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aoosterwyk's review against another edition
4.0
Uido, a young woman with a deep connection to her tribe and culture is chosen to be the next spiritual leader of her people. At the same time, strangers begin to make occasional visits to the island bringing gifts. That is not all they bring. Uido's irrepressible younger brother, who is enthralled by the strangers, becomes seriously ill from a disease they have brought with them. Uido must navigate between keeping her people safe in isolation and denying them conveniences that would seem to make their lives easier and better. There are many issues brought to light by the clash of cultures that would make excellent discussion topics. (gender roles, spiritualism, native vs. modern medicine, colonialism, logging)
purstiltski's review against another edition
4.0
I would actually give this book 3.5 stars.
I didn't have high hopes for this book in the first few chapters, honestly — it was difficult to believe and get into. However, I got caught up in the promising romance between Danna and Uido, and once that wasn't enough, I found more to hold on to. Uido's exploration of spirituality, and that of her tribe, really got me sucked into this book. It's actually one of those stories that made me want to re-evaluate my own values and relationships with people.
It was good enough that I read it within a few hours once I got past those first thirty pages!
I didn't have high hopes for this book in the first few chapters, honestly — it was difficult to believe and get into. However, I got caught up in the promising romance between Danna and Uido, and once that wasn't enough, I found more to hold on to. Uido's exploration of spirituality, and that of her tribe, really got me sucked into this book. It's actually one of those stories that made me want to re-evaluate my own values and relationships with people.
It was good enough that I read it within a few hours once I got past those first thirty pages!
lbb00ks's review against another edition
Exquisite introduction to an indigenous Pacific culture facing loss and destruction due to increased contact with developed nations. Wonderfully real teen-aged protagonist whose love of her people, skills and eagerness to learn help her face internal and external pressures and challenges.
lazygal's review
3.0
I was really torn about this book. On the one hand, I enjoyed reading about this culture (representative of other cultures in the Andaman Island chain), on the other I felt that the author's purpose was too clearly evident, that Western ideas/culture were encroaching on these tribes and were Bad Bad Bad. Now, I'm not saying that I don't agree with the idea of letting these "untouched" peoples live their lives without modern day intrusions, but I thought the message could have been conveyed a little more subtly.
Because this was an ARC, I don't know if the final version will include a list or commentary about resources for those of us who know virtually nothing about the Anadamans and would like to learn more about them (and about these tribes).
ARC provided by publisher.
Because this was an ARC, I don't know if the final version will include a list or commentary about resources for those of us who know virtually nothing about the Anadamans and would like to learn more about them (and about these tribes).
ARC provided by publisher.
librariann's review
4.0
Ages 10+ (death. no language)
Island of the Blue Dolphins + Nation, contemporized. A touch of primitivism, but a well-done melding of a young tribeswoman's growing understanding of the importance of maintaining her traditions while under the encroachment of the modern world.
Island of the Blue Dolphins + Nation, contemporized. A touch of primitivism, but a well-done melding of a young tribeswoman's growing understanding of the importance of maintaining her traditions while under the encroachment of the modern world.
abigailbat's review
3.0
Uido has a vision of the strangers before they appear: magic men with boats that fly and strange sticks that cause fire. But Uido knows that these magic men could destroy the life she holds dear, the ways of the En-ge, people who have inhabited these islands for thousands of years. As an apprentice to the oko-jumu, spiritual leader of her tribe, she will have to figure out a way to protect her people, even as their magic entices more and more.
There's a good deal of adventure and I enjoyed learning about the ways of these island people (the En-ge are based on actual indigenous people who have lived on remote islands, shunning modern ways). Descriptions of island life are lush, including smells, sounds, and tastes. But I never felt truly connected with the main character. There's some distance there, even though the book's written in first person present.
I'd hand it to kids who enjoyed Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (for a strong female native islander protagonist) or Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver (for the mix of action and spiritual/mystical components) or maybe even Nation by Terry Pratcher (for the island setting, although Nation is aimed at a slightly older audience).
There's a good deal of adventure and I enjoyed learning about the ways of these island people (the En-ge are based on actual indigenous people who have lived on remote islands, shunning modern ways). Descriptions of island life are lush, including smells, sounds, and tastes. But I never felt truly connected with the main character. There's some distance there, even though the book's written in first person present.
I'd hand it to kids who enjoyed Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (for a strong female native islander protagonist) or Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver (for the mix of action and spiritual/mystical components) or maybe even Nation by Terry Pratcher (for the island setting, although Nation is aimed at a slightly older audience).
buuboobaby's review
5.0
4.5 stars - Wonderful read with a strong, compelling female lead, a lush setting, and an interesting clash of cultures. There aren't enough books like this one.
Full review soon at www.mangamaniaccafe.com
Full review soon at www.mangamaniaccafe.com
heykellyjensen's review
2.0
2.5.
This wasn't remarkable for me. I think it'll be mostly forgettable down the line.
Uido lives on a remote island with her tribe which is very unlike modern society, and a lot of what they believe in are spiritual guides. She sees a lot of visions at night, and when she admits to this to their spiritual leader Lah-ame, he chooses to make her the tribe's next guide. When she passes her final test in his teachings, she's told to be careful not to exert her power yet.
Of course she does it, and that unleashes a number of events which lead to to understanding the importance of accepting tradition and new ideas and how both can work together to build a better world. It's kind of cliche but it's done well enough to make it less so here.
My problem was the big event of the story felt completely rushed and it didn't feel urgent. I blame this on the writing. It's first person present, and rather than being immediate, it's distancing. I never quite got inside Uido's head, nor did I find her offering me much of what was going on around her emotionally. It happened and that was all. I understand this could be an entire element of the culture itself, and that would make sense, but it's not satisfying to me and leaves the story quite one note.
This wasn't remarkable for me. I think it'll be mostly forgettable down the line.
Uido lives on a remote island with her tribe which is very unlike modern society, and a lot of what they believe in are spiritual guides. She sees a lot of visions at night, and when she admits to this to their spiritual leader Lah-ame, he chooses to make her the tribe's next guide. When she passes her final test in his teachings, she's told to be careful not to exert her power yet.
Of course she does it, and that unleashes a number of events which lead to to understanding the importance of accepting tradition and new ideas and how both can work together to build a better world. It's kind of cliche but it's done well enough to make it less so here.
My problem was the big event of the story felt completely rushed and it didn't feel urgent. I blame this on the writing. It's first person present, and rather than being immediate, it's distancing. I never quite got inside Uido's head, nor did I find her offering me much of what was going on around her emotionally. It happened and that was all. I understand this could be an entire element of the culture itself, and that would make sense, but it's not satisfying to me and leaves the story quite one note.
prof_shoff's review
2.0
Somehow, there's no heart to this story of a young Andaman girl facing the world within and without.