The Break by katherena vermette
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
The Break is a strong novel that is both shocking and healing. It explores a huge range of themes including racism, sexual violence, bias in law enforcement, and intergenerational trauma. As the novel's characters are reeling from the brutal sexual assault of a young family member, they then face racism from the police assigned to them and are forced to address a multitude of their own issues.
While dealing with such heavy content, the novel also demonstrates resilience, family connections, love, and traditional healing. vermette does an incredible job of balancing the trauma with the joy, while writing a story that feels authentic and educational for non-Indigenous readers. It is multi-layered - from the racism faced within, by and from law enforcement to the intergenerational relationships that are challenged by trauma.
I had to put this book down a few times because I was getting lightheaded and nauseous. It’s heavy and especially as the mom of a baby girl I had a really hard time reading it.
& that’s the point. At least as a non-Indigenous reader.
Were you aware that Indigenous women in Canada experience violence at 3.5x the rate of non-Indigenous women?
That’s not a coincidence. It’s a result of colonialism, racism, sexualization, and other factors explored throughout this novel. The Break follows and connects the lives of multiple Indigenous women who are strong, resilient, and caring for each other in the ways that they can. The novel represents the strength of a matriarchal system and the responsibility that we have as women to care for each other.
It’s a powerful story, but definitely be warned that it might cause a pretty strong emotional response.
Reading Journal Questions
How did you feel while reading this novel?
Do you think the family relationships were authentic?
How was vermette's writing effective in bringing you into the story?
Why do you think vermette mostly used female voices in the narration?
