Nothing gets our attention like a good old coming of age story. Think back to the last books that made it big with readers and in the movies – the Harry Potter series, the Twilight Saga and The Hunger Gamesare all coming of age stories. But each story also brings another element, a fantastical element that really brings the story to life. Harry Potter visits a secret world of wizards; Bella dates a vampire moonlighting as a high school student; Katniss raises her oppressed countrymen together to fight against the government in a futuristic war.
This is the same with The Spirit Keeper (2012) by Melissa Luznicky Garrett. An awkward 17 year-old girl whose never been kissed begins to come into herself and become more confident thanks to the attention of a cute boy and a faithful side-kick best friend.
So what’s the fantastical element in this otherwise predictable storyline? Turns out this girl was born in an American Indian tribe that is full of mysticism and magic. Enjoy my e-book review of The Spirit Keeper below.
17 year-old Sarah Redbird is the only American Indian in her upstate New York high school and she’s been paying the price for it. She finds herself the favorite target of a perfect, blonde air head who can’t help but find ways to make Sarah feel like even more of an outsider than she already is.
Sarah was taken from the reservation when she was a child and the story of her tribe, her past lineage and anything related to her family has been kept from her by her aunt and uncle who are raising her.
When an American Indian boy and his father move in across the street from Sarah and her aunt, she is instantly attracted to the boy with “dimples deeper than Mario Lopez.” Little does she know the danger her crush will bring and the secrets he will unlock about her past and her family.
This book is a great introduction to a book series. It doesn’t stand alone as not much is accomplished in this first book – a lot of loose ends are left dangling. But Garrett takes advantage of this by taking her time Grisham-style to introduce us to the characters, the setting and the American Indian myths that exist for Sarah’s tribe. Unfortunately, we’ll just have to wait for the next book in the series, The Seventh Tribe, to be released within the next year.
What is your favorite coming of age story? Any book you’d like me to do a review on in the future?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review The Spirit Keeper! I’m thrilled you enjoyed it. 😀
Yes. It was a great YA novel. Looking forward to seeing how you will end the series with the next two book.