theladydoor's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful. Heartbreaking. Necessary.
I have so many more thoughts about this book but for now, I'll just say it was an honor to read this book. Thank you Angeline Boulley for telling this story that is so rooted in a culture and a people who have had so much taken from them, yet stand proud. Thank you Isabella Star LaBlanc for bringing Daunis to life with your beautiful voice.
Indigenous women and girls are not invisible. They are not expendable. They are not forgotten.
I have so many more thoughts about this book but for now, I'll just say it was an honor to read this book. Thank you Angeline Boulley for telling this story that is so rooted in a culture and a people who have had so much taken from them, yet stand proud. Thank you Isabella Star LaBlanc for bringing Daunis to life with your beautiful voice.
Indigenous women and girls are not invisible. They are not expendable. They are not forgotten.
catisbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? No
5.0
This is one of the most impactful books I've ever read. I have no words that would accurately describe how I feel right now. I am a mess, in a good way. 100/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Drug abuse, and Violence
jessloche11's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Racism, Grief, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Violence, Murder, Drug use, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, and Racial slurs
mandy1492's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the story and the main ideas behind this book, but I did find it really hard to get into. It took me over three weeks to get through the first quarter of the book, and then it was a struggle for me to get through the ending, which is unusual. I still think this book is a beautiful piece of representation and I am happy this is getting more and more recognition. This book contains Indigenous teachings/representation, mystery, fake dating, and relationships of all kinds. I still recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about reading it, but you have to be really interested in plotline introduction/development to truly enjoy it.
baleypetersen's review against another edition
4.0
*Audiobook
I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. It describes the violent death of a best friend, and a sexual assault.
That said. This book, though at times hard to get through, is POWERFUL. I nearly stopped listening so many times because some things are just too hard to hear/ read about. However, I felt like I owed it to the main character to listen to her story. Because while it's hard to hear, it's a reality for so many American Indian communities.
My chief complaint is the romance. This story didn't need it and it felt forced. It wouldn't have taken away anything from the story arc if the 2 main characters who had been forced into a fake relationship, didn't fall in love. It's cheesy and I feel like it detracts from the seriousness of their situation.
Ultimately, 3.5 stars.
I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. It describes the violent death of a best friend, and a sexual assault.
That said. This book, though at times hard to get through, is POWERFUL. I nearly stopped listening so many times because some things are just too hard to hear/ read about. However, I felt like I owed it to the main character to listen to her story. Because while it's hard to hear, it's a reality for so many American Indian communities.
My chief complaint is the romance. This story didn't need it and it felt forced. It wouldn't have taken away anything from the story arc if the 2 main characters who had been forced into a fake relationship, didn't fall in love. It's cheesy and I feel like it detracts from the seriousness of their situation.
Ultimately, 3.5 stars.
sbnich's review against another edition
4.0
A compelling, emotionally charged read that is saved from YA predictability by layering in Ojibwe culture and traditions.
kbowler28's review against another edition
5.0
I’m a psychopath & finished this in a day. Legitimately did not want to put this down. So many feels!!!
maria123's review against another edition
5.0
*audiobook
This book was absolutely amazing! One of my top books of the year
This book was absolutely amazing! One of my top books of the year
andib's review against another edition
4.0
I will preface all of this by coming clean:
First, I read this book for two reasons: That gorgeous cover, and several extremely positive Booktube reviews. I must admit that without that amazing cover and a story told from a Native perspective, I probably wouldn't have bothered, since I don't typically read contemporary novels of any kind, and I also basically don't read thriller-style mysteries.
Second, I don't read a lot of YA, either. Since this book is a contemporary YA mystery/thriller, it falls into an unknown territory for me; thus, the views I express here are certainly not borne from any kinds of background knowledge or experience. This review is how a person who usually reads fantasy, science fiction, and mysteries (both regular and cozy) experienced this story.
At this point, it's probably redundant to point out that Angeline Boulley is an excellent writer, but enjoyed her writing enough that I will keep my eyes open for her further works (despite my disclaimers above). The main character's voice is strong, the plot is intricate and well-constructed, and the pacing is mostly excellent. I am also grateful for what this book taught me about the experiences of modern Ojibway and their religious beliefs; the deep dive into these aspects was by far my favorite part of the story. And the characterizations are incredibly real: Boulley surrounded Daunis with a network of deeply real and believable characters, whom we come to love, hate, laugh with, and cry for.
My other favorite part was the ending, which I'll say little about except that it left me with all the right feelings about all the right things.
Honestly, I have no reason not to give the book five stars except that it was just a bit more harrowing than what I would normally read or enjoy. I should probably have checked the reviews here before reading, given the subject matter, but again, I think that gorgeous cover had me entranced.
In any case, it's a brilliantly-written book and if you can cope with the darker aspects, I highly recommend it.
TW: drug use, racism, sexual assault
First, I read this book for two reasons: That gorgeous cover, and several extremely positive Booktube reviews. I must admit that without that amazing cover and a story told from a Native perspective, I probably wouldn't have bothered, since I don't typically read contemporary novels of any kind, and I also basically don't read thriller-style mysteries.
Second, I don't read a lot of YA, either. Since this book is a contemporary YA mystery/thriller, it falls into an unknown territory for me; thus, the views I express here are certainly not borne from any kinds of background knowledge or experience. This review is how a person who usually reads fantasy, science fiction, and mysteries (both regular and cozy) experienced this story.
At this point, it's probably redundant to point out that Angeline Boulley is an excellent writer, but enjoyed her writing enough that I will keep my eyes open for her further works (despite my disclaimers above). The main character's voice is strong, the plot is intricate and well-constructed, and the pacing is mostly excellent. I am also grateful for what this book taught me about the experiences of modern Ojibway and their religious beliefs; the deep dive into these aspects was by far my favorite part of the story. And the characterizations are incredibly real: Boulley surrounded Daunis with a network of deeply real and believable characters, whom we come to love, hate, laugh with, and cry for.
My other favorite part was the ending, which I'll say little about except that it left me with all the right feelings about all the right things.
Honestly, I have no reason not to give the book five stars except that it was just a bit more harrowing than what I would normally read or enjoy. I should probably have checked the reviews here before reading, given the subject matter, but again, I think that gorgeous cover had me entranced.
Spoiler
I get that this is a story about meth, and death, and very grim topics, but after finishing the story, I'm still not sure why the plotline includes rape. Just for character development? I hate when authors use rape as a way to make things difficult for the character or force them to grow--sexual assault should only happen in stories when it has been carefully woven into the natural progression of the plot. Which admittedly is so rare that maybe it would never happen, but I would be very, very happy with that. Here, I'm forced to conclude it was just another way of showing us the ongoing challenges that tribal members face when dealing with the federal government. But I felt that point was amply made through other channels, so I'm not on board with including a rape just because men do it.In any case, it's a brilliantly-written book and if you can cope with the darker aspects, I highly recommend it.
TW: drug use, racism, sexual assault