A review by karlibs93
A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated

5.0

This book was not easy to read. The depictions of life in Indian Boarding Schools were gut-wrenching and painful. But the exploration of generational trauma and healing is beautiful. The counsel (which I hope is an intentional homophone choice in the title) provided by the dolls to their respective girls is also powerful, whether you want to interpret that as projection or maybe something a little more magical. There is also a deeply resounding message in the divine femine of following a maternal line through this story.
The quartet of women standing beneath  the moon is such strong imagery of female divinity and power, and it was striking as a moment of closure for all of their pains.
This book was hard on my heart to read, but well worth it.
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