The Only Good Indians (2019) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

While there are no explicit sex scenes, there is a highly disturbing and clinical scene where Lewis cuts into his deceased, pregnant wife's body to retrieve what he believes is an elk calf. This sequence involves significant body horror and the violation of a corpse. There is also a scene involving the removal of teeth from female victims to search for 'elk ivory,' which carries a voyeuristic, body-horror subtext throughout the middle of the book. The narrative occasionally mentions attraction or passing sexual…

Severity is high, featuring graphic descriptions of elk being shot in a massacre, dogs being stomped to death, and humans being crushed or shot. The most extreme sequence involves Lewis killing a woman with a motorcycle and then performing a rudimentary autopsy on his wife to 'rescue' an elk. The final act includes a prolonged, violent pursuit and a brutal physical confrontation between a teenager, Denorah, and a supernatural entity. Weapons used include rifles, bows, trucks, and blunt objects. The gore is…

Strong language is used frequently throughout the dialogue and narration, reflecting the grit and frustration of the characters' lives. Words include 'f--k,' 's--t,' 'a--hole,' 'goddamned,' and various derogatory terms used between characters or by racist antagonists in the prologue. The 'f-word' appears regularly as an intensifier during moments of stress or anger. Some racial slurs and aggressive insults are used by white characters to demean the Indigenous protagonists. The narration itself is conversational…

Alcoholism is a central character trait for Gabe, who is depicted as an absentee father struggling with his addiction and the physical toll it takes on his body. Characters frequent bars, such as the Blue Ribbon, and several scenes take place during or after periods of heavy drinking. The prologue features a man being attacked shortly after leaving a bar environment. There are references to 'pre-gaming' and using alcohol as a coping mechanism for the guilt associated with the Thanksgiving hunt. The narrative does…

The narrative focuses heavily on the 'weight' of the past, the consequences of breaking tradition, and the systemic pressures on Indigenous men living in both modern and reservation settings. It deals with intense grief, the cycle of violence, and the visceral horror of being hunted by one's own mistakes and cultural transgressions. The characters grapple with feelings of inadequacy and the fear of losing their heritage to the outside world. Specific scenes illustrate the trauma of being an outsider in one's own…