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smalltimereadsThe Marrow Thieves, by Cherie Dimaline, was published by Dancing Cat Books, the YA/MG imprint of Canadian independent publisher Cormorant Books.
This was an interesting take on dystopic/post-apocalyptic fiction- one that discusses the idea of revolution but isn't focused on that. Rather, the focus is on community and building home and family- Frenchie's party has been traveling northeast in search of a community rumored to be safe from those seeking to kill them for their ability to dream. A lot of recent post-apocalyptic fiction focuses on the core group's survival at all costs, and there is an element of that in their constant caution about outsiders, but they are also constantly seeking other indigenous people for news and community, even if only for a night or two.
All the characters struggle with loss- loss of loved ones, loss of safety, loss of their old ways and languages. The ways they try and work through that loss are well written, and the changes they go through are irreversible. There was one loss in particular that was very upsetting. Yet there was also a throughline of hope, and the ending was beautiful.
I loved the ideas in this book, especially the key to taking out the schools, but the writing didn't particularly grab me. I was interested but not particularly engaged, if that tracks. And I couldn't figure out the geography, where they had been traveling for five and a half years but it was unclear how far they'd made it, beyond alluded-to changes in climate. I didn't need states or provinces or exact mileage, but five and a half years is a long time, and it felt like they should have hit the coast at some point. Not hugely important, but it kept hanging out in the back of my mind.
This was an interesting take on dystopic/post-apocalyptic fiction- one that discusses the idea of revolution but isn't focused on that. Rather, the focus is on community and building home and family- Frenchie's party has been traveling northeast in search of a community rumored to be safe from those seeking to kill them for their ability to dream. A lot of recent post-apocalyptic fiction focuses on the core group's survival at all costs, and there is an element of that in their constant caution about outsiders, but they are also constantly seeking other indigenous people for news and community, even if only for a night or two.
All the characters struggle with loss- loss of loved ones, loss of safety, loss of their old ways and languages. The ways they try and work through that loss are well written, and the changes they go through are irreversible. There was one loss in particular that was very upsetting. Yet there was also a throughline of hope, and the ending was beautiful.
I loved the ideas in this book, especially the key to taking out the schools, but the writing didn't particularly grab me. I was interested but not particularly engaged, if that tracks. And I couldn't figure out the geography, where they had been traveling for five and a half years but it was unclear how far they'd made it, beyond alluded-to changes in climate. I didn't need states or provinces or exact mileage, but five and a half years is a long time, and it felt like they should have hit the coast at some point. Not hugely important, but it kept hanging out in the back of my mind.
