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A Council of Dolls

Mona Susan Power

Start date: November 1, 2024

Finish date: November 21, 2024

Why we're reading this: A Council of Dolls is South Side Book Discussion's November selection! This book club will be held in per…more
[close] A Council of Dolls is South Side Book Discussion's November selection! This book club will be held in person at South Side Library on Thursday, 11/21 at 2:00 PM. Visit our website or call 515-283-4152 for more details.

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Nov 28, 2023 Karna Converse rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Reveals the trauma experienced by those who were sent to Indian Boarding Schools and its effects on their succeeding generations

Sissy grew up with a Tiny Thumbelina doll she named Ethel. Her mother, Lillian, owned, for a short period of time, a Shirley Temple doll she named Mae. Lillian's mother, Cora, had a deerskin, beaded doll she named Winona. In each generation, the doll helps the young girl process the events she is living through and also the events her ancestors lived through.

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May 19, 2025 Jana rated it liked it

Read for Iowa Writers’ Workshop category. Probably between 3-3.5 stars. Parts of this book were very thought-provoking and insightful. The glimpse into the Indian schools were disturbing and eye-opening, even though I’d heard/read some stories previously. I like the concept of this book - telling stories of generations of women through their dolls. While parts of it were well-written, I found it to be overly long at times, which I felt like I was struggling to get through. I definitely liked the ...more

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