Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger ill by Rovina Cai
| Boundaries between the dead and the undead, dreams and reality, animals and humans are all fluid. Ellie has the extraordinary ability to bring back the dead. Her truest companion is her dog Kirby who died five years ago. After his death, she reached into the underworld for her beloved canine and returned him to her world. Now he usually manifests himself as a shimmering transparency which Ellie and some others can see. Seventeen-year-old Ellie, an Apache Lipan, has inherited her Six-Great-Grandmother’s capacity to travel to the land Below where ghosts and monsters dwell. Named Elatsoe in honor of her legendary ancestor Six-Great, Ellie continues the matriarchal task of protecting her family and close friends. But there are rules. Do not speak the deceased’s name or view an image of a departed individual. While she may return animals to the world of the living, she is not to bring people back from the land Below. |  |
Ellie is devastated when her cousin Trevor dies, leaving his grieving widow and seven-month-old son. Authorities report his death is the result of a tragic auto accident. But Ellie has reason to believe otherwise. In a dream, Trevor's ghost informs his cousin that he was brutally murdered. He identifies his killer and asks Ellie to avenge his death. She enlists the help of her best friend to locate the killer and bring him to justice. In addition to traditional sleuthing methods, Ellie relies on the assistance of a tribal Elder and other spiritualists.
The climax is a thriller which crackles with nonstop action. Look for a ghost dog, a mother-daughter team, vampires, an agile cheerleader, and basketball bridesmaids wearing rhinestone-embellished trench coats to join forces in an epic battle to defeat evil.
Little Badger lightens the tension with wry tongue-in-cheek humor. There is a discussion of veggie burgers that taste like beef because they are made with "plant-synthesized hemoglobin." When the fighting escalates there is a request to “Keep things PG” because kids are present. Ellie fires back “We’re at least PG-13...At least. But I appreciate your consideration.”
The satisfying conclusion holds the possibility of new directions for Ellie that will honor her heritage, prepare her for the future, and bring peace to the family. The final tender scenes may cause the book’s pages to be wet with readers’ tears.
Australian artist Cai's soft ink wash illustrations set off the book's mystical ethereal quality.
Set in south Texas, near the Rio Grande River known to the Lipan as Kunétai, the land is more than setting, it’s an integral part of the story. The way of the Apache Lipan is woven throughout the tale with inclusion of Apache mythology, culture and traditions.
Speculative fiction that explores timeless relationships, family loyalty, the bond between animals and people. Ties which death cannot sever. Elatsoe holds readers under its spell long after the final page.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: August 25, 2020 Publisher: Levine Querido ISBN: 978-1646140053
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