This was the November pick for Reading Rainbow Queer Book Club @doverpubliclibrary. We wanted to choose an indigenous author to read and discuss during November. Darcie Little Badger is an asexual Lipan Apache author and this was her debut novel.

It was excellent! Ellie, short for Elatsoe, named after her sixth great grandmother, can raise the spirits of the dead. When she has a nightmare where her cousin’s spirit reaches out to her asking her to investigate his murder, she knows that she needs to act. Along with her friend Jay and the support of her family she sets out to find out how her cousin died and how to get justice for his murder.
I loved the parent child relationship shown in Elatsoe. So many times with a YA book it’s the teens trying to get around adults that ignore or dismiss their concerns. Ellie’s parents listen to her. They have mature discussions with her about her dreams and they respect her knowledge and lived experiences. They don’t just let her travel across the country to face some unknown villain, instead they all travel together and try to manage this situation together.

The mystery is excellent, and without giving away the plot, I was very satisfied with how it was handled. Ellie’s near constant companion is her dog, Kirby. Kirby passed away some time before the start of the story, but his spirit is with her and is a fearsome and loving ally and friend to her.
Read this for a great indigenous ghost story, mystery, with some fantastic friendships, ace representation, and healthy family conflict management. Also just read it because it’s GOOD.