39 pages • 1 hour read
Five Little Indians
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Book Brief
304
Novel • Fiction
Vancouver, Canada • 1960s
2020
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Five Little Indians by Michelle Good follows the lives of five Indigenous children who survive the traumatic Indian residential school system in Canada and chronicles their subsequent 30-year journey navigating the lasting impact of their experiences. The story delves into themes of coping with trauma, challenging the notion of assimilation, and the pursuit of belonging and home. Topics include child abuse, substance misuse, and emotional trauma.
Melancholic
Emotional
Challenging
Inspirational
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
44,974 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Michelle Good’s Five Little Indians is widely praised for its profound exploration of trauma and resilience among Indigenous survivors of residential schools in Canada. Reviewers commend its emotional depth and nuanced characters. Criticisms include a sometimes disjointed narrative structure. Overall, it is a powerful, though occasionally uneven, read.
Who Should Read Five Little Indians?
Readers who would enjoy Five Little Indians by Michelle Good are typically drawn to powerful, character-driven narratives that delve into personal and historical trauma. This novel will appeal to fans of Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese and There There by Tommy Orange, who appreciate stories of resilience amid systemic oppression.
44,974 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
304
Novel • Fiction
Vancouver, Canada • 1960s
2020
Adult
18+ years
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