The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
katiescott'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
Graphic: Gun violence, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Racial slurs
wifistrokes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Murder, Stalking, Suicide, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Toxic friendship, Violence, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
kenzers8's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Death, Violence, Rape, Addiction, Car accident, Sexual assault, and Medical trauma
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Excrement, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Medical content, Mental illness, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Vomit
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: Infidelity, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Murder, Hate crime, Racism, Drug use, Car accident, and Addiction
Moderate: Violence and Sexual violence
Minor: Rape and Homophobia
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: Rape, Drug use, Sexual content, Racism, Violence, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Infidelity, Addiction, Pedophilia, and Vomit
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: Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Rape
editoryalizing's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Classism, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual assault, Body horror, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Addiction, Colonisation, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
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: Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Car accident, Rape, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Blood, Sexual assault, Racism, Addiction, Violence, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Stalking, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pedophilia, Classism, Colonisation, and Cultural appropriation
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, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, Kidnapping, and Torture
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness
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: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Drug use, Rape, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Kidnapping, Grief, Racial slurs, Car accident, and Racism