Dimaline returns to the postapocalyptic, plague-ridden world she created in The Marrow Thieves (2017), wherein Indigenous Canadians are being harvested by white people for their bone marrow, which is believed to be a cure for the plague. The story opens with French, a Métis 17-year-old imprisoned in one of the area's new residential schools, where bone marrow extraction takes place and the "students" are trained to capture other Native people. Meanwhile, French's love, Rose, has stubbornly left their unofficial Indigenous family to rescue him, only to need rescuing herself after she and her companion, Derrick, are taken prisoner by a cult, whose leader hopes to heal himself and his many "wives" by drinking their blood. Yes, there is a bit of the melodramatic to this complex novel and if it has a fault it is its occasional discursiveness and tendency toward overwritten prose. Nevertheless, Dimaline has created vivid characters who propel a suspenseful and atmospheric story that boldly brings past, and ongoing, darkness to light.

Indigenous people continue to fight for survival in the face of environmental devastation and a predatory government.This follow-up to 2017's acclaimed The Marrow Thieves picks up in the middle of the action: Miig's joyful reunion with his husband, Isaac, is followed by Frenchie's tragic capture by the Recruiters. Seventeen-year-old Frenchie has been taken to a residential school, a macabre institution where Native people's bone marrow is harvested to treat the dreamless non-Indian population. Frenchie tries to avoid complete mental and physical breakdown-and must decide what price is too high to pay to achieve freedom. Rose, 16, is unwilling to wait around for further intelligence from inside sources; desperately and impulsively, she sets out to rescue Frenchie-accompanied by Derrick, who still hopes she'll choose him instead. Meanwhile, the family receives disturbing intelligence that threatens the baby Wab and Chi Boy are expecting, leading to a decision to separate, with one group heading south toward the States. This lush, devastating, and hope-filled novel, which unfolds in chapters that shift perspectives among major cast members, provides some recap of earlier events but will be better appreciated by those who have read the first one. The action never lets up and is inextricably intertwined with the personal and community histories of the diverse characters who band together from various nations. Dimaline (Métis) paints a nightmarish world that is too easy to imagine; it will haunt readers long after they turn the final page.A spellbinding sequel. (author's note) (Dystopian. 14-adult)

Gr 9 Up Dimaline's sequel to The Marrow Thieves returns to the dystopian world of French and his found family. A plague has taken over, robbing much of the population of their ability to dream, and Indigenous people are hunted for their marrow, which is believed to contain the cure. Seventeen-year-old French awakens in a dark room with a head injury and no idea where he is. He soon finds he has been captured by Recruiters and is being held captive in a residential school where Indigenous people are harvested for their marrow. Meanwhile, his family is trying to find him and plan his escape. As new information is uncovered about the residential schools and family members become divided on the best way to retrieve French, everyone must decide how far they are willing to go to survive. The brutal realities faced by French in the residential school will leave readers thinking about what Indigenous people endured in the residential schools of the past. The idea of storytelling and the importance of realizing that the past and present are interwoven is beautifully conveyed and will keep readers anxious for what comes next. VERDICT An excellent sequel to a thought-provoking story. Purchase of the duology is highly recommended for young adult collections. Ashley Leffel, Griffin M.S., Frisco, TX