Name: Stolen
ISBN: 9781668007167

Ann-Helén Laestadius

Rachel Willson-Broyles

Stolen

Alyssa C Smith

What if it was the ones who took their own lives that were doing the right thing? The ones who said they couldn't take it anymore and left behind everything that hurt. The ones who made a statement to the whole world. See what you drive us to do? We can't take it anymore. We would rather kill ourselves than watch our reindeer be tortured and killed while we listen to how much you hate us. We would rather kill ourselves than watch you take our land for a mine that won't give you more than a decade's work, tops.

Really awesome read! Taught me so much about the Sámi community. Might move a bit slowly for some readers but I enjoyed the lackadaisical plot because it gave the author space to have the main character Elsa grow up and explore the complexities of her identity as a female reindeer herder. I also loved how the villain of the story was portrayed. He wasn't just a reindeer murderer and racist, but also a dog lover dealing with chronic pain and the loss of his parents. It doesn't evoke sympathy for his character, but readers get to see how his social isolation contributed to his hatred for the Sámi.

Lily Elizabeth Labella

Scott Wilson

A chillingly beautiful novel that deals with societal prejudices in Sweden against the Sami indigenous peoples. I was struck by the similarities between how the Sami people were treated in Sweden and how Canada's first nations persons are also unfortunately treated in our Canadian Society.

Amazingly beautiful scenes of nature and the raw and rough nature of living in Sweden's north.

This book deals with tough but honest topics such as prejudices, rural living, suicide, loneliness, power struggles between male and female characters, racism, first nations mistreatment, wealth and poverity, and more.

The writing is beautiful and I found the scenes easily seen through the mind's eye. On the other hand, the writing of the brutality of the animal torture and mutiliation is sure to turn off or sicken sensitive readers so be aware of that prior to reading!

I received an advance copy of the book through NetGalley and the publisher, but my review is my honest and uninfluenced opinion. Thank you to the author Ann-Helen Laestadius for such a tough but touching work.

NOTE: I wasn't able to complete the novel in the time alloted, however I will be buying a copy of this important book so that I will be able to share with my children when they are older. The stories of how our societies have mistreated our first nations peoples must be shared so that we do not make the same mistakes again.