CW: Homomisia, racism, KKK brutality, death of loved one

3.5 Stars

Well that was quite a clever and powerful reimagining of Hamlet.

Hanalee is our heroine and is investigating the suspicious death of her father. All the while her father's spirit is haunting the neighborhood. I love that the story explored racial hatred and negative attitudes to LGBTQIA people at this time in history. Such a good mash up of ideas Cat has incorporated into this retelling. There were some pacing issues at the beginning but then things picked up as Hanalee delved deeper into the prejudices within the community. An enjoyable YA book. ( )

Something is rotten in the state of Prohibition-era Oregon. Biracial teen Hanalee knows her father’s death was no accident, but as her revenge turns into an investigation, she uncovers something far more foul in this atmospheric twist on Hamlet.

The story starts off a bit slow, but stick with it!! It wasn't my favorite of hers, but still a great story with a very important message. ( )

Plot in a Nutshell
Hanalee Denney is growing up the only bi-racial person in Elston, Oregon town during the 1920s. The plot initially centres on the return to town of Joe Adder, a teenager accused of having killed Hanalee’s father in a drink driving accident. Quickly we’re pulled into the more ghostly elements of the story with Hanalee’s father returning to try find his way home and protect his family. Through her conversations with Joe and her father and her own investigations we see the reality of Hanalee’s life in Elston; a town heavily under the influence of the KKK where racism and xenophobia flourish in a state where eugenics and anti-miscegenation laws are on the stature books.

Thoughts
It is clear that this novel has been incredibly well researched and this deep understanding of the period underpins the whole story creating a real sense that you are in the midst of Prohibition in a small town rather than simply telling the reader about it.

I also felt that Cat Winters has pitched the issues in the novel very well for her audience by tailoring the themes to her characters rather than simply being an issue novel. As such we see the KKK attracting younger members of the town into a junior group, Hanalee worrying about how she can pursue her dreams (of both education and ultimately love and marriage) when so many options are closed to her on account of her skin colour and Joe struggling to cope not just with the reality of the eugenics programme but also his parents lack of support.

Overall I found most of the characters well written and multi-faceted which made it both easier to slip into the world Cat Winters has created but all of the more difficult to accept some of the ideas at play in the novel. That said I think the female characters are by far and away the stronger and more relatable of the novel and the relationships between them, especially Hanalee and her best friend Fleur, provide real structure to the story.

However, whilst each character was well written and very real I did feel that there was something a little lacking in overall character development particularly given the amount of change they go through during this book and it was this that stops me for rating it more highly. ( )

In The steep and thorny way, Cat Winters has created a stunning portrayal of 1920s Oregon that reflects the diversity and complexity of the American experience. As a modern twist on Hamlet, Winters succeeds in conveying a murder mystery, love story, and supernatural tale set against a historically accurate background of racism, homophobia, and Prohibition bootlegging. The compelling, complex characters make this a hauntingly beautiful story that will enrich anyone who reads it. ( )