jaeliyah's review
4.0
This is a mostly well-told, thoughtful read. Pro -- it's an honest and genuine story of depression through the lens of people of color in a time when mental illness is so often considered a white person's affliction. Con -- what it lacks in depth it overcompensates for in melodrama, which really makes it more a 3.5.
goldentortoisebeetle's review
challenging
dark
Another gut punch from this author/illustrator duo. I think this is a compilation of 4 issues of a comic. It's a great length- sometimes the stories from this publishing house feel too short. This one is not rushed. It takes its time to let you feel the emotions.
Three centuries. Seven generations of people. Blood memory is strong; intergenerational trauma is also strong. We watch the characters struggle deeply in each generation. They lose things they can never recover. They grieve their whole lives. They seek so desperately to heal but in recent generations have lost hope altogether. They carry the pain forward.
The unsung hero of this story is the mom. She tells the stories of the ancestors. She moves her husband and son forward into healing by refusing to let them go. I want to hear her story.
Three centuries. Seven generations of people. Blood memory is strong; intergenerational trauma is also strong. We watch the characters struggle deeply in each generation. They lose things they can never recover. They grieve their whole lives. They seek so desperately to heal but in recent generations have lost hope altogether. They carry the pain forward.
The unsung hero of this story is the mom. She tells the stories of the ancestors. She moves her husband and son forward into healing by refusing to let them go. I want to hear her story.
chrispyschaller's review
3.0
Ambitious portrait of Cree history since the conquest never quite settles long enough on one character.
pixieprose's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a powerful, moving story about generational trauma, the evils of colonialism, the power of family, and three importance of forgiveness and healing. This work touches on the issue of residential schools, which is something that in some way touches every indigenous family of North America. It's a touching graphic novel and well worth a read by people of all ages.
littleredbiblio's review
3.0
I had to read this for class but I enjoyed it. Most of all, I appreciated the emphasis on intergenerational trauma. I found this graphic novel to be more educational than enjoyable, but not everything has to have entertainment value. Regardless, I'm glad that this was on our course reading list as I may not have picked it up otherwise.
kalira's review
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
jr_the_pin_witch's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-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