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Cherie Dimaline
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The Marrow Thieves Paperback – September 1, 2017

by Cherie Dimaline (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,259 ratings
See all formats and editions
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Winner of 2017 Governor General's Literary Award (Young People's Literature - Text)
Winner of 2017 Kirkus Prize
Winner of the 2018 Sunburst Award
Winner of the 2018 Amy Mathers Teen Book Award
Winner of the 2018 Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Young Adult Literature


Just when you think you have nothing left to lose, they come for your dreams.

Humanity has nearly destroyed its world through global warming, but now an even greater evil lurks. The indigenous people of North America are being hunted and harvested for their bone marrow, which carries the key to recovering something the rest of the population has lost: the ability to dream. In this dark world, Frenchie and his companions struggle to survive as they make their way up north to the old lands. For now, survival means staying hidden - but what they don't know is that one of them holds the secret to defeating the marrow thieves.

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 years and up
  2. Book 1 of 2
    The Marrow Thieves
  3. Print length
    260 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    8 - 12
  6. Lexile measure
    HL810L
  7. Dimensions
    8 x 0.62 x 5.38 inches
  8. Publisher
    DCB Young Readers
  9. Publication date
    September 1, 2017
  10. ISBN-10
    1770864865
  11. ISBN-13
    978-1770864863
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Miigwans is a true hero; in him Dimaline creates a character of tremendous emotional depth and tenderness, connecting readers with the complexity and compassion of Indigenous people. A dystopian world that is all too real and that has much to say about our own.” Starred review (Kirkus Reviews)

There's a quality in Dimaline's writing that reached from the page, into my being ... That's a specific reference to the residential schools of the past, where so much was taken from Native children. It is one of many points in The Marrow Thieves where - painfully or with exquisite beauty - Dimaline's story resonates with me. It will resonate with other Native readers, too, especially those who are Anishinabe. Several tribal nations are mentioned in here, too ... There's so much more to say ... about Miggs and Isaac, about Ri, about Minerva, about French. But I'll stop and let you be with these achingly dear characters. I highly recommend The Marrow Thieves. (Debbie Reese American Indians in Children's Literature)

"A timely and necessary read ... powerful and endlessly smart, it’s a crucial work of fiction for people of all ages." Starred review (Quill & Quire)

In The Marrow Thieves, Cherie Dimaline creates a near-future world which distinctly echoes our own, current and past traumas that have come back to repeat themselves, fiction with a basis in reality that gives the narrative a sheen of hard truths, following the trials and tribulations of a relatable cast of characters and their struggles to survive, and live their lives with the love and safety denied to them. The high-stakes tension of each scene pulls the reader along through the story, with a core message about our dreams and culture, which despite losses, has the potential to heal, and the power to restore. (Trillium Book Award Jury Citation)

"[The Marrow Thieves] brilliantly connects the legacy of residential schools to a dystopian post-climate-change future where only Indigenous people are able to dream. Dimaline’s novel reminds us of the power of storytelling and the importance of community, reinforced for the disenfranchised children by the wisdom of the heroic elder, Miigwans. The writing is painful yet beautiful, bleak but ultimately hopeful. In this era of reconciliation, Cherie Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves is a work of speculative fiction that resonates and stays with the reader long past the last page." (Sunburst Award Jury Citation)

"The way that [Dimaline] built these characters and this community was really incredible. You felt their connections, you felt how much they loved each other and had really built this family on the road." (YA Cafe Podcast)

"This book is classified as Young Adult fiction, but do not let that label deter you. While being accessible to younger readers, the book should be read by folks of all ages, in Canada and abroad. It is a sensational novel both thrilling in its writing and profound in its social commentary on colonialism, racism and the systematic oppression of Indigenous communities." (Citizen's Press)

Book Description

Just when you think you have nothing left to lose, they come for your dreams.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ DCB Young Readers (September 1, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 260 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1770864865
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1770864863
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL810L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.62 x 5.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,259 ratings

About the author

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Cherie Dimaline

Cherie Dimaline

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
3,259 global ratings
Must read dystopian novel
5 Stars
Must read dystopian novel
"Sometimes you risk everything for a life worth living, even if you're not the one that'll be alive to live it."Cherie Dimaline does it again. The Marrow Thieves was a fantastic ride I did not want to end. Dimaline's writing is so captivating that you have no choice but to follow where she's taking you. Her imagery and prose are so vivid you are propelled into the action of the story. Dimaline is becoming one of my favorite authors and I will buy anything she writes going forward.What I love the most about Dimaline's writing is her love of Indigenous people, the way she spreads the truth about their history and the moments of hope interspersed in between. This was a dystopian tale but she maintained the importance of community, traditions and found family. From the very beginning I was invested in their survival. The writing is so mesmerizing I was hanging on every word and detail. I really appreciated their growth and how they weren't all written as a monolith.The dystopian tale was written as a reminder that the murder and commodification of Indigenous bodies is not new and continues to evolve into different things because of capitalism and settler colonialism. This story highlights the ways that Indigenous people continue to survive and pave a way into the future by holding on to their ancestral ways.Main themes that resonated were:💥 Indigenous genocide is not over💥 Settler colonialism continues to displace Indigenous people from their land and deprive them of resources💥 Erasure of Indigenous culture continues to be a violent process💥 Community is the backbone of society💥 Found family doesn't replace blood family but is still just as valuable💥 Ancestral knowledge is priceless and offers survival tactics💥 What is happening to Indigenous people today is dystopia💥 Love can grow in the darkest of places💥 To be an ally, you have to be willing to die with those you are trying to saveThe Marrow Thieves finished in a way that provided some relief but left a reminder that the journey was just beginning. For Indigenous people, the future is unknown but their will and ability to survive is unmatched. Grab yourself a copy of this one ASAP.
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Top reviews from the United States

Skye Kilaen
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful YA dystopia/post-apocalypse
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2023
Verified Purchase
I really liked this YA dystopia focusing on rural survivalist life among Indigenous folks, by a Métis author - with a paranormal/metaphysical twist. In this future, people have stopped dreaming, which has caused terrible side effects. The only cure is the bone marrow of North America's Indigenous people, so they’re all either imprisoned or in hiding. If you’re looking for something with a fresh perspective on the dystopian genre, this is a great pick. There are some absolutely heartbreaking moments, but also fierce resistance and hope.
2 people found this helpful
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Ambre Nulph
5.0 out of 5 stars Indigenous perspective of the apocalypse
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
The Marrow Thieves is a captivating look at how Indigenous people survive and try to thrive despite being hunted by white people again, this time for their ability to still dream, after the climate apocalypse.

**POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW**

Ms Dimaline is a true storyteller. Her world-building is horrifyingly realistic, given the subject matter. Her characters are fully realized and your focus is instantly drawn to them. She is uniquely capable of making you care deeply for all of them. I love her descriptions of the bonds batween virtual strangers who are still family because of their shared history. I cried in several places and the ending was perfect for the story. It leaves you with hope, despite it not really being a resolution.
One person found this helpful
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The Cultivated Library Co
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story about found family
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
"And I understood as long as there are dreamers left, there will never be want for a dream."

I love The Marrow Thieves! Cherie Dimaline mixed the perfect blend of dystopia with a bit of science fiction, love, and hope and created a beautiful story about the human condition.

And the way they took care of Minerva 😭

Read this if you like:
• Indigenous fiction
• Found family
• Dystopian fiction
Customer image
The Cultivated Library Co
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story about found family
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2023
"And I understood as long as there are dreamers left, there will never be want for a dream."

I love The Marrow Thieves! Cherie Dimaline mixed the perfect blend of dystopia with a bit of science fiction, love, and hope and created a beautiful story about the human condition.

And the way they took care of Minerva 😭

Read this if you like:
• Indigenous fiction
• Found family
• Dystopian fiction
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
2 people found this helpful
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Dominic Villarroel
5.0 out of 5 stars great story about loss and love
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
I had to read this for a college course and it ended up being one of my most invested books I’ve read. I was super excited to keep reading and understand the world they live in.
One person found this helpful
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Blessed Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2022
Verified Purchase
Dystopian fiction. If you enjoy native stories this is a good read. I live in New Mexico, USA and like cultural characters from all walks of life. The first page had me. I related to the characters of the book and the nuances of native connections. I am an educator and have shared the book with many people. It would be a good read aloud for middle school and high classrooms. It would also be a possibly good discussion book for a 5th grade classroom, the vocabulary is not particularly high, but the concepts are. I hope it is made into a movie. I love the comparisons of the book to boarding school life. There were many boarding schools in NM that forced children into changes that did not promote growth but resentment and bitterness. The book has a positive outcome after a harrowing ride through it's pages.
4 people found this helpful
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Bethany C.
3.0 out of 5 stars It was okay
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
I checked out this book because I saw it on a list of "what to read if you liked 'House of Hollow'". This didn't really deliver in the same way, but I appreciated that a lot of the characters were well-developed.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing journey
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a book about tragedy and hope. It is a story that contains a warning about the consequences of our actions.
One person found this helpful
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Leopard6
4.0 out of 5 stars Made me feel, made me consider.
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
Not exactly what I expected, I guess I wasn't sure what I expected. The world is in a state of physical upheaval, from misuse, and it's own state of flux. As the blurb stated white people have lost the ability to dream and having discovered the ability to do so can be found in the bone marrow of indigenous people. They set about harvesting it.
FrenchIe is the last of his core birth family. He is rescued by a group that takes him in and helps him learn how to survive physically. All have their secrets, their fears, and their perceived failings. They must deal with those who would turn them over for profit, or to delay their own downfall, and a hope they will meet with others like them trying to find a way to move on.
This is my first by the author. I have just finished and am still digesting. Keep in mind Frenchie is a sixteen year old male, and the book is told from his point of view
This is not a story with a mythological "monster" but the very real one of the way treat other people, and how easy it can be to cross and blur lines.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Mr. A. Boddy
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, message, beautifully written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2021
Verified Purchase
Read it, if you care about the fate of humanity, about the fate of the planet. The writing and story telling is wonderful, the characters strong. I could go on in my praise but just go on and read it. This is important work.
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Daniel
5.0 out of 5 stars Community beyond catastrophe--rethinking post-apocalyptic tropes
Reviewed in Canada on March 22, 2018
Verified Purchase
Oh, this novel--where do I begin? First, there's a reason it's a choice for Canada Reads--it's a tightly paced page turner, with a richly imagined and terrifying future Canada, fully realized characters in well-plotted peril, and a style accessible to young adult readers but engaging for adult readers as well. Beyond these qualities, *The Marrow Thieves* is a smart, skeptical, and scary consideration of the continuing extractive hunger of settler colonial Canada, posited on a simple premise: in a future of environmental collapse, settlers have lost the power to dream, but Indigenous peoples haven't--their dreams are embodied, and now settlers want to pull that power from their very marrow. A familiar story, but taken to very fresh and frightening ends. Seen through the eyes of Frenchie, a young Anishinaabe man fleeing from the government's "Recruiters" along with a motley community of Indigenous fugitives, the novel presumes survival and continuity as givens, and pushes back against the fetishized violence that infects so much post-apocalyptic writing. This isn't, ultimately, a story about destruction--it's about how people survive that destruction with their cultures and their relations intact. Not only that, it's beautifully written and deeply informed with a spirit of inclusivity and love for the People and the land. A must-read!
21 people found this helpful
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Bookworm
5.0 out of 5 stars Can't recommend highly enough
Reviewed in Germany on March 25, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book was amazing.

I honestly don't have another word for it. The Indigenous MC and his found family running from the white society trying to steal their bone narrow in order to be able to dream again.

It was dystopian, but not out of the realms of possibility all together and the story did a tremendous job connecting past, present and future to have you *feel* every word of it and watch it in front of your inner eye.

I was struggling to breathe at times, cried more than I thought I would, but also smiled and sighed contentedly more than I thought possible. It was the gripping story combined with a wonderful cast of characters, all written in amazing prose that sucked me in and never let me go. I keep thinking back on this book a lot even weeks after finishing it, and I really can't recommend it highly enough.

I am adding content warnings though, for semi-explicit descriptions of sexual assault and medical procedures for without consent, as well as racism, assault and violence and death of a minor in page.
One person found this helpful
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Desirhea
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Canada on January 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book. I had to chose a book to do a project on and I chose this one.. so glad I did I couldn't put it down. Author did such a good job on it.
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Kerstin
5.0 out of 5 stars I love it
Reviewed in Germany on September 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
I love the story. I only wish there was a series or something, because I already know that I will miss the protagonists. I'll for sure look out for her new stories.
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