First of all, this cover. Wow! So stunning. It visually pulls you into this story with this gorgeous and complex illustrated cover.

It so important to tell and share more stories by Indigenous and Native American Peoples, and this book is going to be a powerful addition. As this is only a sneak peek, I can't review the full book. But if this excerpt is anything to go by, this story is going to be impactful. I can't wait to read more about Daunis' journey, and look forward to reading the full book. What a fantastic start!

If this is the sample - the whole story is going to blow your mind away. What a great story. I am so happy to see more and more stories featuring native individuals as the main characters.

This sample is largely the exposition. In this sample we learn about Daunis, the main character, through her background of being half white half native - but not a registered member of the tribe. This decision by her mothers family has large impacts in her life. Hockey is a big deal.. her brother is on the Hockey team and she meets the new hockey player, Jaime. Jaime is also half native and half white - they bond over this fact they have in common as it is a unique perspective to have in their lives. In this exposition we get to see Daunis’ and Jaime’s friendship begin to flourish.

Then it all ends with a BANG.

This review is for an excerpt that truly sets the tone for what is to follow. Daunis in many ways straddles two worlds as her father was a part of the Indigenous people and her mother a white woman descended from French settlers. This story is a revelation as well as a criminal suspense one with deaths, drug use and prejudice. Daunis is at a crossroads in many ways as her uncle recently died, her maternal grandmother has had a stroke and she decides not to go away to university but to stay another year at home. Set against a background of hockey players seeking a better life Daunis stands out as a strong young woman who only wishes to be accepted but sometimes what you wish for can bring terrible consequences. I highly recommend this book and will certainly read more from this author.
This voluntary take is of an excerpt I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I genuinely thought this was a fantasy but apparently not, which is ok. I am glad this excerpt let me know that. But I enjoyed what I read. I loved getting a view into the world of the Ojibwe People and into the experiences of Native American Peoples. Boulley's voice is very important and she brings to life something that is missing from YA Lit. The writing and characterization was also well done.

I have been looking to read more books featuring the voices of Indigenous women. I feel the stories of these women are often overlooked and it is important that we tell these stories, share our experiences. What I read was only a sneak peek, but oh did it leave me wanting more. Daunis felt like a real girl, you feel her insecurities and her ambitions, she comes alive in her words. You feel the strength of her and the Ojibwe women who came before her, you feel their resilience. I want to continue, to see how this story unfolds, I want to know how this young woman will learn and grow. Overall an excellent start to a wonderful debut!