Ms. Hen reviews The Marrow Thieves

 

The Marrow Thieves

Cherie Dimaline

Cormorant Books

2017

Ms. Hen decided to read this novel, because she read about it on the back of MOON OF THE CRUSTED SNOW, which she read recently. She is always interested in dystopian fiction, and she thinks that Native American depictions of this are especially interesting. Going back to the Native ways when the world is ending is a fascinating idea.

Francis, or Frenchie, is a teenage boy who is running from the Recruiters, people who catch Indigenous people to harvest their bone marrow to acquire their dreams. Most of the people on Earth have lost the ability to dream, since the environment has gone to ruin. He meets up with a group of people and they become a family; they run, and they hunt, and attempt to survive in the world. The elders, Miigwans and Minerva, guide the young people in the group.

The family suffers losses, but also experience happiness. Frenchie falls for Rose, a part Black Native who he thinks is beautiful. The members of the group tell their coming to stories to each other. They almost get caught several times, but make it through. They hear stories of the schools, where their dreams are harvested, and fear what will happen to them if they get caught.

This novel is like many other post-apocalyptic novels Ms. Hen has read, but with an Indigenous twist. It reminds her of THE ROAD, obviously, and also STATION ELEVEN, and MOON OF THE CRUSTED SNOW. But this is different because it has many different layers; it's about forming a family, and the importance of dreams. If people lose their dreams, they lose their ability to free their minds and truly rest in sleep.

This is a young adult novel, but Ms. Hen thinks anyone could read it. This is a great example of writing about young people: their nuances, and how they act, their exuberance and excitement at the newness of seeing the world. It's been a long time since Ms. Hen was a teenager, but she thinks that these depictions are realistic.

This novel is dark, but hopeful. Ms. Hen thinks it's important because it's a twist at looking at the post-apocalyptic world. This novel should get attention, and is has, because the future is coming, and we don't know yet what it will bring.