Very educational

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While the author told the story she also showed the reader the ways, traditions and culture of Daunis' tribe. Daunis has a foot in two worlds and they often co exist uneasily. I also knew there was such a thing as "football world, but I didn't know about "hockey world," and the way she wrote about that was revealing. The two things I didn't like about the book were that it was a bit long; 50-100 pages could have been trimmed, and that Daunis didn't tell the FBI everything she discovered. When she realized Levi was involved by breaking into his room and checking the bank statements she should have told Jamie what she found right away. He would have met up with her and she may not have been kidnapped in the first place. As a Native American she has reason not to trust government officials, but she should have told them. Actually she should have informed Jamie about her suspicions before breaking in. I'm surprised Ron and Jamie didn't give her hints as to what she should be looking for, such as someone who seems to be doing very well when he/she doesn't have that kind of money. It turns out Coach Bobby has had his cabin redone with proceeds from the meth distribution. It was awful that Dana Firekeeper was involved and that she got away with no jail time, and that Levi was involved. By the end of the book his whole life and future is over. The reader also sees how athletic Golden Boys can get away with an awful lot and ruin other lives in the process (Travis taking blame for the BB gun incident.) Native women have to put up with being overlooked at best, sexually assaulted/murdered at worst. Drugs/alcohol destroy Native communities along with everyone else's. Daunis' kidnapping doesn't get prosecuted, and it looks like Grant has gotten away with raping Daunis by using his knowledge of how tribal/reservation law clashes with Federal/state law. Mike Edwards is presumably on the run, and Stormy sits mute in jail for contempt. The reader hopes Stormy will wise up and Levi will own up for his part in everything and for trying to set Daunis up. I don't think Dana is an example of a powerful woman being destroyed. What if Daunis and Jamie had been killed? Dana would have been an accessory to that. She is an example of a powerful woman using her position to do bad things. I like that Daunis is going off to study in Hawaii and then apprentice with Seeney. A sequel to this book could have her discover something of importance. The author talks about chokecherry pudding in the afterword, and the government/FDA should look into this in real life. It might not cure cancer outright, but it could help those who are coping with the symptoms in the way marijuana can help those dealing with chemotherapy and also with glaucoma. It would have been a romantic ending if Daunis and Jamie had become a couple at the end of the book, but that would have been a "cheated" ending. She has her own path and he has his, despite her vision of "their" hypothetical child. The gathering of Native women who have been sexually assaulted and the final dance (with Daunis wearing her red jingle dress) were very moving. Considering the news this year about the abuse suffered by Indian children at the Catholic Church-run boarding schools in Canada, this book is very timely. Two of Daunis' family were sent there and suffered horrible abuse, with one committing suicide. Other thoughts: Travis, who had a future was ruined by meth and Uncle David who was just trying to help and died for it. Sorry for this meandering review but my thoughts kept going in various directions.