Alternate Reality Meets Supernatural Mystery in this #ownvoices Debut [YA Review]

I received a free copy from the publisher via Edelweiss+.

Imagine an America very similar to our own. It’s got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream. There are some differences. This America has been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day.

Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. Her beloved cousin has just been murdered, in a town that wants no prying eyes. But she is going to do more than pry. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends to tear off the mask and protect her family.

Goodreads

Review ✍🏻

I first learnt of this book during a virtual SLJ conference back in April. (I think… early pandemic seems years ago…). Three factors spurred me to request a copy: #ownvoices ace rep + #ownvoices Indigenous rep + spec fic feat. ghosts.

The asexual rep is incidental to the story. A handful of comments by Ellie and her friends confirm her asexuality. I appreciate this kind of rep because I feel my own asexuality is largely incidental to my story, haha. The other two factors are far more integral.

Little Badger seamlessly weaves together supernatural creatures from European folklore with Lipan Apache knowledge and stories. For example, Ellie’s mom foils a vampire when she declares he’s not welcome in her home, i.e. Lipan Apache land which spans the southern United States and northern Mexico. Ellie is able to wake the ghosts of animals because of secret knowledge passed down in her family.

Inseparably tied to the depiction of Lipan Apache culture and beliefs is Ellie’s strong relationship with her family. The death of her cousin incites the plot; stories about her six-great grandmother (whom Ellie was named for and whose powerful abilities may be seen again in Ellie) are included throughout. I especially enjoyed reading about her relationship with her parents. Although Ellie is 17, her parents don’t need to be absent from her life for her to experience her own life-changing adventure. Ellie’s mother Vivian in particular plays a critical role, as she passes down her knowledge of ghost raising and family stories to Ellie. In a twist unique for YA, both of Ellie’s parents support her investigation into her cousin’s death, which authorities have dismissed as a mere accident.

There are a handful of weak plot points indicative of a debut novel, such as conveniently accurate deductions based on little evidence. Loose ends, which some readers might consider gaps in the narrative, could be leaving the door open for a sequel. Overall, these quibbles likely won’t detract from your enjoyment of the book if you’re keen on supernatural mysteries.

The Bottom Line 💭

A fresh and unique addition to the field of YA speculative fiction, Elatsoe is a must-read for fans of dark mysteries or supernatural tales.

Further Reading 📰

🍂 Read an excerpt
🍂 Author website
🍂 Interviewed in “‘We’ve Already Survived an Apocalypse’: Indigenous Writers Are Changing Sci-fi” @ NYTimes
🍂 Reviews: Shelf Awareness
🍂 Related: David. A. Robertson’s The Reckoner trilogy (#ownvoices for Cree representation, also features a mystery with supernatural elements) would be a great read alike.