“And I am telling this story because it’s true and took up that morning, and also because I want whoever reads this, if somebody ever does, to understand that most of us, if we don’t have rotten hearts, just do the best we can.”

This fictionalized version of what happened to real children, victims of abuse and discrimination against Indian people, during the 1950s is powerful. Kit is our narrator and alternates between the “after” at her school and the “before” when she is at home with her Daddy, in the wake of the death of her mother. Kit tells the truth in the most moving and genuine way. 

I loved knowing the truth and hated that it happened. I especially despised the two hateful men, who hiding behind a false Christianity, harmed Kit with their selfishness, egos, evil desires, and abusive power.  It’s disgusting and damaging for people to use the name of Jesus to hurt and shame people, who subsequently turn away from Jesus because of the bad behavior of evil people. I dislike this part of the storyline - even though I know it happens. Shameful.

“…acts like he’s the big Christian example for everyone to follow.”

One scene is so striking - where the child comforts another child who is angry by putting her hand on her arm until the anger goes away. Why can’t adults be the comforters instead of the abusers? 

Margaret Verble is a masterful storyteller. Her writing is real and authentic. Just like a child would, Kit (via Verble) goes on a tangent but knows she is on a tangent. It’s just like a human, especially a child, would think and speak. I absolutely loved the writing. Highly recommend this book, with the caveat that the two hateful men do not represent Christians. They are hateful men that stole in significant and harmful ways. 

“Because I knew, without anybody having to tell me, that my whole life had been stolen from me, but that it wasn’t over.”