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njlanzetta 's review for:
The Removed
by Brandon Hobson
This was the second BOTM I read in a row that I thought about DNF'ing about a third of the way through, but again, I am glad I stuck it out because I really ended up liking it! I now know to trust BOTM, so I won't consider DNF'ing one of their picks again lol. This novel follows the Echota family in the days leading up to the 15th anniversary of their son and brother's death. Teenager Ray Ray was killed by a police officer and 15 years later, the family is still dealing with his loss, all in their own ways. This was a haunting and emotional read that weaved in Cherokee mythology. I personally loved the chapters that focused on Cherokee ancestor, even if they didn't make complete sense when I read them at the time. Parts of it seemed really strange to me, but everything tied together and made sense at the end. I especially loved the POV of the mother as she dealt with her husbands Alzheimers, trying to bring her family together for the anniversary of Ray Ray's death, and fostering a 12 year old boy who reminds her a lot of Ray Ray. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and think its worth it to work through the slow beginning. I also think I would get a lot more out of it on a subsequent read, now having the context of what happens and how everything connects.