This book made my heart ache but I think it is something everyone should read. As the entire story explores colonialism and systemic racism, there are distinct parallels between what Canada has done and is doing to Indigenous people. Elimina was born in the Gutter but instead of having a letter X scarred onto each hand, she only has one because she was part of a special project where Gutter kids were raised by Mainlanders. Unfortunately, when she is about 15 her Mainland mother dies and Elimina is forced to go to an academy with other Gutter children to learn to pay off her debt "to society". The book chronicles her life there learning about her peoples' history, which she know nothing about because of where she was raised (Mainlanders don't know the full history and don't talk about or gloss over what they do know). We follow her through life until adulthood as she learns more about what life is like for Gutter folks. Heartbreaking but an important piece of literature.