Thank you to Macmillan Children's for the complimentary arc of this title.

One sentence review: Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley is a must read book that perfectly combines mystery and teen drama while at the same time encompasses us in the culture of the Ojibwe tribe.
I absolutely loved everything about this book. 
The book centers around eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine. She has never felt like she really fit in as the daughter whose mother is from a wealthy white family while her father is part of the Ojibwe tribe. She does her best to fit into both worlds. Her world is shook when there are a series of deaths in her local area of youths her age, all attributed in some fashion to drugs. The FBI recruits Daunis to work with them to find out who has been helping produce and distribute meth in the local area.

Here are things that really clicked with me:

- The story is character and culture driven
= I loved how the author outlines the history of the Ojibwe tribe and descriptions of the area where they live - especially as ancestral territory crosses the US/Canadian border 
-The book provides thoughtful explanations of tribal customs and how elders are respected
-How the author captures the emotions expressed by Daunis about being of mixed heritage and not really feeling as though she was completely accepted in either world
- I love that Daunis is one of the smartest kids around as well as being a hockey player who played side by side with the boys in high school.

Really this book just touches on so many things that I can imagine, if I had read this as a teen, would have made me feel empowered.

I highly recommend this book to people who love a good mystery or are looking for a book with Native American characters where cultural traditions are respectfully and thoughtfully outlined. While this book is YA I think it has a broad appeal that will appeal to adults as well.  If I had to characterize the book I'd call it an amalgamation of Winter Counts, Long Bright River, and an 18 year old Nancy Drew.

This debut YA thriller features a young Native woman demanding accountability and advocating for victims amidst mystery and corruption in her community. According to own-voices early readers, you can find excellent Ojibwe representation here.

Some thoughts while reading:
-The prologue had me on the edge of my seat! Thrilling, indeed.
- Just the first 3 paragraphs lay out so much about Daunis: her connection to her heritage, her geekiness, her plans/ambitions. I love when authors humanize characters so effectively and seemingly effortlessly
- My heart went out to Daunis when we learned about how she feels pulled in different directions by her grandmothers and their beliefs.
- The layering-in of family history was so well-done!
- The narration and dialogue makes for an enjoyable reading experience, for sure.

The pacing of this book is excellent; there is not a moment where I felt like the story lagged. Angeline's writing is captivating, and I’m so happy this book is out in the world. Sign me up for her next book!

Daunis was born half white and half Native American. While she lives with her white family, she visits her Native American family often. When her uncle dies, something is amiss. Daunis sets out to find out what is going on with the tribe and the hockey team she used to play for. She has the help of the new hockey player and his uncle.
Opinion
This is hands down a must read book! If you like mystery, intrigue, romance or suspense, you need to get ahold of a copy. This story gripped me and would not let go. Though this book is long, it is well worth the time invested in reading it.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I feel like I’m still getting my thoughts together because how do I even begin to talk about this phenomenal book that had me hooked from the beginning. Daunis, the Firekeeper’s daughter, is a firecracker. I was rooting for her the entire time and loved how important her community and traditions were to her. I especially appreciated getting to read so much about Native culture because it’s so beautiful.

The characters themselves were so well written as they all had discernible motivations, even if they didn’t always want them known. I understood Ron, but I still wanted to fight him. Granny June was absolutely hilarious, and Auntie is the kind of fierce, loving person you want in your corner. A lot of the boys and men didn’t deserve rights in this book though. Jamie is okay in my book. He just needed to do a little soul searching, but he wasn’t actively harmful like some people 😒

I love how I guessed early on who was involved but Boulley made me doubt my own assumptions and even when revealed I never could have seen it playing out like that.

The last chapter was so emotional and healing. It ended the book on the perfect note and left me stunned.

I could do an even deeper dive into everything that worked for me in this book, but honestly you have to read it for yourself. Firekeeper’s Daughter is a book written for Native youth that we all thankfully get to enjoy. I hope Boulley plans on writing another book because I will eat up anything she blesses us with.

I’m even more excited that Firekeeper’s Daughter is getting a TV adaptation. I pictured this book so vividly while reading, so I cannot wait to see a larger audience exposed to this magnificent story.

*Thank you to the publisher for the finished copy. All opinions are my own*

Angeline Boulley's debut ownvoices novel, Firekeeper's Daughter is a riveting and fantastic read. The turbulent emotions I felt even after I finished reading last night. One thing I want to say that this novel exceeds my expectations and it's probably one of my favorite books published this year.

The story follows Daunis Fontaine, and 18-year old Ojibwe girl living with her white mother. In the midst of that, comes with a heart-wrenching dilemma that would impact her life and identity. Through Daunis' perspective, I'm glad I got to learn and shape my understanding about the Objiwe community.

Full review to come around release date.

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Firekeeper’s Daughter struck a place close to home that I didn’t expect. Daunis, the main character is biracial (half white and half indigenous). As a biracial reader, I really related to her experience of limbo between two cultures she cares deeply for, and struggling to belong to both. I’m not Indigenous, but I’m half Chinese and I think the biracial representation is pretty universal.

This book is heavier than I expected as it tackles some heavy subject matter including racism, sexual violence, violence against women, drug/alcohol addiction, and grief. It was hard for me to read at around the 70% mark because of the sexual violence and the off-page rape scene, so I think it’s important for reader to know about the content matter before diving into this book.

My only criticism was the pacing of the book, sometimes it felt like so much was happening that it was hard to keep up, and other times it dragged a bit. But overall, I think Firekeeper’s Daughter is an amazing crime thriller combined with a coming of age story that is filled with rich traditions and customs of the Ojibwe tribe.

Even though it is only March, I can say without a doubt that Firekeeper's Daughter will be one of my favorite books this year. Before I even finished the book, I ordered a hardcopy to have in my collection and reread.

Firekeeper's Daughter is a powerful and stunning debut novel about truth, family, and tribal community. It is a compulsive and emotional story that intertwines Ojibwe history, principles, and beliefs with current issues affecting tribal communities.

Firekeeper's Daughter wrecked me emotionally. From Daunis's coming to terms with her split identity as both Anishnaabe (Ojibwe) and Zhaaganaash (English/white person) to grappling with traumatic events, Boulley creates characters that are real and relatable. Her writing is propulsive and intoxicating. My heart was full with love, hate, disappointment, and pride as I read Daunis's journey. I think this book will touch everyone's soul as it did mine.

I loved learning about Ojibwe traditions, beliefs, and community. As I try to read more Indigenous/Native literature this year, I have found enjoyment in learning these things and wishing that more attention is paid to the atrocities and continued oppression Natives face in this country. I really appreciated how Boulley highlights pervasive occurrences, such as the murder of and violence against Native women, as well as legal issues that arise from tribal governments' limited reach.

My only piece of constructive criticism is that I wish that the book had a glossary to define Anishinaabemowin terms. I ended up Googling a lot for those that there was not enough context to make a solid guess at their meaning. Since this was an uncorrected galley, it is possible that this will be added to the final print.

Overall, I loved Firekeeper's Daughter so much. I will be recommending it to everyone I know. I am often hesitant to read YA or new adult fiction, but I think this is a story that is for all audiences.

I had really no idea what to expect from this novel. I picked it up because of the cover and it did not disappoint. The story and its descriptions kept me engaged and guessing until the very end. I also loved how steeped in Native American culture this story was and how the main character, Daunis, is stuck in this limbo because she comes from two different worlds (one white parent, one native parent). Daunis is such a strong, empowering character...even without meaning to. She stuck by her values and even in the face of conflict and danger, never wavered. I loved how smart and dedicated she was to embracing her indigenous side. I will be recommending this novel to every reader I know.

Firekeeper's Daughter felt so powerful, raw, and important. It immerses you in Native American culture, traditions, and community. As someone who does not know much about Native cultures, I loved this aspect of the book as it created such a rich world full of new (to me) language and ideas. This book also heavily focused on justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women and offered a powerful insight to the drug and addiction issues that Native communities face.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but I knew I was intrigued. Although it's a YA novel, the topics covered are very heavy so please see the content warnings. I thought the book felt a bit slow in some areas in the beginning but after the 40% mark I could not put this down. If you're interested in crime or mystery, I think you'll like this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt, and MacMillan's Children's Publishing Group for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings: drug abuse, addiction, gun violence, sexual assault (on-page/brief), kidnapping, grief, mention of drug overdose

Firekeeper’s Daughter is a YA thriller focusing on eighteen-year-old Daunis as she must deal with a criminal investigation involving her tribe and loved ones as well as her own place in the Ojibwe community as a half-white, half-indigenous woman.

I’m usually not one for thrillers. However, this book pleasantly surprised me. It had some slow moments and probably could’ve had a few side plots cut, but overall it was a fleshed-out mystery. I couldn’t put the book down once I passed the 60% mark or so.

I do think anyone considering this book should be aware of some triggering content. There is mention of drug abuse/drug overdose, death of loved ones, as well as a character getting raped (which becomes a major plot point in the latter half of the novel). I’d say this novel definitely falls into the realm of new adult rather than young adult. Anyone who wants to read it should proceed with caution.

Other than that, the novel was a fantastic own voices story. I’d definitely recommend it.

This book hooked me immediately and the integration of legend with stark reality kept me reading. Boulley created vivid characters who were flawed and so very human. I have already been recommending this book everywhere!

YA contemporary/mystery is probably my least read genre. I can’t say why, but it’s not something that I typically gravitate towards or enjoy. But as soon as I read the synopsis for this, I just KNEW that I needed it in my life!!

First off I need to mention Daunis. She was an absolutely incredible character!! So strong, focused, smart, and determined, despite all the struggles in her life. She’s the daughter of a white/french mother and a native father. She’s caught in this “in between” where she’s too brown for the white folks but too white for the brown folks. With her father being absent from her birth certificate, she was never able to be listed as a full tribe member. Within a year she lost her Uncle to mysterious circumstances and her grandmother fell ill due to a stroke. She had great aspirations to go to school but she decided to put things on hold to be there for her family. Even though she’s dealt with so much loss, pain, and feeling of not belonging, she still works her ass off to get an education, volunteers on the rez, helps her elders, and so much more. I loved that no matter what obstacles she faced, she overcame it all to be the best version of herself – she’s a character we can all strive to be like!!

If you love a story with great friends and family themes, then this book needs to be on your radar! One of my favourite themes in books is strong family and friend relationships – and this had some of my favourites. Daunis has gone through so much but she could handle it all because of the support system surrounding her. Her mom, Aunt, brother, elders, friends, and the community as a whole was soooooo good!The writing style only strengthened by love for friends and family. She would be talking about a situation and bring in small events of Daunis’s past and tie in her emotions and the characters. It’s so easy to feel as if you can relate to Daunis and experience all the emotions along side her.

But the main reason for me picking up this book (and the main thing I loved about it) was that we have an Anishinaabe character and community. I’m not Anishinaabe, but we have an Ojibwe community 5 minutes from my house. I’ve lived my whole life surrounded by this community and being in awe of the beauty within their beliefs. I loved listening to my friends and their family talking about the traditions and customs and haven’t found too many books that encapsulate these things. But this hit the mark in every way. Since the book takes place only a few hours away from where I live, a lot of the things mentioned are parallel to the community here. It felt so familiar, comforting and nostalgic. There are far too few books with Anishinaabe representation and it makes me so happy to see more and more each year!!!!! The dress, the pow wow’s, the language, the food (dear god – if you haven’t had fry bread or indian taco’s you are seriously missing out! That’s some of the best food in the world right there!!). I’m just so happy to see that more people can learn about the communities and their importance in the current society as well as in the past. People need to know how beautiful their culture is as well as the injustices they have faced (and still face today!). I could go on and on about this but seriously folks, it’s so important and I loved every minute detail!!

I will say though, the Ojibwe language is very difficult and may trip you up throughout the book. I STRONGLY suggest that you take a few minutes to visit a site that translates the words vocally. The double vowels can be tricky and hearing it spoken makes a world of difference. I found a link to a site where you can translate words and some will have the option to click the speaker and hear it said out loud (https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu). And, just so you know, this takes place in Sault Saint Marie – but Sault is pronounced Soo……

My favourite part of the mystery wasn’t necessarily the mystery itself, it was the complicated nature of it all. After she witnesses a murder, she’s lead into an ongoing investigation and is offered the chance to take part but as an undercover informant. She’s faced with wanting to make changes and getting answers but understands that the people involved are a part of her community and maybe even people that she loves. She’s faced with walking a tight rope of her loyalties while balancing what her new version of right and wrong means. If the people that are involved are those that she loves, does she betray them to save others? What details are important to the investigation when she doesn’t know the whole story? Will being an informant make her a snitch and anger the community or will they see it as her caring for the community as a whole? This balance was so interesting to read and her emotional turmoil was really hard hitting. I’m not normally a fan of mysteries at all but the complicated nature of it all, and bringing in the emotional aspects of it, made it something really unique and fascinating to read.

The one thing I didn’t like AT ALL was the romance. Sorry, but it was hyper focused on the romance in times that made zero sense to me at all. For example – Daunis witnesses a murder of someone she loves more than anything (I won’t say because of spoilers). But she’s shattered beyond belief. I can’t imagine witnessing a murder let alone the murder of someone you’re that close with. And for PAGES afterwords all she can talk about is how the love interest Jamie isn’t the person she thought he was. There was one sentence of “blank” is dead and then PARAGRAPHS of Jamie this, Jamie this, Jamie that. I mean, come on! It was so “boy central” at times that I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. Now, let me just say, this is a YA novel, so the trope fits. But, as an adult reading this, I wanted to vomit then slap the main character and tell her to focus and get her hormones in check. It was annoying.

Romance annoyances aside, this was a truly fantastic book. Strongly written elements of family, belonging, community, culture and traditions, friendship, and so much more. I’m so glad that there’s another native voice in the book community and getting exposure for a culture that is honestly the most beautiful i’ve ever encountered. I love her writing style and I can’t wait to read more from this author!!!

I would like to start out this review by thanking @EpicReads and @AngelineBoulley for sending me this stunning hardcover copy of Firekeeper's Daughter for review and allowing me to join the blog tour.

I will admit this was one of the hardest books to review. I struggle to say that I "enjoyed" this book because it is very dark and hard-hitting. That being said, I think that it is a very important story that the world needs. Going into this book I did not have very much knowledge of native culture and I felt like I learned so much within this book. We definitely need more #OwnVoices native stories. That being said I would encourage you to search for Own Voice reviews of Firekeeper's Daughter!

This was a HEAVY book and was one I needed to set down and walk away from a few times. It tackles some HUGE topics without holding back. At times this book made me angry and uncomfortable, but I think that was a good thing and made me really look at the issues this book is addressing within native communities. I will have content warnings down below in a separate comment for you to be aware of before diving head first into this book.

Overall I wouldn't say this was an unenjoyable reading experience though. The writing was absolutely beautiful, the culture was rich and interesting, and the second half of the book had me flying through the pages unable to stop. The last 100 pages I couldn't stop. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't wait to see how things wrapped up.

I would warn that I personally think this book fits more into the "new adult" age range than "young adult". Our two main characters are 18 and 22 and as I previously stated there is some heavy themes explored throughout.

Overall I think if this book sounds like a plot you would like to pick up, then you absolutely should. I am so glad this is a story I read and have added to my collection.

I want to thank @netgalley and @henryholtbooks for the opportunity to review this #OwnVoices book. As someone who’s father grew up on a reservation but otherwise has very little to claim for that heritage (my middle name only I think). I have struggled with the Native American part of my identity for as long as I understood what that part of me means.

This is a YA novel about Daunis Firekeeper. Daunis’s father is Native and her mother is Zhaaganaash (non-native, an English person) and she struggles to fit in to each side of her family. When Daunis gets wrapped up in an FBI investigation she has to dig down deep for both of her roots. This story is filled with so many things, family, identity, Native American history and culture. I was so moved by so many profound parts, especially the injustices Native members face. Also for a YA thriller, I thought those parts were done great too. I never guessed what was going on (I did have a few wrong guesses in typical dyanna fashion).

“It’s your identity but it gets defined or controlled by other people.”

Y’all I related to this one more then anything I’ve ever read. For whatever complicated human reasons, I know absolutely no one one of my dad’s family. Which is likely one of the biggest reasons I struggled to hold on to that part of my identity. As I grew older I embraced more, knowing that you don’t LOSE your identity, not one with roots that deep anyway. My dad is a quiet, stoic man so it’s extremely difficult to pry some things out of him, especially his life on the reservation. That being said, I wondered constantly about his time there. Wishing I could go there and meet my relatives, meet my grandmother with the last name Two Feathers.

This is an amazing debut and I encourage everyone to read it!

I don't normally read thrillers or crime-solving novels, but I like watching them. With its focus on solving crimes, I was immediately reminded of Veronica Mars--which I loved. Daunis and Veronica are both smart and savvy teens trying to solve crimes associated with a murder in their community. Daunis's voice is reminiscent of Veronica's and is centered around the scientific method. While it was slow to start, I became fully immersed in the novel and Daunis's life. There was a lot to digest in the beginning and also a few instances when things were a bit confusing due to a lot of different things going on in Daunis's life. I enjoyed the richness of the culture, the respect in which it was presented, and the inclusion of so many stories, words, and phrases, all showcasing why it's crucial to publish more books by authors of color. Boulley deftly explored multiple themes through including culture, acceptance, grief, and trauma, leaving me with a range of feelings after finishing the novel. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing for providing me with an ARC.

When I first heard that Firekeeper's Daughter was a YA mystery/thriller I knew I wanted to read it as that's one of my favorite genres. However, this story is so much more than that.

The story follows 18-year-old Daunis, who is a half-white, half-Anishinaabe women. Throughout the book you observe Daunis' identity struggle with being biracial and wanting to connect more with her Ojibwe culture. Angeline Boulley herself is indigenous and I loved seeing the representation and culture within this book.

After witnessing a life changing accident Daunis is thrown into an FBI investigation. During this investigation she discovers things about herself and those close to her. I really liked that Daunis was a strong female protagonist and that she also underwent lots of character development. Boulley did not shy away from talking about difficult topics such as racism, substance abuse, etc. This book really opens up discussions about the struggles within Daunis' life.

The only thing I will say is that at times it felt like an info dump. I think the story really picked up in the second half.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to immerse themselves within the culture, but be sure to look up trigger warnings as the book covers heavy topics.

Daunis doesn't fit into either life- not her white mother's life, nor her father's Native American life. Going away to college was supposed to give her a chance to start over, but after illness and tragedy hits her family, she decides to stay near home for college. After meeting Jamie, a new hockey player, her life seems to pick up a little, but this nice, cute boy has a girlfriend waiting for him back home. Daunis refuses to be "That Girl" and interfere in a relationship, but with how charming and nice Jamie is, it's hard to ignore him. When a murder occurs and Daunis is one of the only witnesses, she's thrown into an FBI murder investigation involving Ojibwe medicine and drugs.

This book was so, so good. I felt pain for Daunis as she navigated the reality of not belonging fully to either half of her heritage. She's alone, different, and misunderstood. I really enjoyed getting immersed in the culture and language, even though it was difficult to get into at first due to all the foreign words. After the first 20% of the book or so, we are really thrown into the mystery and action portion of this novel, which I absolutely adored. I fell in love with so many of the characters and I felt Daunis' love for her Elders, family, and friends. I could not recommend this book more to lovers of thrillers, mysteries, and OwnVoices fiction that have the perfect sprinkling of romance mixed in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review will also be posted on my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bookish.marissa/) on March 14, 2021.

Firekeeper's Daughter is a young adult thriller/coming of age story that undeniably lives up to the massively positive critical and audience reception. This story is centered around a Daunis, a teenage girl who feels like an outsider in the communities that she inhabits, as she navigates her world and winds up as a confidential informant in an FBI operation. Being able to learn about life in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and especially Ojibwe culture really made this book special. And there's lots of hockey stuff! The story goes to places that are in turns touching, unexpected, stomach-turning, and shocking.

There are a lot of dark subjects here (drug use, murder, death, rape) so that is just something to keep in mind before getting started. Would still very much recommend.

There is so much to absorb in Angeline Boulley’s debut novel. The storyline is excellent, that of a girl beginning her college education being recruited by the FBI as an informer helping to track down the meth that is targeting tribal members. The slow start to the book is most appreciated as you end the story. The early pages set the stage for the Ojibwe way of life as it meets the needs of current tribal members. Daunis Firekeeper is an excellent protagonist. For a young woman, she has an amazing respect for her culture. Her mother is white, her father was Ojibwe. Never marrying Daunis’s white mother, he married a native woman and is later killed. Daunis’s half-brother, Levi, plays a major role in the story, both in the meth issue and hocky. If you live right next to Canada, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Ice hockey rules supreme. If it were just the story plot of capturing the bad meth distributers, the story would be still good, but when you add in Daunis’s observations about a native culture that works to make women self-confident leaders, her respect for elders and the look at science and traditional medicine it becomes almost required reading. There’s a lot of violence in the book, violence against women and violence toward each other. One of my favorite parts is the Women’s Circle, who at night take a man who has mistreated a woman to a secluded area and hand out their own form of justice. The book is aimed at audiences 14 years old and up. It would make an excellent mother-daughter bookclub selections. And as Daunis knows the value (literally keeping her from dying) of strong and worthy elders, a discussion from different points of view would add to the enjoyment of the story. While many would say this is a plot driven story, without the variety and strengths and weaknesses of the characters, the story would not have the depth it does.

I can’t stop thinking about this book, you guys. It’s an own voices YA thriller with indigenous representation and if that doesn’t pull you in, let me tell you what I loved about it:

•Daunis is a badass, fierce young woman who loves hard and appreciates the history of her tribe. Even though she’s an unenrolled tribal member, she is fully submerged in her culture.

•The romance aspect didn’t overshadow, but added to the main topic: investigating the meth ring that’s causing the deaths of young locals.

•I loved the parts where Daunis would teach Jamie about the Ojibwe tribe because it was such a fun learning experience for me. The author is a wonderful storyteller and she wove in so much history, stories, and traditions/customs of her people. I especially liked learning about the four day journey after death before they have a funeral.

•The mystery was intriguing and kept me turning the pages. I was shocked at the reveal!

I received a widget from @netgalley but I’m 100% preordering so I can have a physical copy of this amazing debut. This would be a perfect book club choice.