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julienicole1106's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Excrement, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, and Alcohol
lynneliu'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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Confinement, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Mental illness and Death of parent
gulalei'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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
belle2008's review
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
sparringego8's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
litwithnik'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? Yes
4.0
Saul's relationship with Hockey is in the forefront of this novel but as you read farther into it and discover more about his life the reason why the game is so important to him becomes very evident. There is also some beautiful scenes of him starting the journey in recapturing his relationship with his Indigenous roots. Especially the parts about Gods Lake.
Trigger Warnings: Residential School, Racism, Sexual Assault, Physical & Emotional Abuse
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault
serendipitysbooks'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
No matter how many times I read about it, the realities of the residential school system and the abuses perpetuated there never fail to sicken me. This book was no exception. The escape that hockey offered Saul and his exhilaration on the ice really shone through and captivated my attention, even though I have less than no interest in the game itself. The way racism impinged on that, robbed him of his love for the game, and stole his joy was heartbreaking and infuriating.
This book is a work of fiction. Yet it is filled with undeniable truths. It is beautifully and impactfully written, a painful yet important read, and one I highly recommend.
“When your innocence is stripped from you, when your people are denigrated, when the family that you came from is denounced and your tribal ways and rituals are pronounced backward, primitive, savage, you come to see yourself as less than human. That is hell on earth, that sense of unworthiness. That’s what they inflicted on us.”
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Murder
jennifer8632d's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Suicide
priyarai'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Pedophilia, Suicide, Death of parent, and Alcohol
offbrandclubsoda's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Genocide and Suicide