Really enjoyed this suspenseful story of family, lies, finding yourself, and trusting your elders.
Boulley captures Northern Michigan and the hockey culture perfectly.

"Grief is a cruel and sneaky bastard. You love a person and then they're gone. Past tense. You forget them for an hour, a day, a week. How is that even possible? It happens because memories are fickle; they can fade."
I went into this powerful story knowing nothing but it was as impactful as The Hate U Give. That's the perfect description because this entire book shook my soul to its core. I cried so much for Daunis and her loved ones. I'll never stop recommending this book for everyone to read. It forced me to acknowledge just how little I know about Indigenous people, and I will do better with my own education going forward.
"Lust doesn't last, but herpes is forever."
My all time favorite quote from this book! I HAD to include it to show that this book isn't solely about serious, painful things. It has humor and light amidst the darkness.
Now this story begins in 2004 in Michigan with Daunis toeing the line between her two worlds: her father's Indigenous side and her mother's white side. She's a biracial woman, who never knows how to truly satisfy both even into adulthood. Daunis is also suffering from her Uncle's recent death (believed overdose) and her grandmother's stroke.
All bad things come in three, and Daunis is certainly not wrong in this regard.
I think the reason this book hit me so intensely is partly because Daunis reminded me of myself. Now I'm not Indigenous, so I can never comprehend that or her mixed heritage, but her torn emotions (both good and bad) felt very akin to some of my own feelings in my personal life. Her wit, joy, sadness. Her rage for a better reality than what she's given. Her love for everyone even when they don't deserve it. And her pain for her Indigenous community. She's so visceral; it was unreal at times.
Angeline is definitely a powerful writer.
Moreover, I would consider this YA Mystery/ Crime fiction so, as such, please go into this blind. I think you'll enjoy it better because you'll be placed further into Daunis's feelings/ lack of knowledge to everything initially happening around her. It'll be more atmospheric for sure, and it's the path I chose.
Anyway, from Daunis's passion for hockey to her detective skills, I adored her. I hope all of you take a chance to learn her story because it will stay with you forevermore. The Anishinaabe are not the only Indigenous people to suffer with racism or substance abuse, so I think as a whole that's the most important note to learn from this book. In the U.S. we are hardly privy to their culture/ experiences in the media, and it's important to spread the knowledge for, hopefully, everyone to know.
Trigger Warnings: Meth addiction, murder, PTSD, kidnapping, rape, drug overdose, suicide

Firekeeper's Daughter is the rare piece of YA fiction that feels like its genre designation can't possibly encompass everything that this story is, and will likely mean to those who read it. A powerful and thoughtful tale of an 18-year-old Native American woman who confronts the dangerous impact of the drug trade within her community, this book is honestly like nothing else you will read this year..

Full review to come next week on Culturess.com.

Angeline Boulley is a former co-worker of mine, and though I don’t know her well, I was excited for her first novel to come out, and even more excited to receive an advanced review copy. I hoped I wouldn’t be disappointed, and I wasn’t. In fact, this book was everything I could ask for, with its rich cultural background, well-developed characters and a riveting story.

Daunis Fontaine is an 18-year-old living in the Sault Ste. Marie area of the Upper Michigan Peninsula, near the Canadian border. As a biracial teen, Daunis straddles two worlds and doesn’t quite fit in either. Her father, who she barely knew, is from the Ojibwe tribe. Daunis cares deeply about the tribe and its culture, but struggles to find her place as an unenrolled member with skin that is seen as too light.

She was getting ready to leave home for college when her uncle died and her grandmother had a stroke. Now she feels she needs to stay for her family. She also struggles with trust issues, especially where romantic relationships are concerned. Her best friend has a disastrous relationship with her ex, who’s a meth addict, and Daunis’ own first love ended badly. Into that mix comes Jamie, a new recruit on the hockey team and a friend of her half-brother Levi.

This book is considered YA, and at first I thought it might be a little young for me. As I got into it, I changed my mind. Daunis may think like an 18-year-old, but the world she’s living in is so complicated, there is nothing “young” about this story. Sadly, she’s forced to be much older than she should be. Daunis’ struggle to understand what it means to be a “strong Ojibwe woman” is impacted by the persistent racism around her and the effects of years of trauma inflicted on her people (such as the Boarding Schools).

In addition to the layers I’ve already described, Boulley also writes about gender inequities and abuse in a way that felt very real (for example, the idolization of sports figures and the pervasiveness of sexual assault).

The first half moves a bit slowly, as there’s a lot of background to explain, and quite a bit of detail about Ojibwe culture and traditions. Then the story develops into a mystery-thriller about drug use on the reservation, and I couldn’t put it down, reading the entire second half in one night and staying up much later than I meant to. I love a mystery where the author incorporates a lot of research, and it’s clear that Boulley did her research, from the making of meth, to the operations of an FBI investigation, to botany and the scientific method. Even hockey was written about in a level of detail that made feel I was right there. For some readers this might be a bit much, but I loved it.

I particularly loved the author’s use of tribal language throughout the book, and the idea that how we use words matter. At the same time, the way the young characters talked to each other, particularly through texts, felt natural and modern, and there are references to pop culture from the early 2000s (when the book is set) throughout. At one point early in the book there was a conversation that seemed really stilted and didn’t feel real – and then it turns out there’s a reason for that.

The title refers not only to Daunis’ paternal ancestry, but to a tribal myth about the Firekeeper’s daughter. She starts each day by singing and raises the sun – but to Daunis this feels like a burden, and she’s bothered by the fact that the daughter in the story never has her own identity, not even a name.

Boulley brings us a really thoughtful story, not just about romance but about family and finding one’s own identity. This is the kind of book where you’ll find much to identify with, and at the same time you’ll learn so much about a world you don’t know. I particularly appreciated that the characters had layers and flaws, particularly Daunis and Jamie, and none of the relationships were oversimplified (Daunis’ relationship with her mother is a good example).

I wish this book had given us an afterword as I would have liked to know more about Boulley’s influences and research. From interviews, I know that much of this book is based on her own upbringing and heritage, but I’d love to know more.

Congrats to Angeline Boulley on a fantastic first novel, and I look forward to reading her next one.

Note: I received an advance reading copy of this novel from NetGalley and publisher Henry Holt and Co. The book publishes March 16, 2021.

Words cannot express how much this book moved me. Daunis was an amazingly strong woman and the love she had for others was truly unmatched. I loved getting to learn more about the Ojibwe community and how so many aspects of Daunis's life as a Native woman were intertwined throughout the entire story. The characters were complex and the story, though immensely tragic at times, was so real. The story is light and funny at times while never shying away from addressing the important issues Native communities all around the country face, from drug problems to violence against women. Daunis's experience being biracial and the otherness that comes with it was really touching and it was hard to see how she faced backlash from both communities, making it hard for her to really feel like she had a place. The women in the story were strong and inspiring in their ability to withstand so much. The mystery was really exciting at times, despite the immense tragedy it left in its wake, and Jamie's character was immensely complex and interesting. The story in this book is captivating while still addressing important and sometimes hard to talk about topics all while taking place in one of many communities too often ignored in America.

TL;DR: I loved everything about this book--the gripping murder and drug crime mystery-thriller plotline; the incredibly well-crafted cast of characters; and the gorgeous and powerful Ojibwe community setting. My rating: 5 of 5 stars

CW: addiction, gun violence, sexual violence

One of my favorite things to do in late December and early January is google “most anticipated” book release lists for the upcoming year and making my own narrowed-down list of releases I’m most excited for. Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley was one of my most, most anticipated, even more so when I found out it will be adapted for a Netflix series.

Recently I’ve been studying for the Praxis exam that many aspiring English teachers must take for certification. My study guide included a list of canonical American literature texts to teach, which didn’t include a single indigenous author. Students need more stories centering Native perspectives, and I’m so, so excited for this debut, and whatever Boulley writes next.

Beyond its YA appeal, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to adult readers as well. Firekeeper’s Daughter is a page-turning mystery and a joy to read! Its depictions of grief, family, and community are beautiful and relatable. It also tackles some serious issues with the weight they deserve, including addiction, racism, sexual violence, and the failures of systems of governance and criminal justice. One of this book’s greatest strengths is its huge cast of well-developed characters. The most lovable were the Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe women)—recent high school grad Daunis, who discovers strength in her family, her culture, and her community; Daunis’s best friend Lily and Lily’s feisty grandmother Granny June, who shares a delightfully raunchy sense of humor with her granddaughter; and Daunis’s Aunt Teddie, known for her leadership in her tribal community despite an alluded to rebellious youth. A ton of other brilliantly written side-characters come to mind as well—Daunis’s frenemy Macy, who Daunis nonetheless acts to protect out of sisterly and Anishinaabe solidarity; smarmy Zhaaganaash (white) hockey dad, Grant Edwards; and a cast of colorful tribal elders, like Jonsy, who is obsessed with collecting vintage glass bottles at an abandoned landfill. Even Daunis’s Uncle David, who is deceased at the start of the novel, is brought to life through Daunis’s recollections and unraveling of the mystery of his death. The only exceptions were two of main male characters—Daunis’s brother Levi and her mysterious love interest Jamie—who were more reminiscent of YA tropes like “the popular jock” and “the mysterious bad boy.”

This book expertly explores the complexities of life as a biracial youth. When confronted with her white grandmother’s racism against her Native family, Daunis muses that “when you love someone, but don’t like parts of them, it complicates your memories of them when they’re gone.” Beyond her family, Daunis also deals with the day-to-day racist microaggressions of her white peers at school and “Hockey World.” To cope, her and Lily develop an inside joke of “Bigotry Bingo” to privately commiserate with one another as they fill out their imaginary bingo cards each time they hear “you don’t look Native” or a white girl describing her dream catcher tattoo.

From powwows and mourning rituals to semaa offerings to the Seven Grandfathers (love, respect, honesty, humility, bravery, wisdom, truth), indigenous culture adds interest and character to the already compelling mystery plotline. Daunis’s explanations of Tribal Council politics and enrollment is also a very interesting element of the story. In one particularly heartwarming scene, Daunis is worried about finding 2 letters of recommendations from tribal elders in time to submit her enrollment application before the cutoff date of her 19th birthday when she is tearfully and proudly presented with letters from 26!

On one more minor and personal note, I was incredibly heartened by how Boulley subtly but impactfully models and normalizes young women setting boundaries in their romantic and sexual relationships with young men. She sends readers the messages I wish I had received from the books, movies, and TV that I was surrounded by during my own adolescence and sexual development. When Jamie asks Daunis for her Nish spirit name, despite having opened up little about himself, Daunis refuses and decides, “I think that I am comfortable with what I shared today. But not anything else.” When Daunis and Jamie decide to have sex, Daunis narrates: “I bring up the necessary details. ‘No STDs and I have a progestin implant for birth control. But you still need a condom.’” This kind of direct communication and self-advocacy about both emotional and sexual health is brilliant to see in young adult media, or any media for that matter.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for giving me advance access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Boulley’s debut is a wonderful blend of coming of age story and suspenseful mystery that pulls the reader into the ups and downs of life on and off the Ojibwe reservation in Northern Michigan. Duanis Fontaine is in between—a child of a White Mother and Ojibwe father, making the break between a dream of hockey and putting down here skates, and ready to start college at home versus the University of Michigan. But violent events change the course of her life and she’s pulled into an investigation that will further upend her community.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Hockey. A mysterious drug network. A cute new guy... with a secret. A girl stuck between two cultures. All interwoven with Ojibwe traditions and folklore. Mix these all together and you get one hell of a debut novel!

I laughed, I cried - more than once, I held my breath, and I stayed up until 2am because Daunis was SO CLOSE to putting all the pieces together and I couldn't wait another day to find out what was happening in Sault Ste. Marie.

Boulley had me hooked within the first few chapters and this book was hard to put down. Just when I thought I had the "mystery" all figured out Boulley did a triple deke to make a shot I didn't see coming. This is definitely a YA book that I will be talking up at the library and will be telling everyone they should read.

Can we talk about the cover for a minute? How stunning is that artwork?! It's gorgeous!

Ever since I read the announcement about this book being bought by the publisher I have been eagerly awaiting to get my hands on it. I was lucky enough to get an ALC from Libro.FM and an ebook ARC from Netgalley. So now that I have finally had the chance to read it, what did I think? This book was absolutely amazing! Definitely one of my favorite books I've read this year. I found the mystery/thriller element to be extremely interesting and surprising. While there is content that may be hard to read for some (TW: sexual assault, drug abuse, racism) I found it really added to the real-world consequences of the subject matter. Once I realized it was about taking down meth dealers I was so worried it would feel unrealistic in terms of what could happen when getting involved with that or being a teen CI, but it exceeded expectations. This is also the first book featuring a Native American that I can remember reading and I loved learning about our MC's community. I think it did a great job of juggling racism/prejudice on and off the reservation as well as joy, love, and respect for one's culture. Hands down: 5 stars.

This is an extremely poignant book for our times. Daunis is half Indian, struggling to find where she fits in. Her family is a mess, and she is still processing the death of her Uncle, whose death was attributed to overdose. When Daunis witnesses a horrific murder/ suicide she is thrust into a world of secrets, lies, and drug addiction. She doesn’t know who to trust or how far the roots of drug use will reach. When the opportunity presents to be a CI for law enforcement, she decides to take action to learn the truth, even if it kills her and those she holds dear.

I simply could not put this novel down. This book reads like a “Dateline Special” and manages to perfectly convey the emotions of the addicted and the families/friends affected. It’s a story of redemption and heartache, and perfectly conveys the will and strength needed to persevere when all is lost. At times this can be a tough read, there are many triggers such as drug use, suicide, rape, and domestic violence.

“My girl, some boats are made for the river and some for the ocean. And there are some who can go anywhere because they always know the way home.”

TITLE—Firekeeper’s Daughter
AUTHOR—Angeline Boulley
PUBLISHED—2021 (read as an eARC from NetGalley)

GENRE—YA contemporary
SETTING—early 21st c. Michigan, the Lake Superior area
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—family, indigenous heritage, tribal politics & corruption, drug trafficking and addiction, grief, crime mystery, love, Girls-in-STEM, hockey

WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PLOT—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BONUS ELEMENT/S— Anishinaabe rep; and hockey! ❤️
PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is *so* many things. It’s a work of contemporary fiction intermixing Anishinaabe wisdom, cultural history, and traditional stories, with a strong biracial MC who is marvelously developed over the course of the story. It is also a romance and a crime story. It focuses on powerful themes such as drug addiction, sexual violence, corruption, discrimination, injustice, grief, and identity.

But it doesn’t stop there. The book also has its lighthearted moments, its warm and precious moments, a great depiction of the importance of hockey to the MC’s community, as well as a strong Girls-in-STEM vibe (I mean, the writing gets *nerdy* and I *loved* it 😂) which gave the novel so much more depth and made it feel like such a powerful, and real depiction of the complexities of modern American life.

“Wisdom is not bestowed. In its raw state, it is the heartbreak of knowing things you wish you didn’t.”

But the best part of this book in my opinion was the plethora of Indigenous Anishinaabe cultural wisdom, folklore, language, and information—so many valuable elements of a worldview and life philosophy that is so compelling and powerful in its sagacity and hope for a better future. I read this book as an eARC from NetGalley but am definitely preordering a hardcopy to add to my shelves and to reference for all the amazing quotes and passages on all of the various themes the author explores.

“When the song ends, I stand at the eastern door. Where all journeys begin. AHO (THAT IS ALL).”

TW // grief, death of family member, racism, colorism, drug addiction, drug abuse, alcoholism, murder, suicide, meth, drug trafficking, rape, kidnapping, abduction

Further Reading—
- There, There, by Tommy Orange
- Elatsoe, by Darcie Little Badger
- Custer Died for Your Sins, by Vine Deloria, Jr.—mentioned in the book as an important one from the MC’s life.
- An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
- The Ways of my Grandmothers, by Beverly Hungry Wolf

Firekeeper's Daughter is a fantastic debut by Angeline Boulley. We follow a biracial recent high school graduate, Daunis, as she is trying to fit into her Ojibwe culture, the familial expectations thrust upon her, and what it means to be a young woman in the world. Daunis is a scientist, so most of her narration is a bit analytical which at first was a bit hard for me to get fully on board with. But throughout the book we see how she's using her "science brain" to process the grief she's feeling and the horrors indigenous women face. Boulley makes it so clear that nothing is as it seems and often it's not black or white. All but one of our primary villains we can understand the motivations for. By the end we see how Daunis has grown from the experiences throughout the book, and how much hope she holds in her heart for her future. Boulley also expertly weaves in Ojibwe language, culture, and the horrors of the politics that surround Native-law relations. As an adult that doesn't always get on with a lot of YA books, this is definitely one that transcends age group and is one I hope to see discussed in classrooms in the future.

This book was an enjoyable ride! I enjoyed getting to know more about Native American culture through this entertaining but often hard story. It did feel a tad bit long but that may have just been because I listened to it on audio. Either way, I can definitely see where the hype has been coming from!

Daunis Fontaine Firekeeper is an eighteen-year-old unenrolled bi-racial member of the Ojibwe nation living in Sault Ste. Marie along the Michigan/Ontario border. Daunis's identity is torn between her maternal family--where her maternal grandparents are wealthy and influential--and her paternal, Firekeeper family and some of the community who believes she is not Ojibwe enough. When hockey god, Jamie Johnson, comes to town, Daunis feels a spark of attraction, even if she knows to look out for "guy-lies," even if she senses that Jamie isn't quite what he seems, even if her best friend, Lily, thinks she should snag him, and even if her protective brother (younger by a few months), Levi, gives the green light. After witnessing a murder and linking the murder of more local folks to meth-use, Daunis is thrown into a world of more secrets and lies. With her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicinal plants in the area, Daunis proves to be essential in uncovering how meth is entering her community and revealing the culprits.

This is a wonderful YA thriller/mystery with a splash of romance. The cover is GORGEOUS, the representation is impeccable, and the whole second-half left me in tears. Daunis is a wonderfully intelligent main character (who also makes dumb mistakes) and the book is written in first-person from her POV. Daunis is the Ojibwe Nancy Drew (maybe Dr. Watson??) as she tries to figure out what is going on in her community and what she can do to prevent the deaths of more young Ojibwe women and men.

I loved the the cultural, spiritual, and medicinal references woven throughout the book and the sense of setting it creates. The characters are layered as each mystery unfolds--from Aunt Teddie to the elders to the villains--and I love the sinister turn the book takes. By the second half, I was suspecting EVERYONE of being behind the drug-ring--including Daunis!--which I think marks a good mystery if I could only guess small portions. Angeline Boulley has created a wonderful masterpiece that I cannot wait see come to life as a Netflix original and definitely cannot wait to see what Boulley will create next!

I ugly cried my way through the ending of this book at 5:30 a.m. after reading all night, which I hope is enough of a recommendation for readers who might be lukewarm on the idea of picking it up due to its Young Adult designation. Firekeeper’s Daughter is a powerful and exceptionally well-crafted look at the life of an 18 year-old Native American woman as she confronts crime within her community. It is easily one of the best #OwnVoices novels, much less thrillers, on the market today.

Daunis Fontaine is a biracial, unenrolled member of the Ojibwe, who often finds herself struggling to fit in both in her Michigan hometown and on the nearby reservation where she regularly spends time with her Native family and friends. Her best friend Lily is similarly biracial and unenrolled, and faces many of the same barriers she does, though from slightly different angles:

QUOTE
Lily’s been my best friend since sixth grade, when she came to live with Granny June. We look like opposites, and not just because of our height difference. I am so pale, the other Nish kids called me Ghost, and I once overheard someone refer to me as “that washed-out sister of Levi’s.” When Lily lived with her Zhaaganaash dad and his wife, they kept her out of the sun so her reddish-brown skin wouldn’t get any darker. We both learned early on that there is an Acceptable Anishinaabe Skin Tone Continuum, and those who land on its outer edges have to put up with different versions of the same bullshit.
END QUOTE

Daunis has just graduated high school and decided to enroll at the local college instead of the more prestigious University of Michigan because her grandmother, or GrandMary as she’s known, has fallen ill. Daunis’ mother is doing her best to care for GrandMary but, after the recent death of Daunis’ Uncle Dave, is strung more tightly than ever. Deciding to stay in order to help her family seems like a natural choice, plus Daunis genuinely enjoys being an active part of her local community.

When her half-brother Levi asks her to help show around the newest member of his hockey team, the good-looking Jamie Johnson, Daunis is friendly but determined to keep Jamie at arm’s length. Jamie has a long-distance girlfriend, and the last thing Daunis wants is to put him in the position her own dad was in with her and Levi’s moms. But when a drug-related shooting occurs at a party they’re both attending, Daunis finds herself getting much closer to Jamie than anticipated.

As if that weren’t complicated enough, Daunis’ role in the shooting leads to her being recruited to work undercover for the FBI in order to find out who’s making and distributing the drug that’s claimed the lives of far too many of the people she knows. Daunis has a lot of conflicting thoughts on this, not only because of the way federal law enforcement has consistently failed Native people through the centuries, but also because of the way the team handling her is approaching the case:

QUOTE
“I know what you’re here to do. But these are good people. Mrs. Edwards started a donation program at my grandmother’s boutique so girls who can’t afford a dress for Shagala or prom can get one. During the last huge snowstorm, tribal police organized teams of snowmobilers to check on every Elder and deliver meals. When the ferry gets iced in, the Tribe offers rooms at the hotel for Sugar Island residents who are trapped on the mainland. I don’t like the way you come into town, turn on a light, and expect to see cockroaches scurrying everywhere.”

It gnaws at me, the way they want bad stuff without knowing the good stuff too.

“It’s like...you haven’t earned our stories,” I say. [...] If the community were an ill or injured person, the FBI would cut out the infection or reset the bones. Amputate if necessary. Problem solved.

I’m the only person looking at the whole person, not just the wound.
END QUOTE

Daunis’ decision to uplift her community by, and sometimes in spite of, working with the FBI becomes sorely tested as she digs deeper into the case. Finding out the truth will put her heart in jeopardy and her body in peril, but the alternatives would mean even worse, not only for herself, but for her beloved home and peoples.

Angeline Boulley has written a heartbreaking, exquisitely paced page-turner of a mystery novel that genuinely surprised me with many of its clever plot twists. Her observations and insights on Ojibwe culture and rituals are fascinating on their own, but coupled with a crime thriller narrative make for utterly compulsive reading. Perhaps most importantly, she shines a necessary light on many of the issues facing Native Americans today -- as with David Heska Wanbli Weiden’s terrific <a href=”https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-winter-counts-david-heska-wanbli-weiden/”>Winter Counts</a>, released last year, the depiction of how our country consistently fails this continent’s first inhabitants is both infuriating and deeply depressing. Books like Firekeeper’s Daughter are so important in amplifying the voices of the marginalized, in hopes of creating a better, more just tomorrow. Smart, searing and singular, this novel deserves to be considered an American classic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the digital ARC of this book.

Wow! Where to start with Firekeeper's Daughter? I loved this book. This page-turner kept me going with secrets, mysteries, and fast-paced action while incorporating Indigneous language, culture and traditions. It is everything you want in an Own Voices novel.

When Daunis Fontaine witnesses unspeakable violence that hits close to home, she is called to get to the bottom of what is happening. While struggling with her own identity and the tragedies of her past, she must work to uncover the identity of a person who is tearing her Native community apart. What do you do when the pain of your past threatens your future? What do you do when those you love betray you?

This YA novel will pull you in like a hug, then stab you in the back, only to revive you and claim you as one of its own.

This book may be the most important one that I’ve read in a long time. It’s a tough read and deals with triggering topics but it’s worth the emotional investment.

'Firekeeper’s Daughter' asks, how do you seek rightful justice after the world takes all that you love away from you?

Daunis Fontaine lives her life balancing two worlds: her life with her white mother where she has a hefty trust fund and her life where she carries on her strong family traditions as an Ojibwe woman. Being the product of a huge scandal between her mother and father, Daunis has spent her entire life feeling as though she doesn’t belong anywhere.

This book begins like any other YA and readers can expect a nicely paced backstory of Daunis. My favorite part was reading about life on the Ojibwe reservation. Daunis carries the love of her family close to her heart and continuing the Ojibwe traditions means a lot to her. Through her character, I can tell how much care Angeline Boulley poured into this story.

Just as I felt like I finally knew this intelligent and brave girl, the plot took a turn.

Daunis finds herself in the middle of a huge police investigation after witnessing a murder. Her grief makes her decide to work with the undercover officers and everything becomes more complicated. She quickly realizes not everyone is who they seem to be and she can’t trust anyone. There are painful secrets inside both of her worlds.

I went into this book knowing very little of what this story was actually about and I’m glad that I did. Personally, I would suggest others do the same. There are heavy topics discussed, though, and a few of the big trigger warnings are murder, drugs, violence, sexual assault and grief.

For a debut novel, I think Angeline Boulley did an outstanding job. Outside of the love she put into Daunis and her Ojibwe traditions, she brought light to topics that need to be discussed more. Her writing is beautiful and there were several times I cried while reading. 'Firekeeper’s Daughter' is gut-wrenching, but in a good way.

The most intriguing aspect of this story is the characters. I know I’ve only mentioned Daunis in this review, but that’s because there are secrets these characters hold that make it hard to properly introduce them. There are characters who are good but have dark secrets. Some are evil but there’s an understandable reason behind their actions. The bottom line is that no one in this story is completely good or evil, including Daunis. This made the story much more interesting to read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was shocking and heartfelt. The story kept me on the edge of my seat and it had one of the best endings. I highly recommend all readers to check out Angeline Boulley’s debut. These characters will teach you a few things about yourself and how you handle the painful moments in your life. 'Firekeeper’s Daughter' will release on March 16th so make sure to pick up a copy!

NetGalley ARC | A fast-paced and beautiful novel across generations with powerful Native representation, I appreciated learning more about the issues that affect Native communities. I also gained more knowledge about the Ojibwe community, culture, heritage, and traditions.

You can find the complete review on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/march-2021-book-releases/

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book wrecked me. Daunis Fontaine is an 18 year old woman who was born from a scandal. Being biracial she never felt like she completely belonged in both her white family or her Ojibwe family. Although she sometimes feels out of place, she still treasures and yearns to learn from both sides of her family. In the first part of the book author Angeline Boulley does a phenomenal job educating the reader about the traditions, language, and daily life of the Ojibwe people in Michigan. Prior to reading this book I had almost no knowledge about the Ojibwe people and I am ashamed to admit that I did not know that there reservations in Michigan. So I really appreciated all the detail the author put in for readers, after finishing the book it made me want to learn more about the Anishinaabe people. What wrecked me about this book was the relationships and Daunis's journey from child to woman. She had to overcome so much during the course of the novel; betrayal, deception, and tragedy; and yet she still was able to rise above it all and come out stronger on the other side.

Firekeeper's Daughter is my first five-star read in a while. Daunis's story was enticing, captivating, and raw. The entire novel felt like a roller-coaster. I will be adding Angeline Boulley to my list of instant-buy authors because this debut was wonderfully crafted. For those who are looking to read #ownvoices novel, Firekeeper's Daughter tackles hard issues in Native American tribes around the United States, provides a strong, biracial, female perspective, and shows the strength of community coming together.

I find that there are so many elements in this novel that just ruminate really well together. Angeline's writing style is fluid, powerful and raw scenes are like a punch in the gut, learning about the Objiwe community and their rituals and legends are poetic and transcending, the youth culture is nostalgic, and also Boulley does have some comedic lines woven throughout. Reading from Daunis' perspective, in first person, really gives the reader a great sense of reaction time and it works well with Boulley's narrative style as well as the Nancy Drew-esque nature of the story. Reading about the Anishinaabe tribe was such an eye-opening experience and I am so glad that we have a novel like this to learn about it. All the characters had such heart and grit and emotion, it was a pleasure to learn about the Elders and community members that Daunis interacts with throughout the duration of her story.

Firekeeper's Daughter is a powerful, multilayered story about acceptance in one's community and acceptance of one's self, the relationships between the female characters and the women supporting women and survivors, and the disparagement, violence and racism that lingers in Native American communities. This novel is a work of art that tackles a multitude of rough topics that need to be told and demands to be read.