Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

When Kathleen Grissom asked if I was interested in reading an advanced copy of her new book, Crow Mary, I must admit I had a bit of a fangirl reaction. There may have been jumping and squealing involved. Why? Well, I have been a Kathleen Grissom fan since reading her first book, The Kitchen House, the beautifully poignant story about the resilient and inclusive love of family that thrived despite the horrid conditions and circumstances in the slave south. It was a story I read and told everyone I knew to read, I gave the book to friends, as gifts to mothers and even recommended it as summer reading for my daughter’s school. Then came Kathleen’s next novel, Glory Over Everything and it was exactly that--glorious! Featuring some of the same characters from The Kitchen House, Kathleen once again immersed the reader deep into an understanding of what life for slaves and people of color was like even in the north. I was amazed by her detail of an 1830’s Philadelphia and then the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and fully captivated by yet another story that grabbed my heart.

Now, you can understand why I was so thrilled to be sent an early copy of Crow Mary. This story is a departure from the themes of the deep south, but it is not a deviation from amazing story telling. In Crow Mary, Kathleen Grissom introduces the reader to the unique practices and honored traditions of the Crow tribe in fascinating detail. When a young Crow woman, known as Goes First, marries and falls in love with a white fur trader she sacrifices her name, her Crow way of life and her home. Crow Mary accompanies her husband as he builds a successful trading post business where she witnesses the horrific attack of the Nakoda tribe, known as the Cypress Hills Massacre. Ultimately, it’s her courage and the moral code of her people that guide her to rescue five Nakoda women from a group of violent drunk white men. This and the events following this massacre have a permanent impact on Crow Mary and her husband exposing their divided loyalties and cultures. Set in northern Montana along the Canadian border and at a time when tribes were being forced off their land, Kathleen Grissom uses memorable characters and beautiful storytelling to portray historical accounts that need to be told.

Last week I learned that Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom was selected as an Indie Next for June by the American Booksellers Association. With Crow Mary, Kathleen Grissom has given readers another reason to love her, and her writing and I have no doubt that Crow Mary will be added to many book lists this summer. To order your copy of Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom click here.

To read my posts about Kathleen Grissom’s other novels click here.

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