Source: DRC via NetGalley (Mariner Books) in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: August 8, 2023
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

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Why did I choose to read this book?

Every single book I’ve read by indigenous/Native American authors ever has been an absolute banger. I want to read all the stories. If they show up on NetGalley, I’m requesting them 100%.

The fact that dolls were involved also made me think this one might be a little horror-esque, which apparently I am into now.

What is this book about?

This book centers around the damage done to Native American traditions, communities, and languages via the Indian boarding schools created to essentially steal, traumatize, and “reform” native children. Many children died at these schools as well, and as a minor trigger warning a child does die in this story.

It also tells generational stories. It begins with a little girl, then transitions to her mother’s story, then her grandmother’s story, then back to the original little girl but she’s all grown up for the conclusion.

At its heart, this book talk about how trauma is passed from person to person, and that it is crucially important to face that trauma head on, understand it, and manage its effects so that we do not hand it down to our children. It’s here that the story becomes universal.

What is notable about this story?

Mona Susan Power does NOT shy away from the horrifying events of native history. It’s essential that we understand what really happened and sugar coating/beating around the bush about any of it isn’t going to help anyone. These stories are raw and real and they HURT because they should.

The idea that the dolls come alive in a Toy Story kind of way and act as witnesses to these atrocities is so fucked up, but it’s such an interesting take. Like the trauma just bleeds onto everything we love and soaks into it.

Most notable was the focus on the women. There were a few cases where men were the abusers, but much of the violence and trauma was committed/borne by the women in the story. Thinking back about what I read, only the grandfather was abusive in any way and only sporadically when he was drinking, and you end up sympathizing with him once you see the grandmother’s story. He’s not just a “bad man,” he’s a guy that got fucked up by the system just like everyone else. I don’t want to say it was refreshing to read a story where the women fueled the perpetuation of violence and trauma instead of just being cowering victims, but it was notable and surprising.

Was anything not so great?

For me, it was the dolls. I’m not sure why, but something about it being dolls just felt off. They weren’t even creepy. This is not a critique of the book as a whole or even the story, I’m just saying for me the dolls didn’t hit. And in a book called “A Council of Dolls” it felt like it was worth a mention. But the story works fine even if the dolls don’t land for you so don’t let this comment stop you from buying or borrowing this book!

What’s the verdict?

Four stars on Goodreads. It’s a powerful story that we can all learn from, even if all we take away is that to truly break the cycle of trauma and damage, we first have to heal ourselves. Put your oxygen mask on first before helping others – it’s not just for plane emergencies!

Seriously though, please read this book. It’s important. Go get it.