint, Heartdrum, at a major publishing house, Harper Collins. This book is a huge win for Natives everywhere. The spirit of resilience will be familiar to all the Natives who read this book and the best thing about it is that it will be helpful to past, present and, the one Im most grateful for, future Native young people.
Ultimately, please read this book! I love it. I can't wait to support K.A. Cobell's whole career, if this is how she debuts out of the gate, I can only imagine the power in the rest of her art.
Thanks, Heartdrum & Harper Collins, for the ARC!