70 pages • 2 hours read
Louise ErdrichThe Sentence
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich follows Tookie, an Ojibwe woman who, after serving a sentence for a crime involving a body and drugs, rebuilds her life working at Birchbark Books in Minneapolis. The story encompasses 2020's significant events, such as George Floyd's murder and the COVID-19 pandemic, as Tookie confronts her past, navigates relationships, and is haunted by the ghost of a customer named Flora. The novel addresses topics including institutionalized racism, drug use, and human trafficking.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Louise Erdrich's The Sentence is praised for its rich storytelling, vivid characterizations, and eloquent prose, capturing the spirit of contemporary issues through a ghost story set in a bookstore. Criticisms include a occasionally slow pace and a dense narrative that some may find challenging. Overall, it's a compelling blend of supernatural elements with timely social reflections.
Who Should Read The Sentence?
Readers who enjoy The Sentence by Louise Erdrich typically appreciate contemporary literary fiction with a focus on Native American culture, ghostly elements, and character-driven narratives. Fans of Erdrich's work will likely also enjoy books like Beloved by Toni Morrison and There There by Tommy Orange.