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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Rape and violence are central; Joe's mother's attack is the inciting event and depicted with impact
Language
Some
Some strong language
Sexual Content
Some
Sexual violence is the central event; depicted with seriousness
Substance Use
Barely any
Some drinking in the reservation setting
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Trauma, justice denied, and the psychological damage inflicted by institutions that fail the vulnerable
What this book is about
In 1988 on a North Dakota Ojibwe reservation, thirteen-year-old Joe's mother is violently assaulted and nearly killed. The perpetrator exploits gaps in tribal jurisdiction to escape prosecution. Joe and his friends decide to act. Erdrich's National Book Award winner is a devastating examination of law, sovereignty, and a boy's initiation into the violence of the adult world.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Rape (depicted, central to plot)
Violence and trauma
Institutional failure themes
Reader Verification
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