Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe’s Thunder Song has garnered widespread acclaim, establishing itself as a significant and resonant voice in contemporary literature. This collection of essays is celebrated for its fearless exploration of personal and collective histories, seamlessly blending trauma and joy, and offering readers a powerful and moving experience. Critics and readers alike are captivated by LaPointe’s unique perspective as an Indigenous woman, her compelling prose, and the profound themes woven throughout Thunder Song.
The book has been recognized with prestigious accolades, including being longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence and named a Best Book of the Year by Elle and Book Riot. Such recognition underscores the literary merit and cultural impact of Thunder Song, positioning it as essential reading for anyone seeking insightful and beautifully crafted narratives.
Reviewers consistently praise LaPointe’s masterful storytelling and the book’s ability to resonate deeply with readers. Morgan Talty of People magazine declares Thunder Song “masterful and wise,” emphasizing its unforgettable quality. Dua Anjum from The Seattle Times highlights LaPointe’s courageous approach, noting her fearless navigation of both “trauma and tender joyous moments.” This duality is a key element of the book’s strength, offering a nuanced and authentic portrayal of lived experience.
Libby Denkmann Noel Gasca from KUOW aptly describes Thunder Song as “LaPointe’s own gift of medicine to the world,” suggesting the book’s healing and restorative qualities. Christine Perkins of Cascadia Daily News further emphasizes the book’s honesty and precise observations, recommending it be read cover-to-cover or essay by essay, each offering valuable insight. Perkins concludes that Thunder Song is “further evidence of a star on the rise,” solidifying LaPointe’s position as a significant literary voice.
The thematic richness of Thunder Song is also frequently highlighted. Lauren Puckett-Pope in Elle describes LaPointe’s writing as “a ballad against amnesia, and a call to action for healing, for decolonization, for hope,” pinpointing the book’s engagement with crucial contemporary issues. Sophia June of Nylon draws a vivid comparison to a “mixtape,” noting the essays are “as loud and splitting as a punk song,” capturing the book’s bold and dynamic nature. Karla Strand from Ms. magazine praises LaPointe’s “incandescent collection of essays reflecting on family, tradition, art and music, climate change, spirituality and more,” emphasizing the breadth of topics explored with power and magnetic style.
Shin Yu Pai, writing for Seattle Magazine, focuses on the theme of love within the book, stating that LaPointe “points the reader toward a larger kind of love rooted in unconditional care and compassion in a uniquely Indigenous queer love story.” Orion magazine echoes the mixtape analogy, describing Thunder Song as “bold, lyrical, compelling, and proud,” reinforcing the book’s impactful and confident voice.
Ashley Kilcullen from The Bookshop, writing for Electric Literature, enthusiastically states, “Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe gives us glimpses into her life as an Indigenous woman in America in her brilliant new essay collection, Thunder Song. She boldly proclaims her heritage, her queerness, and her punk-ness. I can’t wait for people to read this!” Susie Dumond of BookRiot deems it a “provocative and wonderfully crafted collection exploring cultural legacies, colonialism, and finding your own path forward.”
Shelf Awareness in a starred review, notes the essays are “firmly rooted in the collective history of the Coast Salish people,” and highlights “earnest revelations of cheated land, the significance of persistence, and the radical act of love.” Catherine Hollis of BookPage, also in a starred review, uses the term “incandescent” and emphasizes the “spirit songs” of LaPointe’s matrilineal line, describing her writing as both “a celebration and continuation of the work of her foremothers, in a Native punk mode all her own.” Hollis concludes that LaPointe offers readers “a chance to acknowledge and be changed by Indigenous voices and values.”
Publishers Weekly praises the “lyrical prose” and describes the book as “a beautifully rendered snapshot of contemporary American Indigenous life.” Kirkus Reviews calls the essays “passionate” and “adamant in their activist pleas,” reflecting “hard-won wisdom” and “probing and poignant reflections on Indigenous America.”
Concluding with powerful endorsements, Morgan Talty reiterates, “Thunder Song is masterful and wise, and it will not be forgotten.” Elissa Washuta, author of White Magic, describes LaPointe’s essays as “the songs that twine us together, the stories that teach us how to live, and the directions through the deep forest where our medicines grow,” emphasizing the book’s guiding and nurturing qualities. Julian Aguon, author of No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies, calls Thunder Song “testimony, prayer, song,” and “the literary equivalent of plant medicine,” ultimately hailing it as “An offering of rare beauty in this broken world.”
In summary, Thunder Song stands as a critically acclaimed and profoundly impactful collection of essays. Its exploration of Indigenous identity, resilience, and the powerful intersection of personal and collective history resonates deeply with readers and critics alike, solidifying Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe’s place as a vital voice in contemporary literature.
