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The Steep & Thorny Way

Cat Winters (Goodreads Author)

3.88 · Rating details · 1,450 ratings · 379 reviews

Scene: Oregon, 1923.

Dramatis personae:

Hanalee Denney, daughter of a white woman and an African American man

Hank Denney, her father—a ghost

Greta Koning, Hanalee’s mother

Clyde Koning, doctor who treated Hank Denney the night he died, now Hanalee’s stepfather

Joe Adder, teenage boy convicted of accidentally killing Hank Denney

Members of the Ku Klux Klan

Townspeople of Elston, O ...more

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Hardcover, 352 pages

Published March 8th 2016 by Amulet Books

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Community Reviews

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Average rating 3.88 ·

Rating details

· 1,450 ratings · 379 reviews

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Jul 30, 2014 Emily May rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, paranormal-uf, young-adult, 2016, arc

“Poisonous rivulets of hate and fear spread beneath the town’s sidewalks and buildings and strangled the beauty that had once bloomed through Elston.”

Another great book from Ms Winters. Though this isn't quite my favourite Cat Winters' novel, I'm delighted to see that she's finally getting some much-deserved praise from critics. Using a lot of research, with a particular focus on social injustices, Winters has now delivered four fantastic historical/paranormal novels.

As with her other novels ...more

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Jul 29, 2014 Wendy Darling rated it it was ok

Shelves: retellings-and-inspirations, poc, pn-ghosts, 2016-publication, read-2016, lgbtqi, to-review, young-adult, own-dtb-tbr, historical-fiction

I really liked Cat Winters' first book IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLACKBIRDS, but the two books of hers that I've read since have gone steadily down in ratings, and I'm at a loss to understand the disconnect between my reactions and all the praise heaped upon them.

Every single one of her books have their roots in and contain plot details that are right up my alley, and this one is no different: it's the story of a half-white, half-black girl trying to discover the truth of what killed her father in 1 I really liked Cat Winters' first book IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLACKBIRDS, but the two books of hers that I've read since have gone steadily down in ratings, and I'm at a loss to understand the disconnect between my reactions and all the praise heaped upon them.

Every single one of her books have their roots in and contain plot details that are right up my alley, and this one is no different: it's the story of a half-white, half-black girl trying to discover the truth of what killed her father in 1920s Oregon, with touches of the supernatural, women in difficult historical circumstances, a lgbtqi subplot, and Ku Klux Klan activities. There's every reason in the world for this book to set me on fire, particularly in regards to eugenics and other atrocities committed against the minorities here.

But neither the characterizations nor the writing here were strong enough to sweep me away. I should feel outraged and impassioned and impossibly moved, but as with THE CURE FOR DREAMING, I only experienced the barest minimum of intellectual curiosity and abstract pity. All the characters' motivations and interactions are pretty straightforward--there's no subtext or subtlety, let alone mystery in their making. The plot itself is serviceable, but the Hamlet inspirations alluded to in marketing materials really aren't all that strong/apparent, and the supernatural aspect could have been dropped altogether without much impact. Honestly, I nearly DNFed this one, except that I was very interested in what would happen to Joe.

I'm glad that authors try to look beyond their own experiences, and as always, Winters has clearly put a lot of thought and research into the set up for her story. But setting and circumstance alone do not make for a fantastic book, nor does having the luck of great book design and signature book "style." For me, with the continuation of old timey photographs (as found in all her previous, unrelated books), this book is more style than substance--but it's sort of sad that in this case, the style isn't even in the writing, but in the jacket and eye-catching interiors.

Will I still check out other books by this author? Probably at least another one, since I did like her first book. But at this point, I have to admit that my enthusiasm and expectations are fast waning.

If I had to pick just one word to describe this book, it would be: toothless.

An advance copy was provided by the publisher for this review. ...more

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Nov 09, 2015 Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ rated it really liked it

Shelves: autobuy-authors, knots-in-my-stomach, young-adult, likeable-mc, arcs-2016, 2015-read, retelling

✨ AVAILABLE NOW! ✨

This book won't certainly appeal to everyone. It's not free of flaws, and I wasn't completely satisfied. And yet... As I said in my review of In the Shadow of Blackbirds, any book that tackles important and horrifying issues in such sensitive way, compelling the reader to do some researches about them deserves attention.

In this original retelling of the much beloved Hamlet, Cat Winters takes us into the xenophobic 1920s Oregon, where we follow Hanalee, a teenager whose father ...more

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Nov 11, 2015 ♛Tash rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, 2016-releases, from-authors-i-like, historical

Review also on

The Steep and Thorny Way is the story of bi-racial small town Oregon girl, Hanalee Denney during Prohibition. Prohibition, a time in US history when the government banned the production and the distribution of alcoholic beverages. It was also a time when some were prohibited to be who they truly were. Those were truly dark days when establishments found it necessary to indicate the skin color of their clientele.

Being the only girl of color in the small town of Elston, Oregon, H ...more

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Dec 01, 2014 Drew rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction

“Hate is a powerful demon that worms its way into the hearts of fearful men.”

This is my favorite Cat Winters book I've read to date. I loved all of her dark, well-researched historical fiction books, but The Steep & Thorny Way felt a bit different. More mature, more emotionally effective, and with a deeper understanding of the characters.

I loved the main characters, Hanalee and Joe. They meant so much to me and I think this made me appreciate the plot even more.

Like always, the author took a ...more

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Apr 25, 2017 Elle (ellexamines) marked it as tbz

me at 2 am, eyelids flashing open: black girl Hamlet set in 1923 is a thing that genuinely, actually exists
me at 3 am, eyelids flashing open again: I've known about it for a whole year and I still haven't read it

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Sep 22, 2015 TL rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

"What's wrong with people out there," I asked, "deciding who gets to have children and who has to be stopped from living the type of life that feels right to them? What's wrong with them?"

“Poisonous rivulets of hate and fear spread beneath the town’s sidewalks and buildings and strangled the beauty that had once bloomed through Elston.”

" I drew a deep breath and marched into the woods behind my house with a two-barreled pistol hidden beneath my blue cotton skirt. The pocket-size derringer rode ...more

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Mar 11, 2016 haley rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, lgbtq, historical-fiction, summer-of-2016-reading

Before I get to my review of the book, I just want to talk a minute about the history of eugenics in the United States. I have never been taught this in school . I am absolutely outraged and disgusted that not only were eugenics very prominent in the United States, to the point that a lot of historians believe Nazi Germany's eugenics were inspired by it, but we (Americans) completely overlook it and pretend like it never happened when talking about American history. I have been in school for ab Before I get to my review of the book, I just want to talk a minute about the history of eugenics in the United States. I have never been taught this in school . I am absolutely outraged and disgusted that not only were eugenics very prominent in the United States, to the point that a lot of historians believe Nazi Germany's eugenics were inspired by it, but we (Americans) completely overlook it and pretend like it never happened when talking about American history. I have been in school for about 11 years and never, not once have I ever learned about American eugenics.

Nothing good ever came out of ignoring history and not teaching the truth. American schools should teach honestly about all of American history- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
________________________________________________________

Now, for my review:

Holy shit, this book was INTENSE.

Thank you, Cat Winters, for writing a story with diverse characters and making it a good story. As much as I celebrate diversity, it's not enough for a book to be diverse. It has to have a solid plot and complex characters. That's exactly what The Steep & Thorny Way has. It is both diverse and genuinely good and I applause Ms. Winters for that.

There's some heavy themes like racism and homophobia, and I appreciate that they were addressed. I'm very sickened at the idea of all the bigotry that existed in the United States long ago. Honestly, some of that bigotry still exists today but it was so much more blatant back then and it sickened and disgusted me that people could be so full of hate. Yet I'm glad that the author shone a light on the bigotry that existed back then instead of ignoring it.

I really like Hannalee, she's strong and resilient and so likable. Also like Joe a lot.

There's a lot of action and it was so exciting and also kinda scary. I didn't know who to trust.

Tl;dr version- A well-written historical fiction with a diverse and likable set of characters, lots of action, and deals with heavy themes. Highly recommend. I only took off a star because I didn't quite love it, but I still liked it immensely. ...more

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Aug 01, 2016 Maja (The Nocturnal Library) rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult, arc-2016, totally-saw-that-coming, i-see-dead-people, favorites, reviewed-iin-2016, lgbt, historical-fiction, best-of-2016

Cat Winters’ books are always such things of beauty, and The Steep and Thorny Way is no exception. The quality of her prose and the depth of her research can only be compared to Ruta Sepetys, at least as far as historical YA goes.

Inspired heavily by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way is a strong enough book to stand entirely on its own and avoid any predictability. While she does use Hamlet’s themes in what could be considered a retelling (the death of protagonist’s father, potentia Cat Winters’ books are always such things of beauty, and The Steep and Thorny Way is no exception. The quality of her prose and the depth of her research can only be compared to Ruta Sepetys, at least as far as historical YA goes.

Inspired heavily by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way is a strong enough book to stand entirely on its own and avoid any predictability. While she does use Hamlet’s themes in what could be considered a retelling (the death of protagonist’s father, potential murderer married to mother, plans of revenge), Winters doesn’t rely too heavily on them and constantly adds her own little twists.

The book starts with dramatis personae, there to remind us right away that The Steep and Thorny way is connected to another work. The mystery of Hank Denney’s death is at the forefront from the very beginning. Hanalee’s father was black and her mother is white, their marriage unrecognized in the state of Oregon in 1923. Hanalee mourns her father and dislikes her stepfather, the white town doctor who married her mother the second it could be considered appropriate.

The Ku Klux Klan was strong in Oregon at that time and Hanalee would undoubtedly have been a target. Racial injustice was far stronger in these rural environments than in places like Washington. The Klan was semi-public, seemingly an anti-Christian organization, but really anti everything that wasn’t white and male. Like with her previous books, Winters found a way to shed light on a historical subject, but also to connect problems of that time with issues we still struggle with today. Racism isn’t the only thing our Hanalee struggles with. As a biracial young woman with ambitions, she dreams about becoming a lawyer and marrying whomever she chooses, which seems to be out of her reach.

Through the preacher’s son, a young man accused of Hank’s murder, Winters also sheds light on LGBT issues of that time. Joe was possibly the only person who suffered more injustice than Hanalee, at least once he was discovered kissing a boy in his father’s car. Although his problems aren’t anything new, seeing him through Hanalee’s eyes certainly was. Her initial disgust was rooted in ignorance, and her change of views that came after talking to him and really thinking about him was wonderful.

It could be said that Winters tried to do just a bit too much this time. She is known for adding paranormal elements to her work, and a retelling of Hamlet certainly requires a restless ghost or two, but I sometimes felt that it could have been a stronger book without it. With the Ku Klux Klan and the LGBT themes so strong, there was enough going on even without the paranormal mystery. Nevertheless, a copy of this book needs to be in every house and read by every teenager. There is so much to learn through a connection with these characters.

...more

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Dec 14, 2014 Shannon (It Starts At Midnight) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-for-review, own-physical, 2016, march-2016

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Cat Winters has done it again. She has managed to absolutely blow me away with her heartbreaking and gorgeous portrayal of, quite frankly, a really awful time to be a minority of any kind in the United States. (Well, historically, there hasn't really been a good time, but this is especially unsettling.) To write about this time period and the prejudices that accompany it is a very tricky ...more

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Jul 30, 2014 Bonnie rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-fiction, arcs-netgalley, ya, fairy-tales-retellings

The year is 1923 and in a small town in Oregon, hate spreads like wildfire. Life is challenging for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a black man and a white woman, but she has learned to persevere. When her father is killed by a drunk driver, she’s devastated by his absence from her life, especially after her mother quickly remarries. The boy responsible for his death, Joe Adder, is released from prison a mere seventeen months after being sentenced and once Hanalee finds out she takes her anger The year is 1923 and in a small town in Oregon, hate spreads like wildfire. Life is challenging for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a black man and a white woman, but she has learned to persevere. When her father is killed by a drunk driver, she’s devastated by his absence from her life, especially after her mother quickly remarries. The boy responsible for his death, Joe Adder, is released from prison a mere seventeen months after being sentenced and once Hanalee finds out she takes her anger and a loaded gun to pay him a visit. After speaking with Joe, she leaves with her entire perception changed after hearing a vastly different story about what happened the night her dad died: he didn’t die from an automobile accident and that the man her mom remarried is the one truly responsible for his death.

I’ve read every Cat Winters book at this point but they seem to be hit or miss for me. I loved both In the Shadow of Blackbirds and The Uninvited, but felt The Cure for Dreaming was slightly mediocre in comparison. The Steep & Thorny Way falls in the latter category. Much like Dreaming, I felt that the subject matter was something I would normally welcome, however, overall it ended up feeling incredibly flat and listless. Cat Winters signature style has always been a fusion of stories with historical importance and a flair of paranormal, and it’s something that she does quite well. With, Thorny though, the Hamlet retelling comparisons as well as the paranormal aspects were elements which could have been left out entirely without affecting the story. A story about a half black/half white girl living during the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and a homosexual boy that is struggling to survive in a time where the study of eugenics has many thinking the issue of homosexuality is something that can be “fixed” is absolutely a strong enough story on its own.

I always appreciate the lesser known periods of history being given a spotlight and it’s interesting to see a story focus on the influence of the Ku Klux Klan extending far past the deep South, clear into Oregon. Tackling both race and sexuality prejudices in addition to touching on the topic of eugenics was edifying without feeling overwhelming, except I kept feeling off and on as if these characters were simplistic versions of their true potential. I suppose what it all boils down to though is Winters definitely demonstrates the ugliness of the times, yet it’s covered in a glossy veneer that hides the true grotesqueness doing the seriousness of the story somewhat of a disservice.

I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ...more

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Nov 23, 2015 Heather (The Sassy Book Geek) rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs, owned-digital, young-adult, read-in-2015, historical-fiction

Originally Posted On The Sassy Book Geek

***Thank You To Netgalley & ABRAMS Kids Amulet Books For Giving Me This ARC In Exchange For An Honest Review***

This is my first Cat Winters book and color me VERY impressed. I can't believe it's taken me this long to read one of her books!

I don't think a review will do the book justice! I'm also going to go ahead and let you all know that I had a hard time writing this review, it was such a different and unique book I didn't quite know where my thoughts ...more

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Aug 17, 2019 Lauren Stoolfire rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal, historical-fiction, fantasy, lgbtq

Cat Winters is one of my favorite historical fiction writers who adds a dash of fantasy to her stories. The Steep & Thorny Way is no exception. I particularly love that her stories feel so real. It's clear that she does a lot of research to bring her characters and their world to life. I always enjoy reading her historical notes and looking at the photos she incorporates into the story. I'd say that Hanalee is her best character so far. She's brave and won't give up until she learns the truth. P ...more

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Jul 29, 2014 Stacee rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2016, use-of-the-other-f-word

Hamlet has always been one of my favorite plays, so I was quite eager to see what Cat was going to do with it.

I loved Hanalee right from the start. She's smart and capable and really doesn't take shit from anyone. I loved that she was strong enough to stand up to do the right thing in such a hard situation. And I absolutely adored the scenes when she had her gun.

I really enjoyed the twist on Hamlet. It was a unique take and didn't unfold exactly like I was expecting. There were a few things that ...more

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Oct 10, 2014 Hannah (jellicoereads) rated it really liked it

Ladies and gentlemen, Cat Winters has done it yet again. I’m running out of praise for this author. Her combination of supernatural, history and feminism is unparalleled – and how great is it to find an author who just delivers each time?

The Steep and Thorny Way does have Hamlet-like elements to it, but diverges on one of the more pivotal plot twists and takes on a life of its own. It also strikes me as a darker book than her other work, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment.

There’s a powerful mov Ladies and gentlemen, Cat Winters has done it yet again. I’m running out of praise for this author. Her combination of supernatural, history and feminism is unparalleled – and how great is it to find an author who just delivers each time?

The Steep and Thorny Way does have Hamlet-like elements to it, but diverges on one of the more pivotal plot twists and takes on a life of its own. It also strikes me as a darker book than her other work, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment.

There’s a powerful movement to cleanse this country of the wrong sorts of people.

The novel is set in the state of Oregon during the 1920s, a time of racism and the KKK, rampant homophobia, and the Prohibition with its associated bootlegging activities. Of course, the first two elements were more prevalent in small towns, such as the one our MC Hanalee inhabits, than the bigger cities, which tended to be more liberal.

Hanalee, as a mixed race child of a black father and a white mother, faces a huge amount of ugly prejudice from many of the people in her town. After her father’s death, supposedly caused by a drunk driver, the son of the town reverend, she embarks on a quest to find out the truth of what happened that night, spurred on by the appearance of his ghost around town.

I won’t go into the rest of the story – the journey of discovery is for you, dear readers, to experience – but the book is certainly an exploration of unusual allies, contesting loyalties, enduring friendships, and the lines we draw that divide us. I was particularly charmed by the character of Joe, the alleged guilty party in the death of Hanalee’s father. The platonic relationship that develops between our MC and Joe was really wonderful to behold – even though they got off to a rather rocky start.

The author also briefly delves into the eugenics movement, where scientists and politicians sought to prevent the “wrong sorts” of people from being able to reproduce – such as people of colour and homosexuals, for example. It’s a horrifying yet morbidly fascinating part of American history that I don’t think is too well known.

There is also a fair amount of irony in the fact that we’re really seeing history repeat itself, in a way – almost 100 years later, and there’s still fear of letting the wrong kinds of people into our towns and cities.

I did find the ghost aspect just a little too convenient, providing the answers needed at the right time, but that does follow on in the tradition of Hamlet, of course, and contributed to the creepy aura.

Overall though, the novel is a celebration of overcoming the ugliness of human nature, of hope and survival, of fighting back, and of grief, for both the people we lose through death, and those we lose via other forms of separation. The prose flows well, which led to me speeding through the book, and despite the unpleasant nature of the history, was an utterly enjoyable read. While the author’s books are not action packed, they have a quiet brilliance to them that really resonates with me.

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Oct 17, 2014 Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) rated it really liked it

Shelves: for-review, arc, ya-historical-fiction

Living in 1920s Oregon is especially hard for bi-racial Hanalee Denney. Her mother is white and her deceased father was African American. Her father, unfortunately, died when he was struck by a drunk driver. The drunk driver is a teenager and now he's out of jail. Everyone is telling Hanalee to stay away from him; after all, he did kill her father, but she is curious about what he has to say. He says that he isn't actually responsible for her father's death, but instead it's the doctor that look ...more

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Jan 06, 2017 Petra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-books, 5-stars, own-in-english, ya-read, ghosts, a-long-time-ago-historical-fiction, best-of-the-best, favourites, read-in-english, retellings

Well, this was just beyond amazing. I loved it so, so much!

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Mar 19, 2016 Marina rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-star

This is the case of "it's not you, it's me."

I liked the story itself and the plot and even the characters, but I did not like the writing. I felt that it made the story and plot really choppy.

Nevertheless, I think that this was a fascinating story. Based on Hamlet, but set in Oregon in the early 19oo's when the KKK began establishing their base there. Hanalee is a mixed raced girl whose African-American father was killed by a drunk driver, and her white mother remarries another white man. But w ...more

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Nov 19, 2015 Jamie (Books and Ladders) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-release, young-adult, arc-reviews, historical-fiction, retelling, march-2016, amulet-books

Actual Rating: 4.5*
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I will have a full review closer to the release date, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I liked that it was built out of the basic premise for Hamlet and that there were references to the play but it was entirely it's own story and one that needed to be told. I think the best part is that it was "accessible" to people because, even if you haven't read Hamlet, you know the general story line so yo ...more

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Jul 30, 2014 Paige (Illegal in 3 Countries) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, fuck-yeah-diversity, favorites

See more of my reviews on The YA Kitten! Though the publisher provided me with an eARC for review, my review is of the finished book. I had to buy a print copy because the photographs in the ebook file overwhelmed both my laptop and my Nook.

Diversity Rating: 4 – This is Our World
Racial-Ethnic: 5 (Hanalee is the biracial daughter of a black man and a white woman; her identity is central to the story)
QUILTBAG: 5 (Joe’s identity as a gay man is also central to the story)
Disability: 0 (Hanalee’s dad

Diversity Rating: 4 – This is Our World
Racial-Ethnic: 5 (Hanalee is the biracial daughter of a black man and a white woman; her identity is central to the story)
QUILTBAG: 5 (Joe’s identity as a gay man is also central to the story)
Disability: 0 (Hanalee’s dad has a telltale limp as a ghost, but that’s it)
Intersectionality: 4 (between them, Hanalee and Joe say a lot about race and sexuality that’s still relevant today)

I just… What am I supposed to say? This novel is brilliant! I’ve been on the outs with YA historical novels lately for a variety of reasons and my history with Cat Winters’s YA novels didn’t create high expectations, but The Steep and Thorny Way completely blew me away! It’s what every historical YA novel should be. Let’s just get on with it.

Winters creates a vivid setting with Elston, Oregon and plants some incredible characters here as well. Hanalee, our Hamlet figure, is a though young woman and her anger is palpable whether it’s due to living in a racist town as a biracial girl or uncovering what really happened to her father. Her partner in crime/investigating Joe is just as well-written and challenges her when she needs it, such as when she needs to learn how much it sucks to be a gay man. The pair work well together as an investigative team trying to solve the mystery of Hanalee’s father’s real cause of death.

If you want a straight retelling of Hamlet, the novel isn’t going to give you one. The parallels are clear, but the story is its own creation. It simply builds from Shakespeare’s legendary play and becomes its own creature. As fun as straight retellings can be, it’s incredible when a book mixes the classic and the original well. Toward the second half of the novel, the story starts treading new territory and only gets better from there.

A great deal of YA historical novels are set in Victorian times or during World War II. Those stories are valid but can get a little boring after a while. That’s part of the reason The Steep and Thorny Way is so wonderful: it takes readers to a time and place they likely knew nothing about before and teaches them about that time/place without being didactic. Instead, it’s surprising at every turn and may make a future historian out of some readers. The systemic sterilization of gay men in the prison system, how much influence the Ku Klux Klan had in 1920s Oregon, and more were things I had no idea about and I consider myself a history buff!

Basically, if you want to be surprised and presented with something you know nothing about, The Steep and Thorny Way is an excellent bet. If all my talk seems rambling and nonsensical, it’s because putting words to a book this incredible is difficult. I’d rather shove the book in your face and make you experience the story for yourself.

For once, I’ve kept it short and sweet. Now quit wasting time here and go buy your own copy of The Steep and Thorny Way! This is what historical YA novels should aspire to be. Anyone who wants to write such a novel should read this as research, but I’m going to recommend this to anyone. (I recommend getting a print copy, however. Though I got an ebook of it for review, I had to purchase a print copy because the image-heavy ebook kept crashing both my laptop and my Nook. Now I regret nothing.) ...more

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May 23, 2016 Shomeret rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-reviews, historical-fiction, fantasy, young-adult

I liked the last two Cat Winters books, The Cure For Dreaming and The Uninvited. When I discovered that she had written a new YA novel with a bi-racial protagonist, I was intrigued and wanted to find out if she could pull it off.

I know that one of the reasons why African Americans object to POC characters as protagonists in novels written by Caucasian writers like Cat Winters is that it leads to books by African American writers being ignored. The more visible and successful Caucasian writers g I liked the last two Cat Winters books, The Cure For Dreaming and The Uninvited. When I discovered that she had written a new YA novel with a bi-racial protagonist, I was intrigued and wanted to find out if she could pull it off.

I know that one of the reasons why African Americans object to POC characters as protagonists in novels written by Caucasian writers like Cat Winters is that it leads to books by African American writers being ignored. The more visible and successful Caucasian writers get to dominate the market with their portrayals of African American life. Although some African American authors do get contracts from traditional publishers, there aren't as many as there should be. I really do recognize that as a problem.

So I saw that someone on Goodreads was asking whether this book is racist. Please note that I saw no one asking if the YA novel Soundless by Richelle Mead is racist or anti-deaf because she writes about a Chinese deaf village when she is neither Chinese nor deaf. While I can't vouch for the cultural authenticity of either this novel or Richelle Mead's, I can speak about the impact they had on me. I felt that that Richelle Mead's book strongly condemns prejudice against the deaf, and I felt that Cat Winters was strongly condemning racism.

In fact, it seems to me that framing a narrative about a bi-racial girl trying to get justice for the death of her African American father as a Hamlet re-telling implies that her story is just as significant as the one that Shakespeare was telling in Hamlet. It's saying that her readers should sit up and take notice because something having been rotten in the state of Oregon is as important as something having been rotten in the state of Denmark. And the rot in Oregon in 1923 was that prejudice was king.

Finally, Hanalee is a strong female protagonist. She is very independent. She refuses to be confined by conventional expectations. She wants to marry anyone she chooses regardless of race which she couldn't do legally in Oregon at that point. She wants a good education so that she could become a lawyer. She carries a pistol and is a very good shot. That's the kind of heroine that I like to see in YA fiction.

For the blog version of this review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2016/...

...more

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Mar 07, 2018 Maddie Driban rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-reads, not-your-average-book-club

The Steep and Thorny Way was thrilling, chilling, and completely fulfilling. I was pulled into the story from the first chapters and couldn't put it down. I loved reading about a young woman's strength and bravery, especially set in a time period that this was obviously rare and controversial....and meaningful. Feeling excited by a storyline filled with prejudice and discrimination surprised me a little, but also makes sense when I think about the resilience that also fills the pages. As a reade ...more

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Jul 30, 2014 Carina Olsen rated it it was amazing

I have wanted to read this book for so long now. I knew I would love it. And I did. Which makes me so thrilled. I have read and loved three books by Cat Winters before this one, so happy that I loved this fourth book by her as well. And I simply cannot wait to read more books by this precious author. She is the best :)

I was a tiny bit nervous about reading this book, considering how much I loved all of Cat's other books, I worried a bit that I wouldn't love this one as much. As I always worry. B I have wanted to read this book for so long now. I knew I would love it. And I did. Which makes me so thrilled. I have read and loved three books by Cat Winters before this one, so happy that I loved this fourth book by her as well. And I simply cannot wait to read more books by this precious author. She is the best :)

I was a tiny bit nervous about reading this book, considering how much I loved all of Cat's other books, I worried a bit that I wouldn't love this one as much. As I always worry. But I hadn't needed to worry at all. Because I loved this book the most. It was so stunning. I'm so happy with how much I loved it. Ack.

The writing is just so beautiful. I love how Cat writes her books. And how she writes her characters too. Because oh how I loved all the characters in this one. The main girl, Hanalee, is all kinds of adorable. I loved reading about her. About her life. About her family. I adored getting to know her more. She was truly such an amazing sixteen year old girl. Sigh. I loved that this book was from her point of view. But sobs. I'm a bit heartbroken that Cat only writes standalones. Because I want a sequel to this one so badly; like with all her previous books too. But especially for this one. I feel like I'm not done getting to know Hanalee. I want to know much more. About Hanalee. About Joe. About everything. I wish for a sequel the most.

Everything about this book was perfection. And I'm not sure what to share about it. Ack. It is much harder to talk about a book that I loved than a book I didn't love. Because I have nothing much to comment on about this one, lol. Because I loved everything. And that is just about all I feel like saying about it. Ack. But I shall try to write more. Because I want to give you all a reason to read this book. To love it like I did. If you already own it, you should not put off reading it. Read it now. And love it now.

I love that this book takes place in 1923. I must admit, I don't really know any history from before. Only what I have read in previous books by Cat, lol. So I didn't know anything about this time before reading this book. And I'm good with that. Because I learnt so much while I read this one. The time period was so amazing to read about. There was so much hate. It broke my heart. Yet it was pretty stunning to read about, so I loved it a lot as well. To be honest, though, I could not have lived in this time period. Ack.

I must say that there was one thing that made me a tiny bit sad. That there is no romance in this book. Okay, there is a romance in my mind, and there is a kiss, but it isn't the focus of the book. Which made me a bit sad. But I didn't mind too much, because this book was perfect even without romance. The characters were all so strong to read about. But yeah. I did ship Hanalee and Joe so badly. Ahh. The ending is a bit open. But hoping Cat might answers some of my questions about it. Fingers crossed :)

There are so many characters in this precious book. Okay, there isn't that many, but still a lot. I adored Hanalee the most. But I also adored Joe so much. He is a bit different as well. And he is so hurt because of it. It isn't fair. Sniffs. He was so kind, though. And awesome. Hanalee has this best friend, Fleur. She was all kinds of awesome. Not in the book much, but enough for me to love her lots. Her brother, though, Laurence, him I hated. He was awful. And I wish his ending had been brutal, lol. Just saying :)

I'm not going to talk about the other characters. Just that I was so excited to read about all of them. I sort of disliked most of them, hah, but some I really adored. Like, I grew to love Hanalee's family a lot, despite disliking them at first. There were two twin brothers that I hated more than anything. I wish they had had a bad ending too. Hmph. I shall just have to imagine it myself, lol. But good or bad, I loved reading about all the characters. I loved everything about this book. It was all exciting and interesting.

I'm not going to say anything about the plot, not really. Just that to me it was mostly about the friendship between Hanalee and Joe. About them trying to live their life without getting killed. About people being awful, yet Hanalee not breaking down. It was a beautiful book. With a beautiful story. I couldn't have loved it more than I did. The Steep and Thorny Way is one of a kind. It is such a stunning book. I loved it the very most. The characters are all incredible. The plot is exciting and heartbreaking.

Huge thank you to the publisher, Amulet Books, for accepting my Netgalley request to read this book early. Means the most to me. So glad that I have now read and loved it, hih. I just. I own precious ARC copies of all her books. But not this one. And I want a print ARC of it the very most. If anyone have it for trade, please let me know. I'm dying to add it to my collection :) This book was simply perfect. And I need you all to read it when it in March. You will not regret it. So excited to see what everyone thinks.

---

This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2015/1... ...more

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Apr 12, 2017 Madeleine rated it liked it

I have capital-O Opinions when it comes to Shakespeare adaptations, so maybe it isn't fair to dock this book points for not being Hamlet-y enough - but hey, I must to mine own self be true, right?

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Sep 23, 2015 Elizabeth Mathis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed-historical, reviewed-horror, reviewed-diverse, 5-penguin-reads

A thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way tells the story of a murder most foul and the mighty power of love and acceptance in a state gone terribly rotten.

1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. ...more

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Aug 07, 2015 Kate rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, retellings

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

There is a troubling undercurrent rumbling beneath the surface of the town of Elston, Oregon, and it's particularly troubling for Hanalee Denney, a sixteen-year-old daughter of an African-American man and a white woman. Hanalee's dad Hank was murdered last Christmas by a drunk driver, Joe Adler, and a few months later, Joe is out of jail and back in town. To add to the grief his return is causing Hanalee, the Ku Klux I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

There is a troubling undercurrent rumbling beneath the surface of the town of Elston, Oregon, and it's particularly troubling for Hanalee Denney, a sixteen-year-old daughter of an African-American man and a white woman. Hanalee's dad Hank was murdered last Christmas by a drunk driver, Joe Adler, and a few months later, Joe is out of jail and back in town. To add to the grief his return is causing Hanalee, the Ku Klux Klan is breeding fear and hatred across Elston in their attempt to "purify" Oregon of everyone who isn't white, Protestant, American-born or heterosexual. Hanalee's friends are abandoning her one by one, and her father's alleged murderer is suddenly claiming that the man who actually killed Hanalee's father is the town doctor who tried to save him and who happens to be Hanalee's new stepfather. Does Hank Denney's ghost, or a "haint" hold the answers Hanalee is so desperate to find? And will she be able to solve the mystery and to cope with the devastating results that she finds?

Readers of my blog probably know by now that I believe that it's impossible for Cat Winters to ever write a bad book. "The Steep and Thorny Way" is definitely her best book to date - and the darkest. I've been known to spend hours in front of a Cat Winters book and finishing in a day. The same happened when I started "The Steep and Thorny Way" - thankfully, it was a weekend so I didn't have to go to work. The novel is gripping. It's devastating. And it's honest and real. The emotions are very, very, real.

Winters' fans know all about her talent to masterrfully convey the atmosphere of a setting in writing, and in "TSaTW" the reader can't help but feel as though they are also a part of Elston, Oregon of the 1920s. Unfortunately, that setting has little beauty in it. It is very scary to think about the fact that the travesties described in the novel occurred less than a hundred years ago. Every page is saturated with despair and sadness of those times and thanks to Winters' writing talent, the reader feels them as much as the characters. Hanalee, Joe and their families are devastated by what is happening in their town, but they are the kinds of characters that don't give up. Hanalee, for instance, is fully aware that there are few good things awaiting her in the future if she stays in Elston, but it doesn't deter her from pursuing her dreams of becoming a lawyer. She is kind, smart and compassionate, despite all the atrocities American laws and Elston society put her through on a daily basis.

The novel is marketed as a retelling of "Hamlet" - one of my favourite works of Shakespeare. In a way, it is - you can see it in certain passages and characters. And of course, the murder most foul of the novel initially seems to parallel that of "Hamlet". However, nothing is ever what it seems in Cat Winters' books, and "TSaTW" is no exception. Given the setting, I knew that the solution to the mystery was not going to be a happy one - plus "Hamlet" is a tragedy for a reason. It was, however, nothing I expected it would be and all the more devastating for it. Winters uses paranormal elements as plot devices quite a few times in her books, but they are only there to further highlight the devastation and the hatred that was a big part of those times. "The Steep and Thorny Way" uses these scary elements in a manner similar to "Hamlet", but other than that, the fear we feel in this book comes from the villains that were very real. There is little need for additional fantasy elements - history provides us with enough source material for antagonists. Hanalee and Joe are in constant danger because of who they are - a biracial girl and a homosexual young man. Ku Klux Klan, eugenics and general prejudices not only prevent Hanalee and Joe from living carefree lives, but they make them constantly fear for their very lives. Things are somewhat better today than they were back then, but diseases like racism, xenophobia and homophobia are unfortunately still a very big part of our society. And this is why we need diverse books like "The Steep and Thorny Way" - to remind us that these disgusting things occurred not so long ago and that prejudice and discrimination are something to be fought on a daily basis.

"The Steep and Thorny Way" is emotional, gripping and absolutely amazing. I cannot wait for my next Cat Winters! My rating is 8.5/10. Once again, my only issue with Cat Winters' books is the lack of sequels!
...more

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Feb 27, 2016 Sabrina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

*Reread so that I could review it fresh in mind. Just as enjoyable the 2nd time!

Short and Sweet:

Cat Winters is one of my favorite authors. Which means my expectations are always high when I begin one of her stories. The Steep and Thorny Way does not disappoint in the least. In fact, there are several reasons it might even be favorite Winters’ book yet! As with all of Cat’s books, The Steep and Thorny way is both a solid piece of historical fiction and a hauntingly good ghost story.

To Elaborate… *Reread so that I could review it fresh in mind. Just as enjoyable the 2nd time!

Short and Sweet:

Cat Winters is one of my favorite authors. Which means my expectations are always high when I begin one of her stories. The Steep and Thorny Way does not disappoint in the least. In fact, there are several reasons it might even be favorite Winters’ book yet! As with all of Cat’s books, The Steep and Thorny way is both a solid piece of historical fiction and a hauntingly good ghost story.

To Elaborate…

Hannalee Denney is a biracial teenager in a small 1920’s Oregon town. Her African-American father was recently murdered by Joe Adder, who just got out of jail and the story begins with Hanalee paying him a visit with a pistol. Unfortunately for Joe, she’s been haunted by the stories that her father’s ghost roams the stretch of highway where Joe’s car struck him the night that he was drinking and driving. So her anger and grief are as fresh as they were the day that he died. Only Joe claims that he was set up and worse, that she’s been living with her daddy’s murderer this whole time- the town physician who treated her father’s injuries the night he died and her widowed, white mother’s new husband, Clyde Koning. Joe tells Hanalee that the KKK are involved and he believes that her stepfather is a member.

Hanalee has not exactly had an easy time with how quickly her mother has moved on and Joe’s claims validate a fear that she’d already considered about the man who married her mother. So of course, being the strong, self-sufficient girl that she is, Hanalee sets out to find the truth. Who killed her father? Joe? Her stepfather? Or could it involve local members of the Ku Klux Klan as Joe claims?

With very few options to aid in her investigation, Hanalee knows that her father’s ghost may be the key to discovering what happened the night that he died. However, she’s also the only person of color in a community quietly festering with racism and no one seems to be interested in helping her. Not that she lets that stop her. Along the way, she discovers so much more than she bargained for. Hanalee also finds a true friend in Joe, the boy she’s blamed all along, and that friendship is a wonderful highlight in The Steep and Thorny Way. It is not a romance, but it is often just as swoony as one. And one of my favorite book relationships to date.

As Hanalee gets closer to the truth, she realizes that her father’s death is far more complicated than she could have imagined. In this small Oregon town, during a time swirling with hate and fear for those who are different, Hanalee will risk everything to uncover the awful truth, even her own life.

Reading this book is like time traveling back to an era that is not quite as different as we’d like to believe. Hate and fear are just as powerful motivators of evil today as they were nearly 100 years ago in Oregon. The Steep and Thorny Way is heavily and intelligently researched, respectfully written and an illuminating and challenging story that I highly recommend! If you’ve enjoyed Winters’ other books, this one will be no exception.

Originally published at The Forest of Words and Pages ...more

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Oct 01, 2014 Kristen rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-or-galley, arcs-to-read, 2016-release, 2016, 2016-books-for-review

This and other reviews are on my site, My Friends Are Fiction

My Thoughts:
If you’ve followed my blog for a while you’ll know that I adore Cat Winters’ writing style and each of her books really resonates and impacts me emotionally. This one was no different.

I wasn’t all that sure what to expect about this book going in because I honestly didn’t read the summary prior to requesting it. All I needed to know was that Winters wrote it. I was surprised and impressed with the social issues that were This and other reviews are on my site, My Friends Are Fiction

My Thoughts:
If you’ve followed my blog for a while you’ll know that I adore Cat Winters’ writing style and each of her books really resonates and impacts me emotionally. This one was no different.

I wasn’t all that sure what to expect about this book going in because I honestly didn’t read the summary prior to requesting it. All I needed to know was that Winters wrote it. I was surprised and impressed with the social issues that were looked into and the way that, though immense emotion was present, the novel didn’t feel like it was telling me how to believe. It was an honest character study in a period of time rife with prejudice and judgment.

My heart ached for the struggles these characters had to deal with and the amount of hate directed at them. Though the setting was historical I think we can draw comparisons to our current day. The way Winters approached her characters was so refreshing and lent itself to honest understanding and empathy from the reader.

My favorite aspect of this novel was how strong Hanalee was. And, though I really don’t have an exhaustive knowledge of the time period or what Hanalee was going through, I was able to relate on a deep level.

Winters always impresses me with her ability to delve into a setting, time period and her characters. You can always tell that there has been a lot of research and study going into these books. I felt that Winters portrayed these characters beautifully and really gave them a voice.

Beyond the amazing characters, most of which were truly well rounded, the elements that mirrored Hamlet were very well done. I had to brush up on Hamlet since it had been ages since I’d read it but once I sparked my memories I was easily able to see how TSaTW took some of these elements and twisted them into the book. Such as, a lonely ghost seeking to explain his death, mixed up identities and motives, and the journey of a child trying to understand her father’s demise.

As with all of Winters’ books the writing was impeccable though I found the pacing in this one to be a tad slower than her other novels. The paranormal elements were also less pronounce but still very present and integral to the storyline.

Final Thoughts:
Once again Cat Winters has written a book that had me thinking about its message long after finishing the novel. The writing, characters and research of the time period and people was impeccable-as always.
...more

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Aug 04, 2014 Megan (thebookishtwins) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, reviewed, retelling, historical-fiction, paranormal, netgalley, standalone, lgbtqia, diversity, own

I received this free from the publishers via NetGalley

Hanalee Denney is the daughter of an African American man and a white woman, which is why 1920s Oregon is an unwelcoming and dangerous place for her. The KKK have been gaining more power and more influence. Hatred and fear spread by the KKK are poisoning some of her oldest relationships. Hanalee’s father was killed a year ago by a drunk driver, but when he is released from jail and is back in town, he claims he didn’t kill her father. So now I received this free from the publishers via NetGalley

Hanalee Denney is the daughter of an African American man and a white woman, which is why 1920s Oregon is an unwelcoming and dangerous place for her. The KKK have been gaining more power and more influence. Hatred and fear spread by the KKK are poisoning some of her oldest relationships. Hanalee’s father was killed a year ago by a drunk driver, but when he is released from jail and is back in town, he claims he didn’t kill her father. So now Hanalee, who is now desperate for answers, turns to her fathers accused murderer and her father’s ghost.

I have always been a huge fan of Cat Winters. Her books are very atmospheric with brilliantly written historical settings, made even better alongside many old black and white photos from the time period. I believe The Steep and Thorny Way is Cat Winters best book to date.

Firstly, I was in love with many of the main characters. Hanalee for one, is easy to love. She’s smart, brave, and she tackles her problems head on. There were some great f/f friendships as well. But the friendship I loved most was between Hanalee and Joe. It was fantastic! So well written and complex. A accused murderer and the daughter of the man he had supposedly murdered. Both suffered because they were not deemed to be truly American - Hanalee wasn’t white and Joe wasn’t straight. There were race laws and eugenic laws – compulsory and forced sterilisation on anyone deemed ‘undesirable’. The KKK was gaining more power and more hatred in the area. Lifelong friends were turned into enemies and Oregon was a dangerous place for Hanalee and Joe. A fantastic read with fantastic characters.

I loved the paranormal aspect because it was very subtle and not too ‘in your face’ which sort of added a hint of realism to it. The plot was fast paced and held my attention very well. The Steep and Thorny Way is a book about hope, loyalty, and friendship, but also about hatred, persecution and fear.

Another fantastic novel from Cat Winters! Would definitely recommend to Historical Fiction lovers. ...more

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Aug 13, 2016 Zoe rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

3.5 stars

I absolutely loved Cat Winters' debut In the Shadow of Blackbirds, so I was ecstatic when I heard that she was writing another book. While I didn't quite enjoy The Steep & Thorny Way quite as much as I did Winters' debut, it was still a wonderful story with an incredibly researched historical setting.

The Steep & Thorny Way follows Hanalee Denney, a biracal teenage girl living in 1920s Oregon. Hanalee must deal with racial prejudice brewing from the Ku Klux Kl ...more

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About Cat Winters

Cat Winters

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Cat Winters is an award-winning, critically acclaimed author of fiction that blends history with the supernatural. Her young adult works include IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, THE CURE FOR DREAMING, THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY, ODD & TRUE, and a new novel about Edgar Allan Poe's teen years, THE RAVEN'S TALE. She is also the author of two adult novels, THE UNINVITED and YESTERNIGHT. She has been named a ...more

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“I believe that 'love' and 'wrong' are two deeply unrelated words that should never be thrown into the same sentence together. Like 'dessert' and 'broccoli.” — 6 likes

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