In the Night of Memory is a poignant and beautiful novel about two young Native sisters who are “given to the county” by their young mother. It’s supposed to be temporary, just until she can get her act together. But time passes and the girls are separated, then reunited in a series of foster homes until they are taken in by family members they’ve never previously met. It’s also a story of multiple generations of their family, mostly women, and how they’ve played the hands they were dealt with. It’s about unfairness, how people are sorted and labeled and excluded, and the scars this leaves on them and their children for generations after. But mainly it’s about family love and resilience. Reading In the Night of Memory is like watching a drama in which you really care and feel for (most of) the characters. The writing is brilliant, with a strong sense of place. I would give it 4.5 stars if that were possible.