samanthabw's review
3.0
This book and these women’s stories are incredibly important, and I’m so happy I learned more about this topic. Including the photos and many personal family stories was a good touch and I got the impression that the author really cared about not only this area but also the people who live there. It was difficult to read about the continuing failures of RCMP and systematic racism.
However that being said, I really did not get along with this writing style and it inhibited my reading. It felt jumbled and it was difficult to remember different names and job titles. We need many more books that cover this history and area.
May all the women and people who tragically lost their lives along the highway of tears Rest In Peace.
However that being said, I really did not get along with this writing style and it inhibited my reading. It felt jumbled and it was difficult to remember different names and job titles. We need many more books that cover this history and area.
May all the women and people who tragically lost their lives along the highway of tears Rest In Peace.
mhuntone's review
4.0
This was really difficult to read- but a much needed eye opening. I was not as familiar with the difficulties indigenous people faced and still face in Canada, compared to here in the US, and was just as sad to see much of the same history of abuse we have perpetrated against these people here. Most disturbing of course is the little value the system and people seems to place on the life of indigenous women. What a blow McDiarmid strikes for them though- this is a book that strikes at the heart, imploring you to understand who these women were, the families they left behind and how their families have continued to struggle with their loss and the repeated indifference the Canadian justice system have shown them and their loved ones. Rather than paint a lurid picture of evil, as True Crime often does, McDiarmid embraced and lifted those torn by evil and indifference. So thankful to have my eyes opened by this wonderful and heart breaking work!
kmhoover's review
4.0
I thought this was well reported. I wish the book would have had more to say about the process of gathering names from across the country, I felt like that was a missed opportunity.
mauvesoul's review
4.0
This is a hard, but enlightening read about one of Canada's most terrible secrets.
My only complaint is that I think the writing could have been organized a little better. Even so, it was chock full of emotional stories and information from all sides of the issue bringing together a well rounded look at the events that have taken place along the infamous highway
My only complaint is that I think the writing could have been organized a little better. Even so, it was chock full of emotional stories and information from all sides of the issue bringing together a well rounded look at the events that have taken place along the infamous highway
whatstracyreading's review
4.0
It's a hard book to read, especially now after the graves were recently discovered at residential school but we must acknowledge the past and what is wrong to make changes. The book was well researched my only issue with it is how she jumps around a lot with the timeline. The events should be on chronology order but they are not. Some of the cases were not introduced properly. I'm glad I read it and would recommend it but it could have been written and edited better.
saara_ilona_muu's review
4.0
This book should be required reading for every Canadian. Heartbreaking that there are so many MMIW (Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women) stories, and even more distressing how little attention their stories have received from the police, the media, and Canadians.
Jessica Mcdiarmid has really done a service to all of us by giving some of those stories a broader audience - by showing us that these women and girls had families who loved them, and miss them, and in some cases are still looking for them (or for closure).
I'm happy that I was able to listen to the audiobook, because I tried to read the paper version, but the stilted, dry writing style did not pull me in.
Jessica Mcdiarmid has really done a service to all of us by giving some of those stories a broader audience - by showing us that these women and girls had families who loved them, and miss them, and in some cases are still looking for them (or for closure).
I'm happy that I was able to listen to the audiobook, because I tried to read the paper version, but the stilted, dry writing style did not pull me in.
katharina90's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
A generally well-written, emotional account of the long-ignored emergency of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada with a focus on Hwy 16 in BC, nicknamed the Highway of Tears.
The structure of the book didn't always work for me and I would have liked to see a closer examination of the systemic issues at the heart of this genocide.
The structure of the book didn't always work for me and I would have liked to see a closer examination of the systemic issues at the heart of this genocide.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Genocide, Racism, and Colonisation
Minor: Police brutality and Sexual violence
gwechman's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica McDiarmid's debut true crime novel tackles the tough topic of murdered young women who have disappeared throughout the years. However, these aren't just any young women, they are aboriginals. These poor young women disappeared on what is known as The Highway of Tears located in Canada. The book gives insight into the road itself and the disappearance of some of these women. There were some who were found dead and there were others who were unfortunately never found. This heartbreaking story tells not only of the disappearances, but of the anguish and agony the families go through over their missing loved ones wondering if they will ever see their family member alive again. McDiarmid's novel also highlights the injustices these women faced. There were no helicopter searches. No trained search dogs. No public outcry. No publicity whatsoever. Yet, when a young white female went missing all of these things were put in place to help try and find her and return her safely to her family. These aboriginal families did all that they could to try and find their loved ones, but were turned away with excuses being given and resources being left untouched.
This story is hard to read and I had to step away from it a couple times. It is a good true crime read and will open your eyes to the racial bias and injustices of these poor women. McDiarmid is a fantastic investigative journalist and she dug deep into the story of The Highway of Tears and really conveyed a sad yet compelling story. She artfully mixed story with facts and I felt like this book was the product of a Dateline or 20/20 expose. I really enjoyed the fact that there were specific examples given, it made the book even more realistic and it allowed for me to connect in a way I might not have been able to had it just been a general story.
One thing I think is of important note is the fact that this book is very statistic heavy. I personally thought it really cemented the gravity of the story, but I can see how it might be too much for some. The statistics also helped present how much the Canadian justice system failed these poor young women.
Jessica McDiarmid's debut true crime novel tackles the tough topic of murdered young women who have disappeared throughout the years. However, these aren't just any young women, they are aboriginals. These poor young women disappeared on what is known as The Highway of Tears located in Canada. The book gives insight into the road itself and the disappearance of some of these women. There were some who were found dead and there were others who were unfortunately never found. This heartbreaking story tells not only of the disappearances, but of the anguish and agony the families go through over their missing loved ones wondering if they will ever see their family member alive again. McDiarmid's novel also highlights the injustices these women faced. There were no helicopter searches. No trained search dogs. No public outcry. No publicity whatsoever. Yet, when a young white female went missing all of these things were put in place to help try and find her and return her safely to her family. These aboriginal families did all that they could to try and find their loved ones, but were turned away with excuses being given and resources being left untouched.
This story is hard to read and I had to step away from it a couple times. It is a good true crime read and will open your eyes to the racial bias and injustices of these poor women. McDiarmid is a fantastic investigative journalist and she dug deep into the story of The Highway of Tears and really conveyed a sad yet compelling story. She artfully mixed story with facts and I felt like this book was the product of a Dateline or 20/20 expose. I really enjoyed the fact that there were specific examples given, it made the book even more realistic and it allowed for me to connect in a way I might not have been able to had it just been a general story.
One thing I think is of important note is the fact that this book is very statistic heavy. I personally thought it really cemented the gravity of the story, but I can see how it might be too much for some. The statistics also helped present how much the Canadian justice system failed these poor young women.
tcsellman's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Genocide, and Murder
Minor: Rape, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Addiction