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tagau's review against another edition
- 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
Once I was hooked though that was it. I finished the book in a matter of hours because I just had to know how it ended and if Justice was served. There are many lessons to be learned from this book. Lots of little tidbits of information that I can remember my grandmother telling me that I had almost forgotten. If nothing else, it’s a good read for those tidbits alone.
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
Minor: Homophobia and Rape
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
She is plugging on with things despite her favourite uncle having died, her grandmother being in palliative care, injuries having taken her off the ice, and having to make some hard decisions. There is a new guy in her brother's team, from out of town, and she is roped in to be his Ambassador and show him around.. but no she is NOT interested in dating "hockey guys". One of her childhood friends seems to have started relying meth. He's acting erratic and this is just the start of some life threatening chaos.
This is only the second book I have ever read that focuses on the Anishinaabeg (Nish) people of North America, in the area of the Great Lakes where arbitrary laws of settlers divide the people by a geo-political border between Canada and USA.
The main character is curious and scientific and super geeky, hoping to get into medical training. I personally love all her scientific naming of things, as that hits me where I live, and the puzzle solving she does is laid out and methodical so that the reader isn't left behind if things start getting complex. Her work on traditional indigenous medicine and scientific exploration describes a fusion between traditional practice and modern life; that both are valuable and do not deny each other.
I notice that this is, thematically, a very crepuscular book. Most of it is set in morning and evening, with young people and elders, and during the months of spring and autumn/fall, when the mushrooms abound — times of change, for looking back and forward; reviewing and planning. It also considers setting and respecting personal boundaries, and our decisions and their repercussions.. all this with a main character who seeks to understand herself, her values, her peoples and their history... and to understand how love can work when you don't always agree with another person. It's pretty rich.
Honestly though.. this book is gripping. There are continual revelations and twists, but they aren't weird or arbitrary. I wanted to know more and did not want to put it down. Every time something big happened I had to remind myself to take a time out to savour it.
Graphic: Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
yaboigrass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Rape
editoryalizing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming and Bullying
aelunny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Classism
filipa_maia's review against another edition
- 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
I love Daunis, the girl that is between worlds, she is strong, stubborn and knows exactly what she wants. Stepping up to defend a community that don't look at her as equal, she does everything to take care of everyone, even to her own costs. The story is brilliantly written, the bad is very well balanced with the good. For every bad action committed by a character, there is a act of love somewhere else. For every heartbreak that Daunis is put through, there is a act of kindness to even out.
More than the story, this book brings us knowledge about (some) Indigenous culture, and that was my favorite part. I went online to learn the meaning of words, specific dances and prayers and I took a lot of notes. Angeline Boulley also writes about some troubles faced by this Indigenous communities: drugs, death and the non-stoping sexual violence towards native women. But she doesn't do it in a "let's shock readers" way... the fact is that things like the ones Angeline's writes about keep happening, and seems like no one (outside the communities) cares that much.
I learned so much from this book! I want to read it again.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Death of parent
jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love how this author raises awareness for their own culture and the very serious issues they face.
The plot twists in this were amazing and my love for the characters grew as they developed. Although screw Levi for endangering his family.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
chelseafrazier's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Rape
sunflowersarepretty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
klitanightfuryreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
As a non-native - in a way (I know it’s fiction) I learned a lot and feel like I was given some insight on their culture and some of the challenges they encounter.
There is so much to say but seriously just read it and check trigger warnings.
*********
PS: I only gave it 4.75 cause I did not enjoy the relationship between the main character and her mom.
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation