Tilly and the Crazy Eights
by Monique Gray Smith
Second Story Press | General Fiction (Adult) , Humor
Second Story Press
General Fiction (Adult) , Humor
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An unexpected journey can be powerful medicine.
When Tilly receives an invitation to help drive eight elders on their ultimate bucket list road trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow, she impulsively says yes. Before she knows it, Tilly has said goodbye to her family and is behind the wheel—ready to embark on an adventure that will transform her in ways she could not predict, just as it will for each and every one of the seniors on the trip, who soon dub themselves "the Crazy Eights."
Tilly and the Crazy Eights each choose a stop to make along the way—somewhere they've always wanted to go or something they've wanted to experience. This takes them on a route to Las Vegas and Sedona, with a final goal of reaching the Redwood Forest. Each stop becomes the inspiration for secrets and stories to be revealed. The trip proves to be powerful medicine as they laugh, heal, argue, and reveal hopes and dreams along the way. With friendships forged, love found, hearts broken and mended, Tilly and the Crazy Eights feel ready for anything by the time their bus rolls to a stop in New Mexico. But are they?
When Tilly receives an invitation to help drive eight elders on their ultimate bucket list road trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the Gathering of...
A Note From the Publisher
Monique Gray Smith is Cree, Lakota, and Scottish, and a proud mom of teenage twins. She is an accomplished international speaker and the owner of an Indigenous consulting firm, Little Drum Consulting. Her life's work is to raise awareness of the resilience of Indigenous peoples. An award-winning writer for children and adults, her first novel, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience, won the 2014 Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature. Her books for children include You Hold Me Up, My Heart Fills With Happiness, and Speaking our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation. Monique and her family are blessed to live on the traditional territory of the WSÁNEĆ people near Victoria, British Columbia.
Monique Gray Smith is Cree, Lakota, and Scottish, and a proud mom of teenage twins. She is an accomplished international speaker and the owner of an Indigenous consulting firm, Little Drum...
EDITION Other Format
PRICE $19.95 (USD)
Average rating from 11 members
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Sheila G, Reviewer
I enjoyed this book.  Makes me want to find a group of  seniors  and take the trip of a lifetime.    I recommend this book.  Thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read it.  The opinions are my own
Laura T, Reviewer
To call this book a road trip, undermines what this book is really about. Yes, it is a trip from Vancouver, BC to Albuquerque New Mexico, but, as they say, the journey is the reward, not the destination.
To call this book a story about Elders trying to complete their bucket list also diminishes what this book is about. Yes, there is that goal, but there are reasons for the choices they make in the said list.
And to call this story a story of cancer, also diminishes what this story is about. Although Sarah has had cancer, there are eight other people on this trip, as well.
So, suffice it to say, that this is a lot going on in this book.
Tilly become the drive for a group of Elders from an unnamed First Nations group of women and men, who want to complete a bucket list. Each of them has a reason for going on the trip. Sarah, who has been fighting cancer, wants to dance at the world pow wow, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pancho, wants to visit the redwoods. Lucy wants to visit Las Vegas.
It is not an easy road trip. There are obsticles along the way, and Tilly keeps seeing the vision of her grandmother, who is trying to give her advice.
And then, there is the Residential School scars that are left on some of the group. Or the marriage problems.  Or the alcoholism.  It is a tight group, but they each have their battles to fight, and live.
I have been to some of the places the group has been to, but not all of them. It was an interested, detailed trip, but the best part, if there can be a best part, was the arrival at the pow wow, and how resonating it made them all feel.
With pauses between her words, Lucy said, "Look...at..all..the Indians." Her tone was somewhere between a whisper and her regular voice.
When I was a young teen, I discovered Science Fiction conventions. It was an amazing feeling, being among like-minded people, that shared the same thoughts, the same likes, the same obsessions as you did.
The way the group felt at the pow wow was how I felt discovering others like me, though I'm sure that sounds disrespectful, it is not meant to be.
This is a wonderful, sad, funny, touching story. And this is coming from someone who doesn't like to read journey books. But this was a journey of the soul, as well as the body, and it was and is well worth it. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Cassandra B, Librarian
I love these characters!  They brought me to tears and made me laugh out loud.  I want to go on a road trip with these people!  When is their next adventure?
Janina A, Educator
Beautiful blending and mixture of traditional foundations, beliefs, acceptance and dependance. Native American elders decide to go to Nationwide Pow Wow. Along the way truths and memories are shared. Some are so painful they bring tears to your heart. Some are so joyful that you are elevated. I cried many tears for the strength of these elders in surviving the awful abuses done in the name of religion. Especially since these things actually happened. This book handles them with grace while paying honor to the strength of their religious traditions. This is not a dark or dreary novel but instead is uplifting and sweet. Highly recommend.
Laurie P, Reviewer
A delightful story! Time is running out for the elders in this community and they all want to complete their bucket list before time on earth is done.  It's a trip with a lifetime of memories and for Tilly who is the driver of The Crazy Eights and learns her own lessons on living and life.
It is a book on life, loss, friendship and love that you will not want to miss!
Cheriee W, Librarian
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
To begin, I liked it so much that I plan to pick up and read Monique Gray Smith's prequel to this, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resiliance. I don't think it's necessary to read them in order. It will just be delightful to spend time with this character again and get to know her better.
In this novel, Tilly and a group of indigenous elders head out on a road trip to Albuquerque for the world's biggest Powwow.
The trip originated in the women's stitch and bitch group with Sarah, one of the ailing members, talking about her dream of dancing at the Powwow. Then two older men join them. They managed to raise enough money for the trip by having film nights and baked goods sales. Each one of them has a specific bucket list item they want to cross off while on their journey. Tilly, the youngest, left her husband and children to look after them and be their driver.
Shortly after they are on the road they name themselves Tilly and the crazy Eights. We get to know a lot about each of the characters as they travel from Vancouver, Canada, to New Mexico. I ended up caring for all of them although I wish Mable had had more of a presence.
It's a coming of age novel for the older crowd. Sure it's loaded with laughter and tenderness, but there is also loss, heartache and romance. A lot of learning and growing takes place. Each of them has issues to grapple with. Not the least are their histories of residential schools. I ended up weepy at numerous points in this book.
Ultimately it's a heartwarming feel good read about a group of people who are survivors. What more can you want?
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