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alexandraroseee's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A short graphic novel about restorative justice in an indigenous community. While the story is very short and the characters are not well fleshed out, it was a great introduction to restorative justice, for someone who doesn’t really know anything about the subject.
vms_ela_sec3's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
brinnet's review against another edition
2.0
Extremely quick read. This story is very simple. It is more of a telling than showing story, which is odd for a graphic novel.
Two things I liked: 1) There are very few graphic novels with this content focus. The story focuses on how restorative justice helps three young men and their community as a whole. It's such a peaceful, perhaps overly-saccharin story. 2) One of the characters is deaf, which works very well in a graphic novel format. This was both clever and inclusive -- very cool.
Unfortunately, the characters in general are flat and the story's pacing is odd -- it felt very fast. It's quite a short story and the plot is best suited for a young audience with someone describing what's happening to fill in where the story jumps forward. This might also work for adult, non-native English speakers at an intermediate level who are demonstrating the ability to understand a different text format or basic understanding of a different culture. This isn't a good book for teaching more advanced reading skills, like prediction or inferring.
I don't think I would recommend this book, except to young readers for the simple cultural exposure and a basic introduction to the idea of restorative justice. For personal reading, I would say to skip it.
I would, however, enjoy reading a more fully-developed version of this story. I would want to know what the boy's 9 months are like and how their characters and attitudes change over time. I think this story would have great potential for interesting character development.
Two things I liked: 1) There are very few graphic novels with this content focus. The story focuses on how restorative justice helps three young men and their community as a whole. It's such a peaceful, perhaps overly-saccharin story. 2) One of the characters is deaf, which works very well in a graphic novel format. This was both clever and inclusive -- very cool.
Unfortunately, the characters in general are flat and the story's pacing is odd -- it felt very fast. It's quite a short story and the plot is best suited for a young audience with someone describing what's happening to fill in where the story jumps forward. This might also work for adult, non-native English speakers at an intermediate level who are demonstrating the ability to understand a different text format or basic understanding of a different culture. This isn't a good book for teaching more advanced reading skills, like prediction or inferring.
I don't think I would recommend this book, except to young readers for the simple cultural exposure and a basic introduction to the idea of restorative justice. For personal reading, I would say to skip it.
I would, however, enjoy reading a more fully-developed version of this story. I would want to know what the boy's 9 months are like and how their characters and attitudes change over time. I think this story would have great potential for interesting character development.
greeniezona's review against another edition
3.0
Saw this book randomly on the new graphic novels shelves at the library and was attracted to the cover art. I liked the idea of the Debwe series -- a collection of "exceptional Aboriginal writings from across Canada," so I checked it out.
I think it would have been more accurate to call it promising writings. There was promise here, and an interesting story idea, but as a book it felt like I was only getting about 1/4 of the story. A tiny brief introduction, some interesting build-up, then BANG, the rest of the story is told from after the "action," looking back, and the lovely ending didn't feel at all earned.
Some of Van Camp's other books sound more developed I may check one of them out.
I think it would have been more accurate to call it promising writings. There was promise here, and an interesting story idea, but as a book it felt like I was only getting about 1/4 of the story. A tiny brief introduction, some interesting build-up, then BANG, the rest of the story is told from after the "action," looking back, and the lovely ending didn't feel at all earned.
Some of Van Camp's other books sound more developed I may check one of them out.
elizabethlk's review against another edition
3.0
Three Feathers was a nice story. It was a lovely example of rehabilitation and restorative justice. It was a lovely example of nature and tradition offering healing paths. The art was really pretty. I mostly just wished there was a little more. I wish there was more background for the plot and characters. I wish there was more to the meat of the story. What was there was nice, but I feel like I would have been more satisfied if there was more to be satisfied with.
I do intend to continue reading more from the Debwe series, more books from Richard Van Camp, and I would read more with the art of K. Mateus if she ever does another graphic novel.
I do intend to continue reading more from the Debwe series, more books from Richard Van Camp, and I would read more with the art of K. Mateus if she ever does another graphic novel.
ce_read's review against another edition
4.0
Trying not to let my own baggage color my reception of this book but holy crap. I picked this book up at the EXACT right time. Powered through it in about 10-15 minutes.
This is a very quick story about 3 boys who participate in a sentencing circle to atone for their crimes against their town in the Northwest Territories. They live off the land for 9 months healing from their own developmental trauma and taking responsibility for their role in their community.
For anyone who is hungry to see what the world can be like without the prison system. For people who want restorative justice, and for people who want to see victims and perpetrators alike heal. The world can be different than it is.
This book is exceptionally powerful and healing if the reader themself has perpetuated harm and carries guilt or self-hatred or shame around and is wondering how to make things right.
Despite the book's impact on me, I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 because reading the images was difficult at times - it was b/w rather than full color and it was tough to see details of what was going on. It also read more like a "concept" or an object lesson than like a real story, so it was difficult to identify or connect with the characters.
This is a very quick story about 3 boys who participate in a sentencing circle to atone for their crimes against their town in the Northwest Territories. They live off the land for 9 months healing from their own developmental trauma and taking responsibility for their role in their community.
For anyone who is hungry to see what the world can be like without the prison system. For people who want restorative justice, and for people who want to see victims and perpetrators alike heal. The world can be different than it is.
This book is exceptionally powerful and healing if the reader themself has perpetuated harm and carries guilt or self-hatred or shame around and is wondering how to make things right.
Despite the book's impact on me, I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 because reading the images was difficult at times - it was b/w rather than full color and it was tough to see details of what was going on. It also read more like a "concept" or an object lesson than like a real story, so it was difficult to identify or connect with the characters.
jakinabook's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
spencerbmiller's review against another edition
4.0
A sweet and powerful story about restorative justice. You really fall in love with the characters in a short time.
saboo's review against another edition
2.0
This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting--I thought there would be more of a story developed around the characters. I think it serves best as a vision of what restorative justice from a First Nations perspective can look like--sort of what people are aiming for in the best set of circumstances.