Erdrich is an incredible storyteller and she shines here. This is a heart-wrenching, tragic, and infuriating story of two families experiencing horrific grief and loss. I'm not sure I was supposed to, but I found what these adults did to the 5-year old LaRose unforgivable. This book left me drained.

Louise Erdrich has written some of the best novels concerning Native Americans. One of my all time favorite books is "Love Medicine". In this novel she again captures the pain of loss and reconciliation which is not restricted to Native people, but to all humans. I highly recommend this book and author. Kristi & Abby Tabby

Sometimes, and not saying, we don't find friends through commonalities, you find a story that is like no other.

A good story but not my favorite among Erdrich's novels.

A heart-wrenching and reflective book that exposes the vulnerabilities of our cultural backgrounds and the effect it has on our relationships. We feel the dilemmas and the compassion that connects each resident to each other’s past, present and, inevitable future. Erdrich is an artist when it comes to character development. This is an excellent book group discussion choice.

Compelling characters and dialog that rings true, Native American life on a North Dakota Ojibwe reservation, gripping themes of tragedy and redemption - I can't say enough good things about this book!

So disappointing. A real struggle to read. Far too long, and more a young adult than adult book. Melodramatic soap opera, more popular than literary.

I was expecting the character LaRose to be the impressive woman of that name in Erdrich's earlier novel Round House. Instead we find generations of LaRoses and all of them memorable. What an ear for teen-age chatter! The final epilogue chapter about the high school graduation party is uplifting--each character except one finds a reward, as does the reader. I also recommend Round House.

Erdrich’s family story starts in tragedy and foreshadows what may be more. This multi-generational story follows one gifted Native American boy named LaRose and the generations of people previous who have borne this name.

It has all the fingerprints of a classic, exceptional characters, prose and storytelling. Dense and rich—a winner.

My favorite Erdrich story made me feel good to read it. I loved watching a strong Native American family share their son, Larose, with a neighbor family, after the accidental death of a son. I loved the strong (and the weak) characters. I loved Snow and Josette, what a remarkable pair of high school students. Erdich can blend modern reservation life with a respect for the past and make you cheer for the success of her characters, and empathize with emotions of loss and the importance of family and community.