LaRose by Louise Erdich

I read about this book a while ago and thought maybe I’d read it but sort of moved on without picking it up at the time.  When I found it on the sale rack (you know, $4 for recent hardbacks, gotta get me some, I can’t resist a book on deep discount) I thought ah, sure, I’ll give it a try.  I was pleased that I did.

The book centers around two families living on either side of the border of a modern day Indian reservation.  Each family has a five year old son.  One of the men kills the other family’s child in a tragic hunting accident and as recompense, he offers his own son to the family of the slain child.  Devastating, right?  And that does not even take into account how his wife felt about the "trade".

Its ultimately a book about these two families, the town they live in and the school and parish they attend.  It’s about taking in strays and making sacrifices for others.  The characters felt real and fresh.  The author has mastered the trick of conveying shame and love and yearning and regret without losing sight of hope and importantly, the value of family, both the one you are born into and the one you create for yourself.  Beautifully done. 

Rating:  #4 Liked It