The Poet Thieves

To select which novel moves on was challenging for some of us at Harry Ainlay. Ultimately, we selected Poet X by way of voting - 2 to 1. Here are some of our reflections on both texts.

The Marrow Thieves

• The concept of not ever giving up hope and never giving up dreams is powerful; this would be what keeps people going after atrocities occur, such as what happened to many in residential schools. The futuristic setting relates to those who love Dystopian literature.
• The past lifestyle of Indigenous people (being in the wilderness, travelling, living in community, learning from others, learning all roles that make a community function) is shown really well in a relevant way.
• The metaphor of the dreams being held in the language and the culture is powerful, and gives a message of hope for Indigenous people and allows non-Indigenous people to hear Indigenous peoples’ voices and be able to approach reconciliation in a powerful way.
• The futuristic setting is one of warning, but almost makes it seem as if what happened in residential schools can (or even will) happen again if nothing is done. That at times seems to be perpetuating something negative instead of something healing, a message of condemnation of the future instead of healing for the past.
• Really liked the reversal of indigenous people surviving as a contrast to mass extinctions of any indigenous culture
• Happens in present day: refuses to perpetuate the notion of the “dead Indian” or the one who lives in the past only, even though there is travel and living on the land, etc.
• why is it called The Marrow Thieves? Isn’t this books about the marrow holders? The survivors? Why name it after the colonizer? (Maybe that’s the warning?)

The Poet X

• Strong characterization
• Focus on slut shaming; religion; homophobia; relationships; use of writing to heal
• Favourite quotes: “words give people permission to be their fullest self” and “I only know that learning to believe in the power of my own words has been the most freeing experience of my life. It has brought me the most light. And isn’t that what a poem is? A lantern glowing in the dark?”

• Captures the two worlds that children of immigrants often have to switch between and navigate and the profound pressures placed on them by their parents who have sacrificed everything for them
• Honest characterization of a teenage girl - thoughtfully explores the conflict young woman face about trying to explore their sexuality versus being sexualized by others. Really strong depiction of shame that girls experience regarding this conflict
• I have recommended it to a few students already

• Fave lines: “And I think about all the things we could be if we were never told our bodies were not built for them.”
• Her English teacher is rad
• Ably addresses the false assumption that everyone gets the same education, particularly stateside; struggling with doubt in a faith practice that condemns it