The Marrow Thieves Book Review

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

2017

Dystopian Fiction, indigenous fiction, sci-fi, young adult fiction

The Marrow Thieves is set in a post apocalyptic world where people, with the exception of North American Indigenous people, can’t dream anymore. In the middle of a Canada ravaged by climate change, the Canadian government kidnaps indigenous people because their bones hold the key to dreaming again. While a dystopian novel, The Marrow Thieves alludes to historical and modern day issues within North American indigenous communities.

I really loved everything about The Marrow Thieves. Dimaline’s writing is stunning and I loved how the novel works as a survival story about found family. Frenchie, the protagonist, and his family hike through deep wilderness towards the fabled North, where they've heard conditions are safer. The family of survivors all come from different backgrounds and experiences, each having a couple chapters dedicated to their differing perspectives of their world. All of the characters are well-developed, and their journey interested me from start to finish.

Rating 5/5: The Marrow Thieves is intended for a YA audience, but I truly believe that this is a book that will resonate with readers young and old. While the concept weaves fantastical and sci-fi elements, The Marrow Thieves is a novel grounded in reality. This novel has already made my list of the best books I’ve read in 2021, so I highly recommend checking it out!!!