Somewhere between placing the Libby hold and actually listening to the audiobook, I got confused as to where this story takes place. It focuses on an Indigenous community in Sweden, not North America. That said, it was interesting, though I found some parts of it slow. I blame this, however, not on the author but on my general discomfort with most literary fiction. Major content warning for harm to animals and suicide/ideation. 

What an amazing book that highlights Indigenous peoples, xenophobia, family dynamics, and climate change. The main character is a great reminder for women to not be afraid to speak up and stand up for what you believe in. 

This story popped up when I was looking for a new indigenous-based read. The fact that it was based on a population - the Sámi - that I knew little about really intrigued me, along with the storyline. Originally written in Swedish, the English translation was well done and I felt it carried the emotions and story line with it. The atmosphere definitely gave it the feel of being a winter read. Though not the warmest of stories, it still felt cozy - like you should be reading it beside the fire with a warm drink. This story did not shy away from intense details of the realities and injustices, that though Sámi based, are very similar to those of other indigenous populations. The main character was strong - in her thoughts, in her actions, in her being, and I really appreciated that. This is a story I feel will stick with me for aa long time. Maybe not in detail, but in the feelings.

An important piece about the reality of Samí peoples lives in Sweden, emotional, and beautiful.

I love Lasse <3

I hope more people read this book.

This book reminds me of an Appalachian ballad: filled with love of the land and culture, family, purposefully ineffective police, murder, and grief. 
It details the coming of age of a Sami girl, beginning on the day she finds her reindeer butchered by a neighbor who is not a tribe member. The rest of the books shows her growing up, the changes in her family, and her ongoing battle to force the police to treat the slaughter of her tribe’s reindeer seriously. 
It begins with a deeply traumatized little girl, and ends with an even more traumatized, but brave and determined woman. I think Elsa is one of the most honest characters I’ve read in awhile, which comes with the author’s comfort with showing a story that doesn’t have a happy ending. The police never really come to care about the concerns of the Sami, climate change is affecting the village they live in, her family is deeply dysfunctional and everyone in her family has mental health issues, and the future of the reindeer herds is still up in the air… but there she stands, strong, proud, and tragic. 
This isn’t a story of overcoming trauma, it’s a story about how sometimes life is just messed up and we have to survive it. 
Beyond the raw beauty of the portrayal of Elsa and her family and friends, the racism and oppression of the Sami people is in stark contrast to the deeply loving portrayal of Sami culture in a way that makes the descriptions of oppression hit even harder, such as the scenes where Elsa’s grandmother’s dementia causes her to relive her days in boarding school. 
In short, this is a poignant story about Indigenous suffering and grief, but still balanced with strength and somehow not without hope. 

This book was a challenge to read as it's content was frustrating and disturbing. The translation was very good and ready to read. The characters were memorable and you just wanted good things for them. The author presented information about the Sami people and their lack of justice with the police and local people. Trigger warning for grahic violence against animals, sucide, stalking and threatening death, pregnancy bleeding.