Member Reviews
Angeline Boulley can do no wrong in my opinion! The way she weaves together mystery and heartfelt prose is truly incredible. I highly recommend her books.
AB’s deep commitment to her people and culture shines through in every page, immersing the reader in the rich history of the Ojibwe tribe and their ancestors. The significance of their traditions is conveyed with such passion that it resonates strongly. I also enjoyed the exploration of NAGPRA, complemented by real-life excerpts that were thoughtfully integrated into the narrative.
First off to the author @angelineboulley
Migwétch. As someone who is Black Indigenous I appreciate that the main character, Perry is like me. Growing up I often felt invisible and to finally get a character like me I cried a bit.
Warrior Girl Unearthed is more than just a story, it is the life of many Indigenous Peoples. There is no getting over seeing our ancestors and their belongings in a museum or on display like a Circus Oddity. This book hit very close to home on almost every event that happened to Perry.
I found the book enlightening about how Indigenous remains are returned and/or held hostage under the guise of the law. The amount of twists and the final reveal at the end was shocking. I guessed wrong on several accounts, but guessed right in others. I can't wait for more books by the author.
If you like Thrillers, Mystery, and Horror then you will definitely enjoy Warrior Girl Unearthed. If you are Indigenous, be warned that it can be triggering. If you are someone who wants a book out of their comfort zone, please read.
Angeline Boulley has knocked it out of the park again with the follow up to her amazing novel Firekeeper’s Daughter. While this can be a standalone novel and is not a sequel per se it does take place in the same Michigan town and features many characters we got to know in Daughter.
Warrior Girl explores the very real mistreatment and misuse of Anishinaabe ancestral remains. While this is a fictionalized story it included so many important historical details. This author pours her heart and soul into her writing and you can tell she is passionate about the difficult subject matter.
This story of murder, mystery, and betrayal is one that I had trouble putting down; it is a page turner where every second you are learning new things that make you want to continue to find all of the puzzle pieces. In addition to Perry’s story, Boulley addresses the very real issues of missing indigenous women and stolen ancestral remains and artifacts and teaches the reader about these tragedies that need to not be ignored.
WOW! Another incredible book from Angeline Boulley! Second novels can be tough - especially when the first is such a stunning success - but Boulley totally knocked it out of the park with this one!
I absolutely loved this book and was so happy to be back on Sugar Island again! The story takes place about 10 years after Firekeeper's Daughter leaves off, and I loved the role that Daunis played in this story as a supporting character. The character development was excellent, and I loved learning more about the Anishinaabe people, and specifically the Ojibwe nation. Perry is such a strong character and someone who was easy to admire and root for every step of the way.
As the author's note at the end states, "Ultimately Warrior Girl Unearthed is about the need to control indigenous bodies - both in the past and today." I loved that this story brought serious issues to the forefront and gave the opportunity to learn more about the repatriation process and its importance.
Angeline Boulley came through with this second novel, just as thrilling and heart-pounding as FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER. Perry is a brilliant main character to follow, and her quest to right the wrongs done to her people was righteous and heartbreaking to follow. This book, y'all. It was really, really good, and I highly recommend it!
I had mixed feelings about Fire Keeper's Daughter, but I reread portions of it recently and enjoyed it more than the first time, which led me to finally take Warrior Girl Unearthed off my shelf. I was immediately captivated by this story and found Perry to be a quirky, likeable, and realistic narrator. Unlike Fire Keeper's Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed throws the reader right into the action, with Perry's accident and the ramifications quickly occurring in Chapter 1. Like Fire Keeper's Daughter, Warrior Girl also has a large cast of characters and I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of who's who. Still, the pacing on this story was much more even and though the ending was a little unbelievable, it had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the integration of indigenous cultural practices and the clear social justice concerns that were addressed through the topic of repatriation of indigenous artifacts and remains.
The story hooked me from the start. I learned a lot as I was reading this engaging page turner. Highly recommend.
This is very different than Firekeeper’s Daughter. No one can accuse Angeline Boulley of copying the same formula she used In Firekeeper’s Daughter. Perry also seems more like a teenager than Daunis did. In general, the characterization is even better in this one. This one felt a lot more relevant. The dual discussion of missing and murderer indigenous women and return ancestors to their indigenous land is one that is not often discussed and should be asked about more. I think you could read this even if you haven’t read Firekeeper’s Daughter because there’s not a whole lot from the first one in this.
Great follow-up to FireKeeper's Daughter, it will appeal even more to the teen audience. This novel reads fast and informs the reader in a way that is not heavy-handed but interesting.
Amazing, of course. I love the way she brought the current MMIW2SP issues together with the museum/archeology issue. This will be a great addition to my curriculum, especially because Perry is an Alternative school kid for whom the regular school system just didn't fit. I also appreciated how it was really Perry's story, not Daunis's sequel.
3.5, rounded up. I love that this story was steeped in modern Native American culture. When the focus of the story was revealed, I was invested…but for most high school readers, it took WAY too long to get there. Her debut gripped readers right away, and this story took too long to build. I also found the mystery aspects to again be chaotic and messy, which was my knock on her debut. I used to be annoyed when “the plan” in a mystery was glossed over…until “the plan” was a step by step numbered list in this book. Doesn’t make for interesting writing. I did enjoy the character development & cultural aspects.
This is another great book by this author. I learned a lot about repatriation of Native American artifacts and how important it is that these artifacts need to returned to the rightful tribes. This is such an important book to have in school libraries.
Thank you Henry Holt and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
I read the first one as a book club book for we book and we brunch also known as book brunch repeat and they recently read this book as a book club book as well. It's been awhile since I've read this book but I know I really enjoyed it. I hope to be better about reading books when they are published and making sure to review them on netgalley when I finish them. Thank you for understanding.
Obsessed with this author. Her stories are filled with characters that come alive off the page and I love how she is bringing light to contemporary indigenous Americans culture and life on reservations. Some of the best YA writing I have read in a really long time.
This was an excellent follow up to Boulley's outstanding debut. It felt raw and would resonate with a lot of people. I had one patron tell me that this people helped her open up to her daughter about her own sexual assault and made her realize that maybe it more women opened up about their experiences and trauma we might be able to warn more women or the signs to look out for. Absolutely fantastic and I can't get enough of this author's work.
Again, I requested a book which was the sequel and I haven’t read the first book. So of course I had a really first and then I had to read the second book. And all I have to say I expected more. Something was missing. I don’t know what, but something was missing. And that’s all I’m gonna say.
*With news of The American Museum of Natural History (amongst others) closing Native American exhibits in response to new policies regarding Indigenous artifacts and remains, I find myself thinking of the warriors, like Perry, who never gave up on bringing their ancestors home. (January 2024)
Many thanks to my friends at @macmillanusa @mackidsbooks and @macmillan.audio
Riveting. Powerful. Important.
“Everything is connected. The past. The future. The beginning and ending.”
There’s a deep respect and abiding love found in the way Anishinaabe author, Boulley, writes about her culture. There’s an equally powerful passion found in the way she amplifies the horrifying issues that continue to plague the Indigenous nations.
As 16-year-old Perry relentlessly fights to bring home Warrior Girl and other Anishinaabe ancestors, Boulley constructs a riveting narrative focused on stolen Indigenous artifacts and remains. But when Perry’s friend goes missing, it becomes apparent that the fight for repatriation isn’t just one for ancestors, highlighting the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
This book was an immersion into the beauty of Ojibwe beliefs and the honor they bestow upon ancestors. It was also a riveting examination on the effects of colonialism and the ongoing injustices Native Americans face.
The storytelling is poignant and powerful, and the writing is poetic and vivid. Boulley skillfully weaves this gripping tale together with a strong voice, crafting an unforgettable read that I could not put down.
This is my favorite kind of read: one that challenges as well as it entertains. A true must read.
🎧 Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota narrator, Isabella Star LeBlanc took on this role for a very personal reason. “I want my Ojibwe relatives to hear themselves in this.” (Bookpage). And that is apparent all the way through her narration. LeBlanc brings authenticity and passion to this performance. There’s a lyrical rhythm to the way she incorporates Oijbwemowin and English. Her performance effortlessly breathes life into this story.
This was a really excellent book. I enjoyed Firekeeper's Daughter, so I was really excited for this one. It did not disappoint! Boulley finds a really nice balance between a compelling story and an informative one. I learned a lot about NAGPRA and I definitely plan to continue learning more. I hope to see more great things from the author!