Perry had planned to spend the summer fishing, but her Auntie Daunis strong-arms her into joining an internship program. Working at the tribal museum is a total drag, until she learns that a local university is hoarding Anishinaabe artifacts and the literal bones of her ancestors. Coupled with the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women, it is too much to bear. She and her fellow misfit interns are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to bring their people home. Perry is a fiery protagonist kept grounded by her strong sense of community and cultural tradition. Boulley’s sophomore novel is a little less traumatic but just as intense.

I especially enjoy reading when I can learn from a book. In this one I enjoyed learning more about indigenous culture and traditions. It was entertaining and I highly recommend.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved Angeline Boulley's debut, Firekeeper's Daughter which was easily a five star read, but honestly I love this one even more. Warrior Girl Unearthed has just as much intrigue and is a master class in story tension, but it's also just so beautiful. I liked Perry immediately, her brutal honesty, her need to learn boundaries, and her childish exuberance. She's a completely believable sixteen year old. Sometimes thinking as an adult, sometimes a child, and often led by impulses that are noble but her stubbornness and impatience get in the way of clear thinking. She grows in this book in a realistic way, by making mistakes and reflecting on them. Luckily, she has a supportive family and community and shame is not a part of her upbringing. There's a light romance arc in the book that is really sweet too.

There are two main plot lines that include a mystery -- one is about MMIWG2S, missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and 2spirits. The other is about returning the bones of ancestors and handmade objects home and out of museums, universities, and private collections. We learn about the laws and see book quotes taken from a list that Perry is reading for her internship with the tribal museum. However, this story is so rich and complex, so intriguing that you never feel like you're just learning a lot of history. I.e. it is never boring. Boulley has a gift for balancing many characters in a story line with just the right amount of description and character traits to keep the readers from getting confused. I mean, they're all intriguing characters too.

Strong family connections, a found family relationship with misfit friends, finding meaningful work, developing identity separate from a twin, and contributing to community in a meaningful way are all explored in this beautiful story. I hope to see this one as a streaming series in time as well as Firekeeper's Daughter.

Angeline Boulley is a master of the written word. I didn't think anything could compare to Firekeeper's Daughter, but this books is right up there with it on quality. I was entranced by the characters again and the storyline was stunning. I couldn't put it down. I will definitely be recommending this book to others.

This. book was extremely well-written. There were some plot gaps for me, but it worked as a sequel or as a stand alone book. The culture of the book was strong, and I appreciated the character development.

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley is an amazing book. Lush world building and amazing writing, what an excellent story.

I didn't enjoy this as much as AB's debut, but there's still a lot to like about this!

It's very clear that AB cares deeply about her people and culture. You can feel it on every page as you learn about the Ojibwe, their tribe, and their ancestors. What is important to them feels important to the reader because of the passion in the writing. I also really enjoyed learning more about the NAGPRA through both the story and the little real life excerpts sprinkled throughout the book.

But the reason I didn't enjoy this as much as ‘Firekeeper's Daughter’ is because of how juvenile the story feels in comparison. ‘Firekeeper's Daughter’ was honest, raw, and didn't shy away from difficult topics. And while this explores heavy themes as well, it's lacking the maturity I'm used to when it comes to AB's characters and dialogue.

But overall, this is a very timely novel about honouring native ancestral rights and ensuring sacred items are returned to where they belong.

3.5 stars

Perry Firekeeper-Birch has always felt comfortable in her identity. She knows she is the more laidback twin, and probably the best fisher on Sugar Island. Now, she's ready for her Summer of Slack. However, after a fender bender takes her jeep out of commission, she now has to work to pay back her Auntie Daunis for the repairs.

So, she's interning at the museum for the summer. That's where she meets Team Misfit Toys, the other outcasts of the intern program. With them, maybe the summer won't be so bad after all. However, when Perry goes to a meeting and learns about "Warrior Girl," an ancestor whose bones are stored in the museum archive, she becomes determined to return her to her tribe.

Thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for an advaced copy of Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley to review! Of course, Firekeeper's Daughter was such a success last year, I was curious to see Boulley's follow up. This is a companion novel of sorts, though I think you can read it without reading Firekeeper's Daughter. You'll just miss some background information from the first book.

First of all, this book is packed full of information about Native American artifacts being in museums, the laws behind them, etc. There's a lot of interesting stuff there, and a lot of it I didn't know. However, I do think it makes the plot drag a bit, and I'm not sure how much it will attract teens overall to this story. Though if slow burn mysteries are your thing, this might just hit the spot.

I found myself not as drawn into this story as I was for Firekeeper's Daughter, and part of me wonders if that's because I listened to that one instead. But I wasn't invested in the characters or in the story. The story didn't seem to flow as well, and it felt like overall, the book was slightly too long.

However, I'm loving that more Native authors are getting published and that these kinds of stories exist in the world. Especially when they show a perspective that not a lot of people know about. Always appreciate learning new things when I read, honestly!

Overall, I'm not sure this will get the hype that Firekeeper's Daughter did, but still a good sophomore novel either way.

Another brilliant outing from the author of Firekeeper's Daughter! Loved Perry and her heist team of misfits...didn't want it to end!

I could not contain my excitement about getting to go back to Sugar Island.

Perry and Pauline are the twin nieces of Daunis, the main character in The Firekeepers Daughter. Pauline is the “smart one” so that must make Perry something else, right? The girls work in an internship for the tribe in various locations. Perry discovers that their ancestors are being sold for profit instead of being returned to the tribe to be buried according to their customs. I absolutely love how Boulley took the time to explain the laws regarding Indigenous artifacts and their being returned to the ancestors. I don’t want to say too much to give away spoilers. If you liked Boulleys debut novel, you will not be disappointed in other Warrior Girl Unearthed.

Boulley is truly a gifted storyteller. I love that we got another glimpse into the everyday life of the Ojibwe on Sugar Island.

Thank you SO much to McMillan and NetGalley for the ARC. I have been more excited about getting a chance to read this than any other novel that is being released their year.

A true page turner. I loved Fire Keeper's Daughter but it was more of a slow burn for me. Warrior Girl Unearthed captivated me from the very beginning. The characters. The story. Every part.

"Warrior Girl" is the shining star in this year's crop of YA Fiction. Stunning and impactful are the first words that come to mind. This story will stay with me and remind me that we can all do better. This is the primer on Native American history that should be taught to everyone. The story and characters take you on a memorable trip through the unthinkable history of the treatment of Native Americans and how the Repatriation Act sought to right so many wrongs. Great respect to Angeline Boulley for tackling this subject and bringing it to life through her richly developed characters.

Vividly written and set in the real world "Warrior Girl" will make a brilliant movie adaptation. Can't wait to see it!

I want to start this out by saying if Angeline Boulley writes it, I will read it! She has an amazing way of writing keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat action that also centers Ojibwe culture, history, and community.

Taking place about 10 years after Firekeeper’s Daughter, this story focuses on Daunis’s younger cousins and the ins and outs of reclamation. As with Firekeeper’s Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed interweaves a thrilling story and nuanced characters with Anishinaabe language, customs, and the many loopholes that people use to take advantage of federal laws pertaining to Tribal land, bodies, and artifacts.

I love when novels give me a starting place to research and learn more about the world we live in, and the book does an amazing job of highlighting important issues like MMIWG2S (missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit individuals) and various museums and colleges dragging their feet to comply with NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act).

As of the writing of this review, I could see this book being my favorite 2023 release.

** Note: While this book can be read as a standalone, I do recommend reading Firekeeper’s Daughter first if you plan to read both, since there are events in that book that are referenced in this one.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan for this advanced readers copy!

I loved The Firekeeper's Daughter and couldn't wait to get my hands on this new one. The first half was a bit slow and exposition heavy, but when it kicked into gear I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I was happy to be back in the world of the Fire Keeper's Daughter. This book did not disappoint. It was exciting and had me on the edge of my seat. I felt like I was right there with Perry and her friends. The characters were well developed. The plot was exciting and twisty-turny. It was very interesting to learn about the reclamation laws/acts. I love learning about the Native American history, culture, and traditions. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to purchase it for our students.

This book is powerful and beautiful. Read it. Share it. Read it again. Boulley has written something I feel I've never read before. History and present and characters and culture and tradition and fight and righting wrongs. I love each of these characters. Please have a next book with another character's story. I was brought to happy tears by the beauty of Perry and her story. It was an honor to read and experience.

It's so dang good, to no one's surprise. Angeline Boulley has a knack for creating slow burn mysteries full of culture and intrigue. I really enjoyed the focus on reclaiming artifacts and how museums abuse laws for their benefit. Perry is a non-typical protagonist - she's blunt and often apathetic. But throughout the book, you get to watch her find her passion. Not only is someone taking girls, there's also a heist to be planned, and justice to be exacted - sounds pretty dang good, right?? I also quite enjoyed how it was a bit of a spinoff of The Firekeeper's Daughter, just with a few cameos from Daunis. While not for the faint of heart, it's an excellent novel that will leave you thinking.

*Thank you to Henry Holt & Co and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

"#1 New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter Angeline Boulley takes us back to Sugar Island in this high-stakes thriller about the power of discovering your stolen history.

Perry Firekeeper-Birch has always known who she is - the laidback twin, the troublemaker, the best fisher on Sugar Island. Her aspirations won't ever take her far from home, and she wouldn't have it any other way. But as the rising number of missing Indigenous women starts circling closer to home, as her family becomes embroiled in a high-profile murder investigation, and as greedy grave robbers seek to profit off of what belongs to her Anishinaabe tribe, Perry begins to question everything.

In order to reclaim this inheritance for her people, Perry has no choice but to take matters into her own hands. She can only count on her friends and allies, including her overachieving twin and a charming new boy in town with unwavering morals. Old rivalries, sister secrets, and botched heists cannot - will not - stop her from uncovering the mystery before the ancestors and missing women are lost forever.

Sometimes, the truth shouldn't stay buried."

For all those like me wanting more after reading Firekeeper's Daughter!

This was an outstanding follow up from Firekeeper’s Daughter. Perry’s story and struggle to understand how she wants to be a warrior for her people is believable and inspiring. I learned how woefully ignorant I was about the repatriation of indigenous remains and objects that had been excavated and disrespected in the name of the white man’s idea of anthropology. The storyline about MMIW2S was presented in a way that I think will speak to all ages- teens and older. This book was excellent, I read it in 24 hours, I could not put it down .

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley is a portal into the lives of Native American women in twentieth century. Boulley’s previous novel, Firekeeper’s Daughter, establishes her as an award-winning author who can deftly transport her readers into a suspenseful mystery in the Ojibwe community on Sugar Island. Warrior Girl Unearthed is Boulley’s second novel. Boulley’s writing creates another heroine with Perry Firekeeper-Birch, cousin to Daunis from the previous book, who is consumed with the missing ancestors that her Anishinaabe tribe is fighting to bring home to the reservation. Perry must fight to advocate for her community, her family and herself as there are several Indigenous woman who are missing and an enemy stealing their ancestors’ remains.
Perry is a forthright and outspoken young woman who resists others telling her what to do. So when she discovers the human skeletons of her ancestors in the possession of a “collector,” Perry is outraged at the disrespectful conditions. She vows to steal them back and give them proper burial. Boulley’s haunting descriptions of the ancestors is poignant and distressing. “I stick with my original plan to reclaim only those baskets signed with Sugar Island family names I recognize. If I try to take anything else, I will not stop. I sing to those I am leaving behind. Niminjinawez. I am sorry…”. This conflict between tribes and institutions/collectors is a theme of Boulley’s novel. She eloquently gives the argument to Perry and her mission to rescue the ancestral remains in one private collection. I enjoyed Boulley’s vivid history of the Anishinaabe fight to reclaim ancestors and possessions that museums and institutions had laid claim to and refused to relinquish. “…Cooper says museums use that label, ‘culturally unidentifiable,’ as a catchall if they don’t have the resources to do a proper inventory. He says they also use it even after tribes provide evidence, because then, the museum can still hold on to the objects.” The law from the “US Department of the Interior is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)”. This law should protect the tribes in their efforts to reclaim their ancestors. Since 1990 the statute “requires institutions that receive federal funding to inventory their holdings of Indigenous human remains and burial objects to facilitate their return to the respective tribes.” The NAGPRA law Boulley references in Warrior Girl Unearthed is the crux of her argument for why indigenous remains should be returned to their tribes for proper burial. The eponymous “warrior girl” is the skeleton Perry discovers that the local college has claimed to be “culturally unidentifiable” in order to allow the college to keep the remains. Perry is incensed by this law and it stirs her emotions to act and save the ancestors in the heist that is the climax of the book. This law and the debate are imminently important to the themes Boulley wants to illustrate for the readers.
Perry is a heroine that readers can embrace for her moxie, bravery and her flaws. She shows her anxiety and fear for her people and her traditions. Perry is also determined to protect her family. When the disappearance of indigenous women hits close to home, Perry fights for her future and her family.