Elatsoe tells the story of Elatsoe, a 16 year old indigenous girl, who inherited her tribe’s ability and knowledge to bring back ghosts from the underworld. And when her beloved cousin is brutally murdered, she is determined to find out who killed him…
Although this book starts slow, the book doesn’t get boring at any time. For the most part, it had me on the edge of my seat. And I definitely didn’t predict the outcome.
The world is so different from ours, yet so similar in that the same grievances still prevail: Discrimination, police injustice, pollution. Furthermore, it shows the parts of history that are widely left out of the textbooks and curriculum.
The writing and the way the story is told include elements of traditional indigenous storytelling! Which I found so interesting and I am now eager to learn more about it. In addition to that, the author’s writing is beautiful in a way that feels completely natural. And she perfectly captures the atmosphere of the scenes: The book is beautiful and dangerous at the same time. Plus, I love how the author managed to capture everyday teenage struggles. It makes the book and its characters relatable.
Ellie is such a fascinating protagonist - not just because of her abilities, but because of how she catches details in people’s behavior and in the way they express emotion. She is smart on so many levels. And I loved the casual way in which her asexuality was handled.
For me, Elatsoe is without a doubt a 5 star book. And I recommend it to anyone interested in getting into indigenous literature as well as those who like magical realism.
I wish a German publisher would decide to publish a translation of this book.
And these are some of my favorite quotes:
Sometimes the world was too mysterious for her liking.
Wasn’t the underworld a waste and frightening place? Wasn’t the Earth vast and frightening, too?
