Published: 2022
Author: Marcie R. Rendon
Genres: Mystery, Crime, Indigenous Literature
Audience: Grades 10–12, Adult
Number of Stars: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Goodreads Link: Sinister Graves
Content Warnings: Kidnapping, murder, gambling, sexual content, and systemic violence against Native women.
Publisher’s Summary
Set in 1970s Minnesota, the story follows Cash Blackbear, a 19-year-old Ojibwe woman. When floodwaters in the Red River Valley wash up the body of an unidentified Native woman, the only clue is a scrap of a hymnal written in both English and Ojibwe.
Cash, who often assists her guardian, Sheriff Wheaton, follows the trail to the White Earth Reservation. Her search for justice leads her to a rural, “speak-in-tongues” church where she discovers two small, mysterious graves. As she digs deeper, Cash is pulled into the orbit of a malevolent pastor and his wife, uncovering a horrifying pattern of disappearances involving Native women and their newborns.
Full Review
Sinister Graves is a gripping and heart-wrenching mystery that offers a deeply authentic look at Indigenous culture, written by a Native author. Cash Blackbear is a protagonist you can’t help but cheer for; she is resilient, complex, and constantly navigating the systemic “blockades” that Indigenous people face daily. Watching the choices she has to make just to survive is a powerful experience for the reader.
I was particularly intrigued by the inclusion of Indigenous magic and beliefs. The ability of certain characters to “transcend” their physical bodies—floating above to see or predict events—was a fascinating element of the story. It felt like a sacred, specialized skill that added a layer of spiritual depth to the detective work. On the other hand, the “villains” of the story—two individuals hiding their malice behind the facade of religion—were infuriatingly well-drawn. The novel unflinchingly highlights the historical and contemporary evils perpetrated against Native American communities, making it as much a social commentary as it is a thriller.
⚖️ Social Context: MMIWG
The “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls” (MMIWG) crisis is a central theme in Rendon’s work. The “sinister graves” and disappearing newborns in the novel mirror real-life statistics and historical tragedies.
- Systemic Neglect: The unidentified victim at the start of the book reflects how often crimes against Native women are under-investigated by outside authorities.
- The Role of the “Protector”: Cash often has to step in where the official system fails, highlighting the importance of community-led justice.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
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Social Studies (Indigenous Rights & 1970s History): Discuss the American Indian Movement (AIM) which was very active in Minnesota during this period.
Activity Idea: Research the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) passed in 1978. How do the “disappearing newborns” in the book relate to the historical theft of Native children?
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ELA (Authenticity in Voice): Compare the “detective” tropes in this book to more traditional, non-Native mysteries.
Activity Idea: Discuss the concept of “Own Voices” literature. How does Marcie R. Rendon’s background change the way the setting and spirituality are described compared to an outside observer?
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Philosophy/World Religions (Spiritual Transcendence): > Activity Idea: Explore the concept of “Astral Projection” or “Soul Travel” in various cultures. How does the “floating” ability in the book function as a tool for justice rather than just a “magic trick”?
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Psychology (Resilience and Survival): > Activity Idea: Analyze Cash’s “survival choices.” Have students write a character study on how Cash balances her duty to the Sheriff with her own cultural identity and personal survival.
