Imagine an America very similar to our own. It's got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream.
There are some differences. This America has been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day.
Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. Her beloved cousin has just been murdered in a town that wants no prying eyes. But she is going to do more than pry. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends …
Imagine an America very similar to our own. It's got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream.
There are some differences. This America has been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day.
Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. Her beloved cousin has just been murdered in a town that wants no prying eyes. But she is going to do more than pry. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends to tear off the mask and protect her family.
plot twist: a loving family and positive indigenous role models
5 stars
This is at one level a YA supernatural mystery novel, and successful as such. Unlike many YA novels where the bulk of dramatic tension is provided by stupid and uncaring adults, here the love and support Elatsoe receives from her family and elders is a constant happy surprise. Unlike the relentlessly negative (and probably accurate!) media stories I usually read, this made being an indigenous child/teen seem like a wonderful experience I was missing out on.
Ellie is a 17-year-old senior blessed with a family secret passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache ancestors. When a tragedy strikes her family, she uses both her otherworldly powers and her web of friends and family to get to the bottom of her cousin's sudden passing. The danger amps up with a climax that involves vampires, ghosts, fairies, and a basketball squad-- by the latter half, I could not put this book down! With short chapters, fun characters, a touch of magic in the everyday, and wonderful storytelling passages, this was a fast and fantastical read.
My favorite parts of the novel were the storytelling passages in which elders and family members shared stories of Ellie's ancestors, imparting necessary wisdom for Ellie's increasingly dangerous encounters: "That's why some stories are particularly important. They're more than entertainment. They're knowledge." (p.245) Although this novel was set in a stranger America, …
Ellie is a 17-year-old senior blessed with a family secret passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache ancestors. When a tragedy strikes her family, she uses both her otherworldly powers and her web of friends and family to get to the bottom of her cousin's sudden passing. The danger amps up with a climax that involves vampires, ghosts, fairies, and a basketball squad-- by the latter half, I could not put this book down! With short chapters, fun characters, a touch of magic in the everyday, and wonderful storytelling passages, this was a fast and fantastical read.
My favorite parts of the novel were the storytelling passages in which elders and family members shared stories of Ellie's ancestors, imparting necessary wisdom for Ellie's increasingly dangerous encounters: "That's why some stories are particularly important. They're more than entertainment. They're knowledge." (p.245) Although this novel was set in a stranger America, I appreciated the way the author emphasized this importance of passing down generational knowledge and ancestral connection through stories.
ELATSOE is a thoughtful and vibrant story about grief, truth, and life, as Ellie tries to fulfill her cousin’s last wishes and stop his murderer (with the help of her ghost dog). It's a coming-of-age story, where Ellie is figuring out the bounds of what she can do, and what responsibilities come with her heritage (spiritual, magical, and mundane).
I love how this feels to read. It’s kind of a murder mystery, except Ellie is trying to prove how the murder happened since she’s been told who did it. I like the way that stories and memories are woven into Ellie’s narration. It makes them feel like part of her thoughts, as they so clearly are. She’s so full of stories that her point of view wouldn’t feel complete without them. She’s deeply connected to her family, and looks up to her Six-Great Grandmother as example and inspiration. The worldbuilding …
ELATSOE is a thoughtful and vibrant story about grief, truth, and life, as Ellie tries to fulfill her cousin’s last wishes and stop his murderer (with the help of her ghost dog). It's a coming-of-age story, where Ellie is figuring out the bounds of what she can do, and what responsibilities come with her heritage (spiritual, magical, and mundane).
I love how this feels to read. It’s kind of a murder mystery, except Ellie is trying to prove how the murder happened since she’s been told who did it. I like the way that stories and memories are woven into Ellie’s narration. It makes them feel like part of her thoughts, as they so clearly are. She’s so full of stories that her point of view wouldn’t feel complete without them. She’s deeply connected to her family, and looks up to her Six-Great Grandmother as example and inspiration. The worldbuilding is good, it’s shown through Ellie’s perspective in a way that feels effortless. It’s a world where ghosts, vampires, and fairy ring teleportation coexist but don’t all follow the same guidelines, and this does some pretty cool things with adherence to the clashing rulesets.
A moving read that blends small joys with slow mourning, don't miss ELATSOE
The story somehow felt off. Probably because of the age of the protagonist. She's supposed to be in her late teens but she feels so much younger. The writing style is also on the simpler side which makes it feel even more like a middle grade novel.
The concept is interesting and the (little) world building we got so far was intriguing. Nevertheless, I just don't seem to vibe with this book.
I'd recommend you read a chapter sample before purchasing this novel.
Easily one of the best books of 2020. Darcie manages to tell a compelling mystery story that avoids the cliched pitfalls novels of this genre often indulge in and does it with style.
Honestly, one of the greatest twist of this novel is that it is Darcie's first and not the result of a 20 year career. Do not sleep on this and preorder her next novel!
Wholesome (if dark) tale of Indigenous heroines fighting real-world and fantastical monsters, ghost dogs and mammoths at their sides. Reminiscent of Cemetery Boys and Mexican Gothic.
I've basically only read really outstanding books this year, and this one is probably one of the best of that crop. Really, really tight thematically, and giving me loads to mull over well after finishing it.
