Louise Erdrick's Sentence Judgment explores the themes of cultural identity, family, race and epidemic through the narrative space of the "birch skin bookstore" in the independent bookstore, with the COVID-19 and Freud events as the background. The protagonist of the novel, Tuqi, was framed and imprisoned. She later married the police officer who arrested her and worked at a bookstore. She was harassed by the ghost of the deceased customer Flora, which prompted her to reflect on personal and historical issues. The work uses humor and satire to deal with heavy themes, showcasing the profound influence of books on the lives of characters, while blurring the boundary between fiction and reality.

1、 Ethnic Reflection Beyond Ghost Narration

In depth exploration of the relationship between ghost narrative and ethnic reflection in Erdrick's "Sentence Judgment". The work reveals ethnic history and traumatic memories obscured by history and culture through ghost elements, while challenging readers' ethnic expectations and imagination. The ghost invasion in the novel is not only a punishment for the protagonist Tuqi, but also a search for the truth. Erdrick portrays the trauma and growth of the Ojibwa people, as well as their reflection on cultural dilemmas, through the role of Tuqi. The word "sentence" in English cleverly corresponds to the author's meta criticism of ethnic thinking in the novel's "judgment" and "sentence". Tuqi's punishment has duality, including legal punishment and spiritual punishment, while the narrative strategy of the novel blurs the boundary between fiction and reality. The personal memories of Tu Qi in prison and the decoding effect of bookstore clerk Ashima's text have enriched the significance of reflecting on indigenous culture. The novel ultimately showcases reading as a way to break free from punishment and nourish the soul through reading books. Although Tuqi's narration and book list are in English, they reflect a self reflection and self punishment, with postmodern significance of self deconstruction and critical subversion.

2、 The Ambiguous Polyphony of 'Sentence Judgment' and Its Redemption Significance

In depth exploration of the dual meaning of the term "Sentence" in the novel "Sentence Judgment", namely the legal judgment and the sentence in words, and how they are related to individual punishment and redemption. Tuqi experienced a journey from despair to redemption while in prison by reading the "sentence" entry in the American Dictionary of Traditional English. Books became her strength to overcome difficulties, and she eventually found a job at Erdrick's Birch Book House. Books and reading became the core of her life. Bookstores are not only centers of culture and tradition, but also symbols of ethnic space, emphasizing the history and subjectivity of indigenous peoples through the reversal of colonial gaze. Tuqi's story demonstrates the transition from punishment to redemption, with books and reading playing a crucial role in this process. In addition, the chapter also discusses the importance of Huapi Bookstore during the epidemic, and how Tuqi continued her journey of redemption by participating in social protests. The novel showcases the power of sentences as a cultural construction and redemption pathway, as well as the importance of providing comfort and strength to people during turbulent times, through Tuqi's experience.

3、 Ghost Writing and Its Cultural Function

The importance of ghost images in literary criticism has become increasingly prominent, especially after the 1970s, when their focus shifted from personal psychology to cultural and political issues. Ghost literature is closely linked to magical realism, echoing Derrida's ghost studies, Lyotard's sublime theory, and Baudrillard's "simulation" theory. These theoretical perspectives reveal the fear triggered by the ghost of death, and how it reveals desires and reality, shakes the order of reality, and leaves suppressed voices and invisible violence nowhere to hide.

4、 Text, Books, and Reading: Differences and Integration of Identity Boundaries

The novel "Sentence Judgment" explores the collapse and disillusionment of identity through Flora's death, as well as the role of book reading in constructing and deconstructing identity. Flora's ghost symbolizes her confusion and inability to escape from her own identity. Derrida's deconstructionist theory is used to analyze the ambiguity of texts and the fluidity of identities. Flora and the ghost of the little girl in 'The Ghost of Bideville' both represent the necessity of memory sharing and resurrection. Erdrick's works transcend ethnic boundaries and emphasize understanding and tolerance between cultures. Flora's desire to become an Indian reflects her profound understanding of ethnic history and her desire for goodness. The books and sentences in the novel become symbols of redemption, and Tuqi achieves comfort and self redemption for Flora's soul through reading and language. Erdrick showcases an inclusive perspective on world civilization by recommending books on multiculturalism and ethnicity. The exorcism ritual in the novel symbolizes the process of purification and catharsis, and the emotions of the characters are expressed through language and words. Reed pointed out that identity narration has become the core of writing about ethnic or minority groups in the United States. The characters in 'Sentence Judgment' seek answers through books, reflecting the textual and cultural challenges encountered by Erdrick in his creative process. Frederick provides reflections and responses on the cultural traditions of Native Americans through books, emphasizing that highlighting differences is not an end in itself, but rather a means of deepening understanding and conveying tolerance. At the end of the novel, Erdrick humorously recommends books through Tuqi, emphasizing the importance of books. No matter where you are or what culture you belong to, books are an important carrier connecting humanity.