The Lesser Blessed: 20th Anniversary Special Edition

If your wish is to be transported and experience the repercussions of childhood abuse through the lense of a culture not your own, then I highly recommend Van Camp's exquisite take on it. He gave me a different kind of hero to root for and I am so grateful he did.

Sooooo good. Definitely edgy but fine for upper YA.This is the kind of book that makes me want content labels for YA. The content is keeping it out of YA when so many young readers would get so much out of it.Literally it ticks pretty much all my boxes – culturally diverse author, culturally diverse lead, lead with a body diversity (he has been badly burned), working class, remote setting. It’s Canadian Content up the wazoo.And it’s SHORT. Probably less than 40,000 words. And short “chapters” So great for “reluctant”.An all around win.

I enjoyed the book because it spoke to me, to my own background and upbringing. Reminded me of a simpler time when we were there for our friends and genuinely cared about our community.

An interesting book with an ending that, at first, left me rather unsatisfied, but, upon thinking about it, was the perfect end to an interesting book.

This book is unbelievable, in a good way! I was required to read it for a class and I'm so glad it was. Van Camp is such a beautiful writer and his characters really come to life in this novel. You feel every emotion when reading this book from frustration, happiness, heartbreak, love, and everything in between! Would definitely recommend, but have a box of tissues near.

This is hands down my favorite book. There's a lot of commentary on how trauma impacts adolescence and how coping begins and continues. It's beautifully written and a definitely tragic.

I really like the story. Although some of the words are in the tribal language and doesn't always explain what that mean exactly.

Juvenile book written by a juvenile- he must have thought overusing curse words and locker room boys talk would help the narrative, but if failed miserably. Highly disappointed in this book.

This book haunts me. I hated it at first - it was so different from my (English equivalent of) high school. At first I found it brash and coarse. But it ended up being probably the most beautiful, profound and real book I have ever read. I agree with the other reviewers who rate it as a classic. It should be one. It is one for me. It affected me in many ways: for example, it changed the way I think about teenage sex. Instead of being something risky and somewhat tawdry I now see how, in some circumstances, it can be transformative and healing - even spiritual.

I've always been fascinated by Canada's far north and the people who live there, and this book paints what must be an honest picture of what it means to be there. This is a compelling, fast read. I was drawn to keep turning the pages, to see what happens next – but when I was done I went straight back to the beginning to read it again, only slower, because I wanted to savour Van Camp's fabulous words. This novel should be a Canadian classic and Van Camp should now be included alongside Canada's other iconic authors. Highly, highly recommend.

This is a highly controversial book in some school districts, but it's really a very accurate depiction of life in a northern community. This book takes no prisoners and no holds are barred. Expect graphic depictions of both the joys and trials of a Dogrib teen. The book is very true to the era in which it is set.

This story let me get inside the heart of the one who is "lesser blessed". Sad. I am like Larry.

A very powerful and amazing book