I have not been engrossed by a book as much as I was with A Council of Dolls in a LONG time. 

A Council of Dolls is a novel that follows three generations of women in the same family. This novel explores colonization and generational trauma. Each part explores the life of a girl and her doll, and the next part follows that girl's mother.

I started reading A Council of Dolls without much knowledge of what the story was about, but I was hooked as soon as I started. It is rare for me to go through the whole reading experience absolutely loving a book, but A Council of Dolls was amazing the whole way through. 

This novel deals with the violence of colonialism, boarding schools, and how each woman in the story is emotionally and mentally impacted by what their ancestors go through. 

The role of dolls in this story is incredibly impactful. The dolls are their own characters, going through the same experiences as their beloved owners. At first, I wasn't sure about this element, but it really added to the story and the storytelling overall.

A Council of Dolls is one of my favorite novels of 2023 and I would recommend this to historical fiction lovers and people who enjoy intergenerational stories.

I was very happy to be able to read this book. A very touching story about three generations of Yanktonai Dakota women and the dolls from they had as children. This story is told in three parts and brings light to the different traumas and hardships each had lived through. I resonate with this book as a Dakota woman myself and was deeply moved by the subject matter as these are the stories of my grandparents and great grandparents. This is one of my favorite reads this year and these stories will stick with me forever.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

A Council of Dolls was high on my list as I always find books with American Indian stories to be of interest, especially when they are historical fiction. This one told in 3 different POVs, each with their own time period was a deep dive into the treatment of Indian children at "Indian" schools that were nothing short of horrific.

This book deals with the treatment of American Indians through the generations.

This was a vibrant, heartfelt story of three Native women and the dolls that carried them.

We meet Sissy/Jesse a young, Native Dakota girl living in late 1960s Chicago. She longs for a doll that looks likes her. When her father purchases Ethel, an African American doll she is ecstatic and confused by the look of contempt from the sales woman. Ethel provides Sissy with encouragement and conscience when making decisions. They do everything together and Ethel will do anything to protect her "person", Sissy.

Sissy's mother, Lillian is a complex character who is hot tempered yet cools for the reader when we travel backwards in time to the point of view of Lillian's forced attendance at a government boarding school. There Lillian experiences horrors and trauma that only the voice and support of her doll Mae can provide. I felt like Mae saved Lilian with perceptions of spiritual comfort and an almost, out of body experience to survive the boarding school.

The section with Sissy's grandmother, Cora is rich with Native, Dakota history. We see Cora's ties to Sitting Bull and her forced separation from her family, her Native culture, language and skills which can be tethered to her doll, Winona. Winona is the heart of our story.

This book was emotionally tough to read at times due to the familial separation, destruction and abuse of Native peoples by the US Government/colonists. However, the book is beautiful and describes three women who continue to persevere and overcome by their determination and the connections that they feel for their people and to their dolls.

Thank you Mariner Books for my review copy!

I did a book feature for A Council of Dolls earlier this month, when I was just beginning to dig into this book. I said that it was a very emotional read about a family’s generational trauma that came from the U.S.’s treatment of Dakota people, from massacres to boarding schools. Now that I have finished the book, I can also say that this is a story of hope and healing of these wounds.

A Council of Dolls follows three generations of Dakota girls, and spirals into the past. The book starts with Sissy, born in 1961, then moves to her mother Lillian’s story, her grandmother Cora’s story, and finally moves to the present day where Jesse (as Sissy now calls herself) explores her family’s history.
Since the story moved backwards in time, we were introduced to characters who had been changed by the trauma they experienced, and it was so sad to then be re-introduced to them as young girls and watch them be changed.

Overall, this was a really powerful story. I took my time with it because it was a tough read, but I devoured the second half in one day.

Author Mona Susan Powers based many events in the stories from events experienced by her own family, and I found her author’s note to be just as fascinating as the book itself.

Wow, more stories like this one please. A Council of Dolls shows Native American history through multiple lenses such as heritage and trauma/grief. These women's stories were so deeply moving and heartwrenching and I absolutely believe everyone needs to read them. The humanity/inhumanity of it all was so potent. The characters were complex and so well developed. You couldn't help but feel the raw emotions of everyone here. I don't think there's anything I can say here that would really do this story justice so please do yourselves a favor and read it.

This story was a unique read. I admit, I didn’t really know what the story was about and I was pleasantly surprised. The author intertwined stories that her mother had told her and wrote this beautiful novel. Sissy was born in 1961, she has a doting father and a mother who was completely unpredictable. But she knows she is loved and has a very nice life. One Christmas she receives a beautiful doll, named Ethel. Ethel becomes the sister she never had, the soothing voice and a feeling of comfort. The doll and Sissy have many conversations together and Sissy couldn’t be happier. Lillian born in 1925 and is removed from the land she was born on and is moved to an “Indian” school, run by nuns. Lillian only has her sister and her doll, Mae. It is a tough life for the girls and there was very little peace. The nuns were terrible and mean. Mae, like Ethel, becomes a best friend. Just holding her, brings Lillian peace. Cora born in 1888 was born during the Indian Wars. She too is moved across the county to a new school. Where Indian children, will become civilized. Times are very hard and Cora had her doll, Winona, during her travels. The doll brings her such comfort and joy. When she arrived at her new school? They burn her doll and she is heartbroken. A young man gives her a piece of the doll and all is not lost.
All three women, are of Native American decent. They are all dealt very tough lives. They share the love of their dolls. Mona Susan Power, weaved the three stories together in such a great way. It is a sad tale but all is not lost. The three ladies made the best if there lives. I enjoyed the story and the characters. This was a four star read for me. I want to thank the author and Netgalley for my copy to read and review. It was my pleasure to review this book. Stories like this need to be told more often. I hope you enjoy it too..

This is a tender and thoughtful novel composed of three vignettes told from the point of view of Sissy, Lillian, and Cora. The common theme is that all three Native American girls (each born in a different era) discuss the traumatic effects of displacement, isolation, repressed anger, and undiagnosed depression as they grapple with the after-effects of the government's policies of forced relocation and assimilation tactics used at the “indian schools.” The mental, psychological, and emotional abuse is felt immediately and passed on for generations.

Some aspects were difficult to read - these are children and what they experienced and witnessed is heartbreaking. The balm in the stories are the dolls the little girls cling to – acting as confidants who can keep painful secrets, problem-solvers and dispensers of wisdom spawned from imaginary conversations, or personal totems that evoke the ancestor’s spirits for strength, perseverance, and protection.

Although a work of fiction, the stories are touching and laced with the truth of survivors' testimonies which make them more poignant and touching.

Thanks to the publisher, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.

Sissy, born in 1961, struggles with her relationship with her beautiful yet volatile mother. Her doll Ethel whispers kind words to help her through difficult situations until one fateful day. Lillian, born in 1925, clings to her sister while attending an "Indian school." But when tragedy strikes the sisters, her doll Mae finds her way to defend the girls. Cora, born in 1888, excels in the Indian school she was forced to attend with the help of her doll Winona. Even when the teachers burn her doll, Cora finds Winona's spirit with her.

Spanning three generations of women in a Dakhòta family, COUNCIL is a rich and multilayered narrative that explores the complexities of generational trauma and the profound impact of historical events on their collective journey. Through a masterful use of reverse chronology, Power weaves a tapestry of stories that focuses on the women's POV, offering a mesmerizing glimpse into the healing power of storytelling, language, and culture.

At the heart of COUNCIL is the profound influence of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, which over 10 thousand students attended between 1879 and 1918. Power delves into the violence of cultural erasure and physical abuse that occurred to these children during the period, highlighting the importance of preserving one's heritage and the role of storytelling as a means of reclaiming and honoring one's roots.

The concept o dolls serves as a captivating and symbolic motif, weaving together the characters' emotions and strengths. I love that these dolls represent the generational "power" instead of trauma, that binds a family, showcasing the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. Power deftly explores the idea that healing can emerge from storytelling and writing while using language as a means of catharsis and self-discovery. This aspect reminds me of THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DU BOIS (Honorée Fanonne Jeffers).

At its core, COUNCIL is a testament that even in the face of unimaginable loss, individuals have the inner strength to mend their wounds and reclaim their identities. The story beautifully illustrates how the process of survival often involves compartmentalization, but ultimately, it's never too late to return to tend to those old wounds and embark on a journey of self-restoration.

I loved everything about A Council of Dolls! I do tend to pick a book by its cover sometimes, and this one has a beautiful cover. The story of three generations of Dakota women, the trauma that they all faced, and the dolls that provided solace and connection, is breathtaking. The ending of the book was so satisfying. This book will be one of my top reads of 2023, I have no doubt! I learned a lot, and I will be reading more about the Indian boarding schools. I will also read more by this author. Thanks to # NetGalley and #Mariner Books for the copy of this five star book!

I really have to stop reading these heartbreaking books. This book is about three women three dolls in three eras it’s also about racism overcoming and the plight of the Native American. As the girls share their inner most thoughts with their dolls Ethel Winona and Sissy we learned their heart breaking story and what they do to overcome. When reading these books I really wish I had a time machine so I could go back and do something to ease the pain that so many people felt free to give to those that they deemed lesser than. You can really tell the character of a person when they wield their power and it’s attached to abuse this is the first book by the Native American author and I would definitely read another book by her. A Council Of Dolls is a book that any person who loved their dolls in kept secrets with them can understand but it’s also a book that anyone will be touched by and also embarrassed by the past and how those who were different were treated. If you love historical fiction that’s meaningful and moving then you definitely want to read this book. It is a book I highly highly recommend.I want to thank net galley and the publisher for my free art copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A powerful and heart wrenching tale of three generations of indigenous girls. They navigate the pain of both their own trauma and intergenerational trauma as they grow up, seeking the counsel and friendship of their dolls as companions. This book delves into the forced re-education of indigenous children at residential schools and other issues faced by native people in the US.  An important, bittersweet, and lovely own voices fiction read. A beautiful cover and a volume that I plan on adding to my permanent personal library collection.

I read a digital copy, but I might recommend audio to capture the pronunciation of Dakota words.  Please note that I was provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Such a powerful book about multiple gens in the family and Indigenous women. A ton of trauma but I also a good balance of resilience. Not an easy read but def recommend

A COUNCIL OF DOLLS by Mona Susan Power is a multigenerational novel-in-parts about a Sioux family over the course of the twentieth century. Diving deep into intergenerational trauma, Dakhóta and Lakȟóta history, and healing, the novel opens with Sissy, a girl growing up in the 1960s in Chicago with her doll, Ethel. Sissy’s life is subject to the whims of her mother, Lillian, an activist whose flaring tempers make home a perilous place.

The novel then explores Lillian’s troubled girlhood in the 1930s before turning to the matriarch, Cora, as she is raised in the 1900s at the infamous Carlisle Indian School. In each section, a doll plays a powerful role in watching out for the protagonist. In the fourth and final section, Sissy, who is now well into her middle-aged years, reflects on her family’s stories and on her own untended scars with the help of this “council of dolls” that she’s kept but neglected for decades.

The book's structure of girls paired with dolls is so effective (Louise Erdrich called it “brilliant scaffolding”). The dolls are symbols, but they also are characters in their own right. While having young girls as first-person narrators can be tricky to execute in an adult novel, Power has imbued them each with a keen sense of observation and a knack for descriptive storytelling that pulls the reader in with immediacy and intimacy.

Although many of the events of this novel are harrowing, covering the Whitestone massacre, abusive family and Indian boarding school settings, and the death of Sitting Bull, the last section is like a breath exhaled, where the author-as-protagonist processes the deep griefs that she’s experienced and inherited. Ultimately, A COUNCIL OF DOLLS reminds us that restoration is possible. As Power writes, “We can’t heal the story by changing the plot…The story won’t heal until the players do.”

Fans of Oscar Hokeah’s CALLING FOR A BLANKET DANCE will likely enjoy this one as it explores the ways our ancestors pass down both wounds and tender care. I’m now eager to explore Power’s backlist!

4.5 stars rounded up

Beautifully told fictional history of 3 generations of Yanktonai Dakota women, 1888 to the present, and their experiences at Indian boarding schools and massacres of indigenous people in the US. Based on research and stories told to the author by her ancestors. Must read!

I cannot imagine how hard it must have been to tell this story. Over the span of 60+ years, the lives of three generations of Dakota/ Lakota citizens do not seem to have moved forward. There is little to no compassion shown by the care givers of these children. These three girls move through their childhood with a doll as their closest friend and confidant. Even when one girl's doll is destroyed while she watches, the girl and doll survive together. Children have always shown remarkable resilence but this degree of trauma leaves indelible scars.

Mona Susan Powers has shown herself a skilled author with the remarkable ability to make the girl's stories emotional without making them objects of pity. They LIVED and managed to pass on to their ancestors the abilities to survive. While Ms Powers' characters represent an indigenous people, history has shown that no race thrived without hardship. A very powerfully emotional read.

4.5 stars. Thank you to Net Galley and Mariner Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This wonderful moving story of three generations of Yanktonai Dakota women starts with Sissy in the 1960s. We go back in time and learn of the lives of each generation - Lillian in the 1930s and Cora in 1900s - back to the time. Each of them have a doll - Ethel, Mae, Winona - who are their companions, keep them safe and provide guidance, love and support. This book beautifully interweaves the painful history of Native people caused by the US citizens, military and government, much of it based on the author's own experiences and stories told to her, from wars, murders, Indian boarding schools and the consequences and hardships this caused physically, mentally and spiritually and ripples on through the generations. At many times, it was difficult to hear how they characters were treated but there is always a thread of hope throughout. The end is quite wonderful and really brings all the stories together in a beautiful way. I believe this is the kind of story that can change a person's perspective for the better, even if it's just by a few degrees.

This was one of the most unique, magical, and creative stories I have ever had the privilege to read. The style was so compelling and hearing these experiences told through the different perspectives was powerful and often heartbreaking. So much about this read will stick with me but the ending section's focus on healing from generational trauma was so beautiful and made an impact that I know I will be carrying forward for years to come.

A Council of Dolls is the story of three generations of Native American women within the same family who were forced to try to cut themselves off from their culture by whites determined to "reprogram them". Each of them had a doll who seemed real and powerful to them, offering them comfort and guidance as they try to understand the new world they've been placed in.

The novel beautifully describes the cruel and heartless plans and programs of the early American government to systematically kill as many Native Americans as possible, and to reprogram the young in government owned Indian schools to turn away from and against their heritage. It also stirringly writes of the deeply held beliefs of the Native Americans. It asks the question "Who has the right to say/dictate what another may believe?", a question relevant throughout all of the colonizations and wars which have occurred, and in our lives today.

A sometimes difficult but important read about a shameful time in America's early history.

My thanks to Mariner Books for permitting me to read and review a DRC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are given freely. The book is scheduled for release on 8/8/23.

This is a beautiful and heartbreaking story of three women from different generations, their individual and interwoven stories and perseverance. I haven't previously read much about this history and appreciated the authors apparent research. Thanks #NetGalley