Cherie Dimaline’s “The Marrow Thieves” takes place in the future in a dystopian environment and ecological collapse. The horrors of the current world have caused people to lose the ability to dream, and to sleep properly. The only ones who are able to dream are the Indigenous people due to the making of their bone marrow, leading to them being hunted for their bones. The main character in this novel is an Indigenous boy named Frenchie who fights to survive both the natural environment and those who are hunting him down. The novel also explores many themes, such as identity, resilience, and the effects of historical trauma against Indigenous communities.

The novel is very engaging and eloquently written. The Marrow Thieves truly dives into the dystopian aspect by picturing horrible environments, and generally painting society as run-down and one fighting for survival. Additionally, the characters and their interactions with the world are clearly molded by their situation. The people in the story feel real and human, which I found helpful in connecting with the characters. Another interesting feature of the novel is the use of heavy themes, such as survival, trauma, cultural reconnection, and loss. The aspect of the novel which I found to be most interesting is the inclusion of Indigenous culture. This is especially evident in the case of the main character Frenchie who is trying to reconnect with his Indigenous heritage. Overall, I would say I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

This novel is particularly engaging to people who are interested in Indigenous culture; however, I also believe that The Marrow Thieves would be enjoyed by most individuals. The story is engaging, characters likable, and so forth, that people who simply want to read a good book would enjoy this. Another key aspect why I would suggest this novel is the connection to current and past Indigenous issues, most evidently, colonization.