Adult book, but essential information for anyone studying the California Missions or curious about what happened afterward.

This book, part tribal history, part lyric and intimate memoir, teaches us about California Indian history, past and present.

An incredible read that grabs and doesn't let go. I'll say first off that you should block off time for this book--it's not something you should read in multiple sittings, and you honestly won't want to read it that way. Miranda defies genre as she mashes together archival sourced-history with personal memoir with tribal history with poetry with essay with visual work. Her rich writing--and oh my GOD is it rich, it's so beautiful--really makes the story she's telling all the more rich and vivid. It's also incredibly accessible, and really important for people to read. I'd strongly recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about the ongoing effects of settler colonialism and the logics of elimination that accompany it. ( )