49 pages 1 hour read

Jessica Johns

Bad Cree

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

Content Warning This section includes depictions of anti-Indigenous racism and substance abuse.

“Before I look down, I know it’s there. The crow’s head I was clutching in my dream is now in bed with me.”


(Chapter 1, Page 1)

Mackenzie’s macabre dream begins the action of this novel, and as she continues to reflect on her nightmares, it becomes apparent that the dreams connect to her unresolved grief over the death of her sister. Bad Cree uses supernatural elements to explore the processes of grieving and healing, and Mackenzie’s dream is one of its most central supernatural experiences.

Quotation Mark Icon

“You can always tell the time of day in Vancouver by the crows. In the winter, they fly to roost in Burnaby at 5 pm, at 8 pm in the summer. They move through the sky like a thunder crowd, collecting more kin as they fly home.”


(Chapter 2, Page 17)

Crows are one of this novel’s key symbols. They represent unresolved grief and the pain of losing a family member. As the narrative unfolds, Mackenzie learns more about crows and begins to understand why they seem to haunt her, following her everywhere she goes.

Quotation Mark Icon

“The dreams I’m having now are different. I can move and speak. But both types feel like a warning, a deep siren of something to come.”


(Chapter 2, Page 21)

Dreams are one of the novel’s most important motifs. Like crows, they speak to the narrative’s interest in unresolved grief and healing. Dreams are messages, but they also signal to Mackenzie and everyone in her family that she has not yet processed Sabrina’s death.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 49 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,500+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools