I loved "Firekeeper's Daughter" and was so excited to read this sequel. This is not nearly as compelling, perhaps because the suspense element took a lot to come together and the impetus of the suspense was a bit complicated. It also wasn't fully rooted in a storyline that would necessarily appeal to teens. Readers who want to continue to learn more about the Objibwe and their modern day lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan will continue to learn in this book. I learned a lot about the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) which was the main storyline of the book. The book also has a strong thread about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIA). I look forward to Boulley's next book.

When I saw Angeline Boulley had written a second novel, I jumped at the chance to read it. Warrior Girl Unearthed takes place in the same Anishinaabe community as The Firekeeper’s Daughter ten years later. It sees the return of many characters from the first book as secondary characters, but centers on Perry Firekeeper-Birch the niece of Danius from FKD. The plot kept me engaged and guessing. Boulley has a gift for writing and character development that never tips her hand. I love how she weaves in language and culture of the Anishinaabe and the natural beauty of northern Michigan.

Warrior Girl Unearthed covers important indigenous issues such as the endemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the efforts of tribes to have remains and cultural items returned using the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). We see these issues through Perry’s eyes and share her frustration and anger. It was eye opening both for me as both a non-indigenous woman and a person who professionally is engaged in library/academia/museum work.

Like, FKD, although this was a longer book, it reads very quickly. Also like FKD, although it is YA in nature, it features heavy subject matter such as murder, rape, and kidnapping. Some of WGU felt a little farther fetched in terms of character motivation. I think perhaps it tries to do too much? Overall, I liked this sophomore effort, although FKD maintains its place as my favorite.

My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Angeline Boulley writes beautiful stories! Her care for her people and traditions is felt on every page of her books. In her second book, Boulley reintroduces us to Perry Firekeeper-Birch a few years after we met her in Firekeeper's Daughter. While following Perry's story, we learn about NAGPRA, the federal law that allows tribes to request the return on ancestral remains and sacred items, and the growing numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women. Perry spends her summer working in various capacities in the tribal summer program. She learns about local universities and collectors holding on to ancestors' remains through legal loopholes and less than legal methods, and decides she's the person to bring them back home. Meanwhile, women are going missing, and no one knows how or why.

What I liked:
-Reuniting with many favorite characters from Firekeeper's Daughter!
-Learning about NAGPRA and MMIW
-Perry's character growth
-The way this community cares for their elders and ancestors

What I didn't love:
-The characters were too one-note
-The plot felt a little under developed- especially compared to the complexities in Firekeeper's Daughter
-Breaking the law multiple times without any consequences
-It was missing the lovable comic relief of the elders and sassy aunties

[⚠️: Although marketed as YA, this book hits on some heavy and mature content including rape, murder, and kidnapping.]

Firekeeper’s Daughter is one of my favorite YA books so when I heard she was writing a sequel I was beyond excited! I’ve been impatiently waiting for its release and I was so excited when I finally got the opportunity to early read it!

Boulley mentions that she wrote this book and main character Perry as an “Indigenous Lara Croft” and I was sold! It was exciting to see familiar characters from Firekeeper’s Daughter return, especially Daunis who is now a wise Auntie. Like Daunis, MC Perry is another example of a strong young role model for YA readers to look up to. She goes against the mold and has a passion for discovering her worth and righting injustices of her people. She fights throughout to honor her ancestors and recognize their sacrifices.

As a Michigander, I feel a connection and familiarity with the places that Boulley writes about. However not being Native myself, she has opened my eyes to a Michigan and its history and people that I sadly don’t know enough about. Boulley not only entertains readers with her thrilling story she also educates them and supplies so much wisdom on such important issues that are not widely known. In Warrior Girl, Boulley dives into NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and MMIW, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. This story highlights the sick and sad reality of how Native people were and still are being treated in this country and how much is owed to them and my heart ached while reading. This book leaves you with an anger and desire for more visibility and action on these tragic realities.

Like Firekeeper’s Daughter, I have no doubt this book will be a hit. Pick up this book not only for an excellent YA thriller, but to learn more about the stolen history of Native culture and its people.

I cannot begin this review without acknowledging that this book blew me away, broke my heart, and (on several occasions) had me sobbing for all of the relatives still waiting to be returned to their homelands.

Much like Firekeeper’s Daughter, this book is written for young adults, age 14-18, but appeals to a much, much wider audience. The tie-in between the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) is spot-on and so skillfully articulated for a wider audience.

I continue to be impressed by Boulley’s young, female protagonists and the families and communities that lift them up, but also the use of our Native languages, showcasing the continued life and growth of contemporary Native cultures, the rematriation not just of our relatives and their physical belongings, but of their seeds and their spirits.

I’m pre-ordering my own copy today and plan to donate this advanced copy to my own local tribal library, which (as in the story) is also housed in the same building as our tribal archive/museum and its deeply devoted staff.

I encourage people to approach this book gently. It is a gut- and heart-wrenching whirlwind that is equally beautiful and uplifting.

Enjoy this one.
tokša aké, book friends 📚☕️🪴

Wopíla tanká to Angeline Boulley for this story that grew from a single seed, to @coloredpagesblogtours and @fiercereads for the e-ARC and #partner opportunity to offer this review, and the author for this beautiful physical copy.

#IndigenousBookstagram #IndigenousBooks #WarriorGirlUnearthed #IndigenousAuthor #AngelineBoulley #IndigenousCoverArtist #MichaelaGoade #IndigenousNarrator #IsabellaStarLeBlanc #HenryHoltBooks #WarriorGirlUnearthedTour #ColoredPagesBlogTours #FierceReads #NetGalley

Another great mystery/thriller by Angeline Boulley set in northern Michigan. Perry Firekeeper-Birch is looking forward to a summer of fishing and doing what she wants when her Aunt Dounis (from the Firekeeper's Daughter, set about 10 years earlier) arranges an internship for her instead. As Perry begins learning about the overwhelming number of her ancestors and sacred objects held hostage by museums and collectors, she becomes enraged. The US laws are convoluted and frustrating and it goes against all of her impulses to patiently wait. The reader will learn a lot along with Perry, while being drawn into the story. Highly recommended for grades 8 & up.

Angelina Boulley is such a powerful voice. And Perry is possibly the most important.

How important is the past? How important is family, and the ancestors? How much would you be willing to risk? Your job? Your community? Your family? Your life?

Perry doesn't have the answers. She only knows she needs to do.

And... a heist! Didn't know I needed this!

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and I am excited to report that Angeline Boulley has written another stunner. This book has it all--mystery, adventure, heartbreak, and so much information about Indigenous life, customs, and struggles. There was a ton of background info about how the legal system continues to fail to support Indigenous communities, and about the ongoing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People movement, but it managed to avoid feeling too expository or preachy. It was extremely eye-opening (and heartbreaking) in this regard. It gets pretty dark, but the characters keep their heads up through even the most harrowing challenges. Romance was present but it was not a super time-consuming theme. It was fun to see characters from "Firekeeper's Daughter," but while it wasn't a direct sequel, I did find myself wishing that I had read it more recently so the characters were fresher in my mind. Finally, I think this will be great on audio--that is how I read Boulley's first book, and it was a great way to absorb the language.

First of all, Angeline Boulley is an incredible writer. This story is so tight -- every character is important and it all ties together beautifully at the end. I loved every single Misfit and the unique perspectives they brought to the book. I will definitely want to reread this one to see all that I missed the first time through.

My only complaint (and it's minor) is that so many questions from the first book remain. What happened with Daunis in the 10-year interval between books? I genuinely hope there will be a novella covering that time period to fill in some gaps and flesh out the backstory of her love interest. If so, I'll bump this up to five stars.

This novel’s tenacious protagonist Perry Firekeeper-Birch is fiercely protective of her friends and community, single-minded in her pursuits, and as clever as all our favorite literary women. While her community is fighting to reclaim their stolen ancestors and investigate missing indigenous women, Perry must figure out how far she is willing to go if her plans put her found family at risk.

While she may not have the book smarts her twin sister, Pauline, has, Perry Firekeeper-Birch knows the best fishing spots on Sugar Island. Perry knows people, places, and traditions that make her a strong Anishinaabe woman. She doesn’t need academic accolades to prove her worth. But when a careless moment of speeding results in her crashing the Jeep her Auntie Daunis gave her and Pauline, Perry’s idyllic summer plans fall around her like spring rain.

Instead of fishing and chilling, Perry cleans display cases in the tribal museum as an intern for the eccentric Cooper Turtle. She doesn’t expect to like her new boss nor to discover professors at Mackinac State College horde human remains from her tribe in the basement of their museum. Perry also doesn’t expect to like her fellow interns on Team Misfit Toys—especially the new boy in town, Erik Miller.

The more Perry learns about the missing ancestors and grave robbers, the more she wants to do something to bring them home for a proper burial on Sugar Island. Everyone has ignored the problem for far too long. When one of her Misfit Toys teammates goes missing, Perry knows she can no longer ignore the other problem facing her tribe—the high rate of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

As she learns more about the inner workings of tribal agencies, Perry discovers not all politicians lead to serve. Some of them give her the creeps. Life gets even more complicated when she stumbles over a dead body at a banquet, and everyone suspects Auntie Daunis.

Can Perry, the misfits, and a couple of grannies pull off a heist to return the missing ancestors to the tribe? And will they find her missing friend before it’s too late?

What I Loved About This Book

Boulley paints a vivid picture of the duality Native Americans live with—part of the United States, yet still not accepted by society at large. The author blends suspense with humor to keep a deadly serious topic from overwhelming the reader.

Readers will appreciate learning more about Native American beliefs and traditions. They’ll also identify with Perry and how a passion for justice helps her break out of the box others have placed her in.

Perry comes to understand how unscrupulous people prey on Native Americans and their sacred objects and traditions—all in the name of research, science, and history. What she sees awakens the warrior girl hidden within and makes her confront how far she would go to right a wrong.

Readers who enjoyed The Firekeeper’s Daughter, Boulley’s debut novel, will love Warrior Girl Unearthed. The mature topics and language make this book most appropriate for older teens and young adults. Teachers and librarians will want to add this important own voices novel to their collections. I can’t wait until my copies arrive next week so I can share them with my students.

Warrior Girl Unearthed is a multi-faceted powerful story about injustice and community. Boulley explores what it takes to be a warrior. All the decisions we have to make. From the very beginning, it's a story about family and community. The ones who support us, call us out, and protect us. Continuing the themes from Firekeeper's Daughter of delving into the idea of justice. Of acknowledging the ways the justice system has failed marginalized communities, created in order to perpetuate wrongs, while also figuring out how to work within the frameworks.

Content warning: murder, kidnapping, sexual assault

WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED has a different vibe and feel to it, so readers that loved FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER shouldn't expect the same type of novel again. While in the same community and with many of the same characters, this time Boulley takes the "Nancy Drew teenage sleuth" aspects and focuses more of the point behind a procedural plotline. While reading FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER first will give you context to the people, places, and plot, WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED can be read on it's own.

Readers will watch Perry push against "appropriate behavior" or those within her community who refuse to do anything but follow the rules... while also learning that those who live by "any means necessary" aren't always the good people either. Boulley encourages readers to really sit within the concept of museum pieces and who they should belong to while also acknowledging the red tape, bureaucracy, and colonizer mindset (and let's face it, fetishization) that makes it impossible for communities to be successful in having items returned to them. It's uncomfortable, but it's a necessary conversation that we as a human race really need to be having.

While I enjoyed FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER more, that's not to say that I didn't really like WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED. Perry is a great teenage protagonist. She's got a lot of feelings and emotions without the hinderance of adulthood. She's brash and has no problem with breaking rules in the name of her Anishinaabe ancestor's honor and memory. And I don't blame her. The twist of finding out one of the bad guys was really good. Team Misfit Toys was perfect and I adored the role Perry's dog plays within the entire novel.

Honestly, I hope Boulley keeps adding books to this world.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I, like so many others, was a huge fan of Angeline Boulley's debut novel, Firekeeper's Daughter, so when I saw she had a new book coming out, AND that new book was a companion novel to Firekeeper's Daughter, you can imagine how excited I was. And let me tell you, this book does not disappoint. It has just as much action, intrigue, and heart as her debut.

This is not to say, of course, that you need to read Firekeeper's Daughter in order to enjoy this book. All the characters from the previous book and their relevant backstories are explained (although some spoilers for FD are included, so beware, if you think you'll want to go back and read that one).

This book also does the important work of covering important Native issues, like the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), and the need to repatriate sacred Native items and remains, which are both real world issues that don't get enough coverage or attention.

I LOVED Firekeepers Daughter. Reviewing Warrior Girl Unearthed, it’s hard not to directly compare the two. The books feature largely the same cast of characters, set 10 years after the events of the first, and deals with a lot of similar themes. That may be the worst thing about it, because while I did genuinely like this book I didn’t think it was quite as good as Boulley’s first, and it was hard to separate the two.

Warrior Girl Unearthed was fast paced, and dealt with an interesting and incredibly relevant form of racism dealt with in todays world. Utilizing academic research and curiosity as a way to justify itemizing and dehumanizing people and cultures. This was so realistic and fascinating. Still sadly the book just didn’t grab me like Firekeeper’s Daughter did. The story just didn’t feel as gritty or intricate. Given the characters are a little younger I understand this and would still highly recommend!

Angeline Boulley’s debut novel, Firekeeper’s Daughter, was one of the best books I’ve read in recent years, so I came to read Warrior Girl Unearthed with high expectations. When the story was a little slow getting started, I thought, Ah, well. It’s common for a sophomore effort not to measure up to the breakthrough novel. But I was wrong.

Warrior Girl Unearthed, like Boulley’s debut, is at once a deep dive into Native American culture, a coming-of-age tale, and a compelling mystery. This time around, the stakes are even higher, if possible. Set in the same milieu as Firekeeper’s Daughter, this novel focuses on 16-year-old Perry Firekeeper-Birch. She was always the laid-back twin, the troublemaker, the best fisher. But a summer internship program thrusts her into the heart of the struggle for tribes to reclaim the bones and sacred objects of their ancestors from museums and private collectors who would profit from them.

While Perry struggles to find ways to reclaim these valued objects for her Anishinaabe tribe, she also finds herself circling around a growing mystery, as the number of indigenous women going missing continues to rise. Impulsive Perry takes matters into her own hands, aided by her overachieving twin, some close friends, and a charming new boy with a rigid moral code.

In this beautifully written, layered mystery, Boulley does a masterful job of providing a window into Anishinaabe culture and lifestyle, while keeping her protagonist a relatable, modern teen girl. Perry struggles with all the usual teen stuff — crushes, sibling rivalry, impulse control — while facing the larger, more serious issues confronting her people. Through it all, her Warrior Girl nature sustains her and helps her through some tough choices. Warrior Girl Unearthed is a deeply satisfying read, sure to be embraced by young (and old) readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of Warrior Girl Unearthed.

Boulley has done it again!! Warrior Girl Unearthed is a sort of sequel to Boulley’s debut novel, Firekeeper’s Daughter. The story takes place in the same universe but centers Daunis’ twin nieces, Perry and Pauline. The story is mainly Perry’s. Perry is stuck with an unwanted internship over the Summer as a punishment from her aunt Daunis for reckless behavior. But through this internship she learns about the history of missing ancestors and the laws and regulations relating to tribal repatriation. When she discovers several ancestors being hoarded and put on display by a local Zhaaganaash on Sugar Island, she has very little patience for the bureaucratic process to intervene. Perry, Pauline, and several other tribal interns plan the ultimate heist to bring their ancestors home.

This novel is a riveting YA thriller, much like Firekeeper’s Daughter yet with different themes and risks at stake. Boulley creates a novel that is as insightful and educational as it is entertaining, without it feeling forced or trite. The characters were dynamic and relatable with a clear developmental arc. I was thrilled to see Daunis and their tribal community finally get some justice for crimes committed against them, although I feel they, along with all Indigenous communities, are owed so much more.

Much like Firekeeper’s Daughter, I was moved to weeping at certain points of this book. I loved it just about as much and I’m so thrilled for it’s official release on May 2nd!! If you haven’t read any of Angeline Boulley’s books, I can’t recommend them enough!!

I loved Firekeeper's Daughter and couldn't wait for this one. I had high hopes, and they were met and exceeded!

We meet Perry and Pauline, twin nieces of Daunis for Firekeeper's Daughter. They are spending their summer off from high school doing internships for Native teenagers. Perry isn't happy about this, but has no choice. Perry ends up workin at a local museum, where she learns about tribal artifacts and how to care for them. She realizes what an uphill battle it is to bring sacred ancestor's remains back to where they belong. She decides it will be her goal to right the wrong, and she's not above crossing a line to do it.

At the same time, Daunis is involved in a murder mystery where native girls are missing, and soon Perry is also involved.

I love the way Boulley weaves an enthralling story, and at the same time educates her readers on Native culture and current issues they face today.

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan's Children's Publishing/Henry Holt and MacMillan Audio for both an ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Warrior Girl Unearthed is the companion sequel to Firekeeper's Daughter, one of my all-time favorite books. This sequel delivered on all my expectations and sent me through the emotional roller coaster I was anticipating. We follow Perry (who is the cousin of Daunis from Firekeeper's Daughter), a teen struggling between morality and justice. As a Native American-African American teen, Perry grows up seeing all the ways in which her ancestors have been and continue to be wronged. After learning more about NAGPRA and discovering museums and universities are holding ancestral remains and sacred items through loopholes in the law, Perry gathers a group to conduct a heist to retrieve all that she can.
I want to start by saying miigwech to Angeline Boulley for creating yet another fictional world where I can sob my heart out and also learn more about the important things. Without these two novels, I probably would have never gained some of this knowledge.
If you've read Firekeeper's Daughter, I think you will definitely love this one as well. I think FIrekeeper's Daughter is the better of the two, but that doesn't take away from what this book has to offer. Once again, Boulley doesn't hold back with brutal honesty, trauma, character growth, and impactful messages. I loved the little easter eggs to her first novel, even though the moments with Daunis literally had me shaking/sobbing a couple of times (that courtroom scene still makes me cry when I think about it in detail).
At the start of the novel, I didn't think I was going to be all in on enjoying it because Perry starts out as not being too likable. She's immature and wants to spend her summer being lazy. But seeing Perry's passion for her culture and seeking justice for her ancestors felt realistic, and it made sense for her character in the end. I absolutely loved her growth.
Just like her first novel, Boulley mixes the information into the storyline so it doesn't feel like you're being taught in a classroom. It feels so immersive, and the information we're given made me feel more passionately alongside the character. I knew going into these books that this country's history is one where white people were not at all kind to Native Americans, but I had no clue how far the specifics went, especially to this day. It's outraging and heartbreaking, and learning more and more how awful it truly has been (and still is) makes the story that much more impactful.
I cannot wait to see what other worlds Angeline Boulley creates.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 5/5 stars.

Boulley does it again. While this didn't make me sob like Firekeeper's Daughter did, it still packed a punch. I wish I had reread FD since Daunis is a side character in this, but it didn't deter from the story besides trying to remember who was who in some cases.

Anyways, most of this novel focuses on repatriation and the (should be illegal) trade of native/indigenous artifacts. It also discusses collections and how many collections find loopholes to refuse returning artifacts -- AND remains -- to tribes. Perry, while in the midst of a difficult summer, finds herself planning a heist to steal bodies of her ancestors off of someone's property. This happens after she learns more about repatriation and how so much is taken from her people. The twist at the end had me gasping and I didn't expect how the heist ended up.

It's also pretty heart wrenching with the underlying topic of MMIW and the trauma and disparities in native communities. I love Boulley's work though in representing Ojibwe culture and how she writes it so beautifully.