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justabean_reads's review against another edition
4.5
This was the fortieth anniversary edition with an intro by Katherena Vermette and outro by Raven Sinclair, both to the tune of, "Holy shit, this book meant so much to me in the 1980s!" I think I first heard of it on Michelle Good's list of books to read for Indigenous History Month, or something of that kind. It's the kind of thing where one could read it and conclude that it was clearly groundbreaking at the time, but mostly interesting in a historical context now.
I couldn't put this book down! We follow two Métis sisters who get scooped up by the welfare system in the 1950s, and end up in a variety of foster homes (both good and bad), before ageing out into the rough and tumble of 1960/'70s Winnipeg. The older sister, April, can pass as White, and decides pretty young that her life would be easier if she ditched her birth culture, married money, and forgot the whole thing. The problem with that is how much she loves her younger, dark-skinned sister, who keeps writing essays about the buffalo hunt, and trying to give her sister books on Louis Riel. I was rooting so hard for both of them!
The style starts out unadorned and from the point of view of a young child, and grows in nuance and complexity as April grows up and starts to work through her internalised racism and troubled relationships. My library lists the book as YA, and I think is pitched at explaining these issues to younger readers, but also deals with sexual violence and abuse in a level of detail that I don't think would get published in that genre today.
I couldn't put this book down! We follow two Métis sisters who get scooped up by the welfare system in the 1950s, and end up in a variety of foster homes (both good and bad), before ageing out into the rough and tumble of 1960/'70s Winnipeg. The older sister, April, can pass as White, and decides pretty young that her life would be easier if she ditched her birth culture, married money, and forgot the whole thing. The problem with that is how much she loves her younger, dark-skinned sister, who keeps writing essays about the buffalo hunt, and trying to give her sister books on Louis Riel. I was rooting so hard for both of them!
The style starts out unadorned and from the point of view of a young child, and grows in nuance and complexity as April grows up and starts to work through her internalised racism and troubled relationships. My library lists the book as YA, and I think is pitched at explaining these issues to younger readers, but also deals with sexual violence and abuse in a level of detail that I don't think would get published in that genre today.
a_shelf_of_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
abbywebb's review against another edition
4.0
Amazingly wonderful book. Not sure why I never had to read this in high school because I know other people had to. I’m just glad that I got the chance.
This was a powerful and moving story of two Native sisters growing up in Manitoba in foster care. The story covers their lives from living with their alcoholic parents to living with abusive foster parents, graduating high school to getting married, and of course everything in between.
Although this book was written in 1983 and captured the era from the 50s through the 70s, many of the issues facing Canadian Aboriginals are still relevant today. In fact, in a lot of ways, some of the social issues not only persist but have probably gotten worse over time.
[b:In Search of April Raintree|800780|In Search of April Raintree Critical Edition|Beatrice Culleton Mosionier|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178493516s/800780.jpg|786744] demonstrates almost every viewpoint that you can think of that exists about Aboriginal people and white people. The characters’ feelings fluctuated from pride to shame as they witnessed different events or had different experiences throughout the book. I loved April’s perspective of her parents when she was just a young child: She believed that her parents were taking so much “medicine” (aka alcohol) because they were so ill.
This novel has such a unique and moving story, one unlike something I have ever read before. Twenty-seven years after it was originally published, this book manages to find a way to become personally relevant to Canadians, especially those from Manitoba or Winnipeg. I found I could relate to the book on a personal level as I know many of the locations mentioned (e.g., street names, companies, etc) and could visualize them while I was reading. Sadly, not much has changed in those same inner city areas – they are still rough areas, heavy with prostitution, drug and alcohol addicts, gangs, etc.
What a candid reflection this book brings to all those of us who look the other way instead of asking why the problem exists and what we can do about it. I would not be surprised to learn that this was not a work of fiction but based on fact. I believe that a lot of people in Winnipeg (and across the province and country) are still battling the same old problems and continue to be oppressed in our stilted society.
This was a powerful and moving story of two Native sisters growing up in Manitoba in foster care. The story covers their lives from living with their alcoholic parents to living with abusive foster parents, graduating high school to getting married, and of course everything in between.
Although this book was written in 1983 and captured the era from the 50s through the 70s, many of the issues facing Canadian Aboriginals are still relevant today. In fact, in a lot of ways, some of the social issues not only persist but have probably gotten worse over time.
[b:In Search of April Raintree|800780|In Search of April Raintree Critical Edition|Beatrice Culleton Mosionier|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178493516s/800780.jpg|786744] demonstrates almost every viewpoint that you can think of that exists about Aboriginal people and white people. The characters’ feelings fluctuated from pride to shame as they witnessed different events or had different experiences throughout the book. I loved April’s perspective of her parents when she was just a young child: She believed that her parents were taking so much “medicine” (aka alcohol) because they were so ill.
This novel has such a unique and moving story, one unlike something I have ever read before. Twenty-seven years after it was originally published, this book manages to find a way to become personally relevant to Canadians, especially those from Manitoba or Winnipeg. I found I could relate to the book on a personal level as I know many of the locations mentioned (e.g., street names, companies, etc) and could visualize them while I was reading. Sadly, not much has changed in those same inner city areas – they are still rough areas, heavy with prostitution, drug and alcohol addicts, gangs, etc.
What a candid reflection this book brings to all those of us who look the other way instead of asking why the problem exists and what we can do about it. I would not be surprised to learn that this was not a work of fiction but based on fact. I believe that a lot of people in Winnipeg (and across the province and country) are still battling the same old problems and continue to be oppressed in our stilted society.
emkreads's review against another edition
4.0
more like a 4.5 stars, I really enjoyed reading this (even tho it was an assigned read) and I think that anyone, especially Canadian, should read it since it takes a view of our story that we may or may not know about. the only bad point? the ending
pinks_paperbacks's review against another edition
4.0
My first ever book from an aboriginal authoress let alone from a Métis authoress. When I started reading I didn’t imagine this book to be so intense. She speaks against racism towards aboriginal people whose issues are heavily underrepresented. And the issues that people of mixed-race face not just for big events/incidents/decisions but also in their day-to-day life.
She also speaks about the mindset we keep for the victims and causes of rape i.e. we don’t focus on the fact that a person is guilty of rape if they had sexual intercourse with the rape survivors/victims without their consent but we focus on if the rape survivors/victims, unfortunately especially a woman, has been sexually active and especially if the number of people is in plurals even if they were all acted upon with each involved person’s consent. Or if they are sex-workers who too, for everyone’s information, has a right to CHOOSE to give or not give consent to have sex and then NOT BE “punished” or “taught a lesson” or “be obliged to have sex” by being raped if they choose not to give consent. Even the expectation we keep as a society from the rape survivors/victims for them to feel ashamed or dishonoured and powerless after going through their trials and tribulations.
She also speaks of alcoholism wherein she agrees that it is a diseases caused by varying reasons but then it should not be used as an excuse.
She speaks of the policies’ and judiciary systems’ to be continuously worked upon and improve as and when required so that the principles behind those policies and systems are justified and not just let them become an empty formality which may be doing more harm than good.
I will not pretend to understand let alone feel the struggles that the authoress or anyone and everyone like her have been through/are still going through but this book of hers has definitely made me aware of the existence of their visions that they strive to achieve.
She also speaks about the mindset we keep for the victims and causes of rape i.e. we don’t focus on the fact that a person is guilty of rape if they had sexual intercourse with the rape survivors/victims without their consent but we focus on if the rape survivors/victims, unfortunately especially a woman, has been sexually active and especially if the number of people is in plurals even if they were all acted upon with each involved person’s consent. Or if they are sex-workers who too, for everyone’s information, has a right to CHOOSE to give or not give consent to have sex and then NOT BE “punished” or “taught a lesson” or “be obliged to have sex” by being raped if they choose not to give consent. Even the expectation we keep as a society from the rape survivors/victims for them to feel ashamed or dishonoured and powerless after going through their trials and tribulations.
She also speaks of alcoholism wherein she agrees that it is a diseases caused by varying reasons but then it should not be used as an excuse.
She speaks of the policies’ and judiciary systems’ to be continuously worked upon and improve as and when required so that the principles behind those policies and systems are justified and not just let them become an empty formality which may be doing more harm than good.
I will not pretend to understand let alone feel the struggles that the authoress or anyone and everyone like her have been through/are still going through but this book of hers has definitely made me aware of the existence of their visions that they strive to achieve.
kaeleevincent's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful, heartbreaking, deeply moving. Ends on a hopeful note.
TW: rape
TW: rape
khaben31's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Racism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide
loreadson's review against another edition
4.0
Eye opening read , such a sad situation that these girls and many others face daily ❤️
cari1268's review against another edition
3.0
I can now say I've read this Canadian classic that I'd never heard about before today. I didn't realize In Search of April Raintree was written so long ago as the issues and the way they were addressed felt very modern. Beatrice Culleton was ahead of her times. I read this book almost in one sitting. It was very addicting and an easy read. Albeit, heavy topics were involved.
I loved the unique premise and setting. This book takes place in Canada in the 1960s and 70s. The story focuses on two Métis sisters and how they handle growing up in the foster care system and with the racism they face.
My main complaint would be the writing. It was simple and direct which made sense in context of the main character. It just wasn't my favorite. It also often felt like a kid writing in their journal about how this happened and then this happened and then this happened.
The last half of the book felt scrambled and out of place. A lot of dramatic events happened and were not given the full attention they were due.
3.5 Stars
*One graphic rape scene. I'm not sure how graphic as I skipped over it once my comfort level was breached. Also includes about a dozen f-bombs that are focused in a couple of scenes. Otherwise, there was little swearing.*
I loved the unique premise and setting. This book takes place in Canada in the 1960s and 70s. The story focuses on two Métis sisters and how they handle growing up in the foster care system and with the racism they face.
My main complaint would be the writing. It was simple and direct which made sense in context of the main character. It just wasn't my favorite. It also often felt like a kid writing in their journal about how this happened and then this happened and then this happened.
The last half of the book felt scrambled and out of place. A lot of dramatic events happened and were not given the full attention they were due.
3.5 Stars
*One graphic rape scene. I'm not sure how graphic as I skipped over it once my comfort level was breached. Also includes about a dozen f-bombs that are focused in a couple of scenes. Otherwise, there was little swearing.*