Bite-sized book reviews
Bite-sized book reviews
Library Challenge
Book Club
First and foremost, this is a novel, although it reads very much like a memoir. After doing a little research, it sounds like a lot of it is autobiographical. For some reason, that tripped me up. I think I would rather read a true memoir than a novel that feels like one, especially because the topic feels so important. The book explores what it’s like growing up on an Indian Reservation in the U.S. (he uses the word Indian to describe himself, which is why I’m using it here), and as a novel, I found myself wondering what was accurate and what wasn’t.
That said, I can also see how this format makes the story more accessible, especially for younger readers. The main character is incredibly lovable, and you just want the best for him as he keeps running into hardship after hardship. I think this book can open the door to important conversations about systemic poverty, our relationship with Indigenous peoples, and resilience. Even with my mixed feelings about the format, I’m glad I read it.
Young Adult or Middle Grade