Weekend Pick June 16, 2023
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Everything about Darcie Little Badger’s A Snake Falls to Earth is beautiful, the prose, the plot, the characters, even the cover art. Little Badger has crafted a narrative unlike anything I have read in young adult literature. Little Badger draws from her Lipan Apache heritage to tell the story of Nina, a Lipan teen who is determined to uncover the meanings of the fantastical stories passed down by her family.
Throughout the novel, Little Badger skillfully weaves tales from the “land of spirits and monsters” with Nina’s pursuit of the truth behind the stories she has heard. Woven throughout the plot is Nina’s grandmother’s attempts to protect her piece of Texas land from a malicious and greedy neighbor. Nina’s life and Lipan legend eventually collide to bring justice for her family.
A Snake Falls to Earth is a complex text that touches on many topics relevant to contemporary life. Perhaps the most salient themes are identity and environmental justice. In the chapters that trace Lipan stories, Little Badger focuses on the story of Oli, a young cottonmouth negotiating his identity. Oli, like the other animals in his world, is a shapeshifter. He has two identities: his true form as a cottonmouth and his false form which transforms him into a human with the subtle characteristics of a snake. Nina also explores her identity as she negotiates her place within the real world and her encounters with animals like Oli. Both Oli and Nina must parse out who they are as their worlds collide and intertwine. Little Badger also asks readers to consider how historically disenfranchised groups are directly impacted by disruptions in the environment. Nina’s grandmother’s fight to save her water and her land from her neighbor, Paul, speaks to the trauma inflicted upon communities who do not have the resources or the power to fight against environmental injustice.
Little Badger has masterfully crafted a fantasy that feels real. Each character, both human and animal alike, is rich and offers a unique perspective. This text would be an excellent pick for students who are fans of both fantasy and realistic literary fiction. The audiobook is also expertly narrated, and I highly recommend it for readers who prefer to listen to stories.
Throughout the novel, Little Badger skillfully weaves tales from the “land of spirits and monsters” with Nina’s pursuit of the truth behind the stories she has heard. Woven throughout the plot is Nina’s grandmother’s attempts to protect her piece of Texas land from a malicious and greedy neighbor. Nina’s life and Lipan legend eventually collide to bring justice for her family.
A Snake Falls to Earth is a complex text that touches on many topics relevant to contemporary life. Perhaps the most salient themes are identity and environmental justice. In the chapters that trace Lipan stories, Little Badger focuses on the story of Oli, a young cottonmouth negotiating his identity. Oli, like the other animals in his world, is a shapeshifter. He has two identities: his true form as a cottonmouth and his false form which transforms him into a human with the subtle characteristics of a snake. Nina also explores her identity as she negotiates her place within the real world and her encounters with animals like Oli. Both Oli and Nina must parse out who they are as their worlds collide and intertwine. Little Badger also asks readers to consider how historically disenfranchised groups are directly impacted by disruptions in the environment. Nina’s grandmother’s fight to save her water and her land from her neighbor, Paul, speaks to the trauma inflicted upon communities who do not have the resources or the power to fight against environmental injustice.
Little Badger has masterfully crafted a fantasy that feels real. Each character, both human and animal alike, is rich and offers a unique perspective. This text would be an excellent pick for students who are fans of both fantasy and realistic literary fiction. The audiobook is also expertly narrated, and I highly recommend it for readers who prefer to listen to stories.
Darcie Little Badger
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