alexashabit's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Child abuse
kieranyes's review against another edition
emotional
informative
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, Racial slurs, and Death of parent
jadestarting's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ruth_rb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
4.0
Wonderful book that feels deeply important.
To me, it read a lot like nonfiction rather than fiction and it’s hard to put my finger on why. I think that feeling was due to the style and even tone.
I really liked the three perspectives, they gave the book fantastic breadth, but I felt the trade off was depth and I didn’t connect very deeply with any of the three narrators. That being said, the characters all felt like real people, which is what matters most.
To me, it read a lot like nonfiction rather than fiction and it’s hard to put my finger on why. I think that feeling was due to the style and even tone.
I really liked the three perspectives, they gave the book fantastic breadth, but I felt the trade off was depth and I didn’t connect very deeply with any of the three narrators. That being said, the characters all felt like real people, which is what matters most.
fiberreader's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
This is really a stunning, gut-wrenching book. I read it shortly after the news was broken in Canada of the remains found on the grounds of a residential school, and it seemed fitting. The effects of colonialism and the efforts to try to eradicate native cultures are not in the past, and it's perhaps more important than ever to keep the cultures that others have tried to bury alive.
For the most part, I found the writing to be really beautiful and moving. I especially enjoyed the use of Poppy's dictionary and the choice of terms to define as a way to illustrate the devastation of racism and colonialism on this family in particular and on Indigenous people in general. There was a spot in maybe the last quarter of the book where it felt like the writing changed, like the narrative was being hurried toward its conclusion (or maybe perhaps it was this reader hurrying to get to the conclusion) and wasn't quite as eloquent as it had been. That is really the only thing that kept this from being a 5-star read for me; the change was noticeable enough to be distracting to me.
This is really a stunning, gut-wrenching book. I read it shortly after the news was broken in Canada of the remains found on the grounds of a residential school, and it seemed fitting. The effects of colonialism and the efforts to try to eradicate native cultures are not in the past, and it's perhaps more important than ever to keep the cultures that others have tried to bury alive.
For the most part, I found the writing to be really beautiful and moving. I especially enjoyed the use of Poppy's dictionary and the choice of terms to define as a way to illustrate the devastation of racism and colonialism on this family in particular and on Indigenous people in general. There was a spot in maybe the last quarter of the book where it felt like the writing changed, like the narrative was being hurried toward its conclusion (or maybe perhaps it was this reader hurrying to get to the conclusion) and wasn't quite as eloquent as it had been. That is really the only thing that kept this from being a 5-star read for me; the change was noticeable enough to be distracting to me.
itsprobable's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
very slow paced but the dictionary element was really cool
bitesizebooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
madisonbrooke08's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0