I was blown away by this book, particularly after her debut. I learned so much and will definitely be teaching selections of this book (if not the whole thing) in my young adult literature course.

I loved the Firekeeper's Daughter so was looking forward to this book! Unfortunately, for me it did not live up to the previous book's quality. Part of it was that the main character, Perry, was a lot less mature than Daunis (main character of the previous book) and she grated on me, however realistic she might be as a teenager. In my review of Firekeeper's Daughter I said that the book won me over because it was not a typical YA book. This book isn't exactly typical YA, with its mystery plot, but the main character was a smart ass girl who only wanted to go fishing instead of doing anything else and was forced to step up into some summer work after she crashed the new jeep her Aunt Daunis had gotten her and she needed to pay for the repairs.

Part of the book deals with the need to return remains and artifacts to Indigenous people. I agree with this entirely. The author tries to get the emotional weight of this issue across, but if I hadn't already been on board the writing in this book wouldn't have gotten me there. Somehow all of Perry's feelings on the matter didn't feel real to me, perhaps because she cared about so little else.

I almost didn't know what to say to review this book, which is almost certainly one of the best novels of 2023. Just as thrilling as Firekeeper's Daughter, it is interesting to see the themes from that novel carry through to this sequel/companion and other, new themes introduced. The narration is strong - authentic and thrilling - and always grounded in issues facing an Indigenous community.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Angeline Boulley is an amazing writer, and her sophomore novel is just as compelling as her debut. Warrior Girl Unearthed follows Perry Firekeeper Birch, who was a young child in Firekeeper’s Daughter, but is now 16 years old and trying to figure out how she can spend her summer the way she wants to, and not the way her family wants her to. After crashing her Aunt Daunis’s car, Perry becomes a summer intern where she learns about tribal remains being held by shopkeepers and the local university. Perry’s tribe want the remains to be returned, but continues to face bureaucratic challenges. So, throughout many of her assignments as an intern, Perry begins to devise a way to get the remains back.

Boulley crafts her characters with such depth and care that the reader cannot help but root for Perry and her friends. The pacing of the story will keep you on the edge of your seat as Perry discovers there may be a more sinister plot unfolding throughout the summer. Boulley addresses NAGPRA, which is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, as well as the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women which has been and is still occurring across America and Canada. NAGPRA is an important piece of legislation designed to help tribes reclaim any significant objects, funerary objects, other objects, and remains to be returned to tribes. Many items and remains have been repatriated to tribes, but there is much more work to be done to ensure that all objects, associated objects, and remains are reunited with the tribes they were taken from. This book is so powerful, and will stay with you for a long time.

Boulley’s debut novel “The Firekeeper’s Daughter” was one of my favorite books of 2021, and her second novel lives up to its predecessor. “Warrior Girl Unearthed” revisits the same community in Michigan but moves the focus to Perry Firekeeper-Birch as she learns about the abuse and theft of Native Americans’ artifacts and the struggle to get collectors and museums to return stolen tribal artifacts. Boulley creates the same strong, well-developed characters from her first novel. They are strong and opinionated but, also flawed and, a delight to read about. Also, Boulley created a mystery that, like in Firekeeper’s Daughter, turned her simple YA book into a thriller. The novel was a fun read, and I can’t wait to read Boulley's next novel.

While I didn't LOVE this story, it was an engaging story and i very much respect the need for indigenous stories in the ya market.

Angelina Boulley is a marvel—I loved this new novel from her, with the twists and high stakes, the nuanced character-building, and the deep connection to the community and setting. Another triumph!

Posted on Forever Young Adult blog:

Cover Story: Bold And Beautiful

While it doesn’t have quite the same impact as the gorgeous cover of Boulley’s first book, this is still beautiful. I love the colors and the drawing of the warrior girl.

The Deal:

(If you’re wondering where this book fits in with Firekeeper’s Daughter and if you need to remember anything from that book before diving in, let me assure you that it’s easy to pick this up as a standalone. Perry Firekeeper-Birch was only about six-years-old in Daughter, and it’s now ten years later. She is the “niece” to Daunis, our former protagonist—who is now an adult and a minor but awesome character in this novel—and while plenty of former characters pop in, their roles in Perry’s lives are fully explained without needing any prior knowledge (but, PLEASE, go read that book too).)

In the summer between Perry’s sophomore and junior year, all she has planned for herself is to relax and go fishing whenever possible. But a minor car accident means she has damage to pay off, and so now she’s stuck with her over-achieving twin sister, Pauline, working as a summer intern for the Tribal Council. Coming in late to the program means she’s been paired with the reservation’s oddball-loner museum curator, Cooper Turtle.

Perry is fully prepared to hate-work every second of these next twelve weeks. But as she learns more about the museum’s goals of reappropriating Ojibwe artifacts/remains and returning them to their native soil, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will change the way she looks at the world for the rest of her life.

BFF Charm: Yay

If I only knew Perry from the outside, we probably wouldn’t ever interact long enough for us to become friends; she’s impulsive and kind of a loner, with an obsession for fishing that I definitely do not share. But being inside her head allowed me to learn that she’s also incredibly brave and has a strong sense of justice, and she feels quite deeply. I loved watching her take an interest in more than her own little bubble and begin to really understand the weight of her people’s history.

Swoonworthy Scale: 3

Perry’s eye is caught by one of her fellow interns, and their romance is sweet, although not the main point of the novel. Boulley takes a more “realistic” approach to teen romances than many YA novels, and I appreciated that the hurdles and issues that cropped up were realistic and resolved in authentic ways.

Talky Talk: Learned

Boulley’s debut novel was a slow grower for me, but by its end I was so immersed in her characters and setting I didn’t want it to end. I was so excited to hear we had another novel coming so quickly, and she didn’t disappoint. Warrior Girl Unearthed is a bit more tightly plotted, which is a good thing, but it still gave the characters and the knowledge it was trying to impart lots of room to breathe outside of the main plot. I don’t think the pacing / style are necessarily going to appeal to everyone, but it would be a shame not to give the story a chance because the love Boulley has for the subject matter and her characters just shines through every page. And, thankfully, her writing chops are equally as wonderful!

Bonus Factor: Strong Women

I loved this about Firekeeper’s Daughter, and Boulley didn’t let me down in this book either. There are beautiful, strong, and empathetic souls littered all over this novel, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. That court scene may have brought a few tears to my eyes.

Bonus Factor: Anthropology

Kind of a bonus and anti-bonus factor, depending on the kind of anthropology we’re talking about. Cooper tasks Perry to learn about NAGPRA, a law that allows tribes to petition museums to return stolen artifacts and remains. In doing so, she also begins to understand just how shitty people and museums can be as they twist themselves into knots to avoid giving any of their collections back. If you’ve never contemplated the ethical and moral quandaries regarding museums and anthropological practices before, you certainly will now.

Bonus Factor: Teaching Through Fiction

I’m sure Boulley’s priority is to write a great and entertaining novel, but a no-less important, secondary goal is to teach her readers about indigenous culture, past and present, and the successes and issues that concern modern tribes and reservations. I know sometimes that can come off almost “preachy”, and will likely turn off some readers, but if you like learning new things about cultures you don’t know enough about, then fiction is great way to capture minds and sow the empathy that—let’s be real—should already be there but is often absent.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Kidnapping

Aside from the Tribal Council and museum plotlines, there’s also an underlying issue that has the community concerned: local indigenous women are going missing.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Misogynists

There are some wonderful depictions of gentle, loving, and admirable men in this novel. And, unfortunately, plenty of shit-birds too.

Relationship Status: Student-Teacher

We spent a short time together, Book, but you taught me so much, and did so in a way that didn’t feel like I was “learning” in that boring “classroom” sense. I admire the care you give your subject matter, and that you’ve opened my eyes to things I should have already learned. Miigwech.

"Warrior Girl Unearthed" is a riveting mystery that keeps young readers on the edge of their seats. As a middle school principal, I'm thrilled to recommend this captivating page-turner. The author seamlessly integrates the rich tapestry of indigenous culture into the story, offering a unique and enlightening experience. Strong female characters take center stage, providing empowering role models for our students. The suspenseful plot not only keeps readers guessing but also sparks an appreciation for cultural diversity.

Angeline Boulley has created another fabulous page-turner in her second book. If you’ve already read Firekeeper’s Daughter, this is an excellent follow-up set in the same community, but a few years later. It’s a companion rather than a sequel, so it can be read on its own though. I recommend reading both, because they are incredible, but this one can stand on its own.

I loved this book. Usually, I'm all about the fast pacing, but this was a slow burn. Angeline Bouley took her time to fully flesh out why Perry would become invested in something other than fishing. I especially liked towards the end when Perry talked about overhearing her teachers talking about "the smart one," that they were not talking about her, and how much that conversation impacted her life. This is a great read for teens who don't necessarily want a teen read. It's very heavy and focuses on seldom-discussed politics.

Great follow up to The Firekeeper's Daughter. You don't necessarily need to read the first to read the second, but knowing the connection is good. I appreciated learning more about NAGPRA, the federal law that allows tribes to request the return of ancestral remains and sacred items. Factual documents and information were sprinkled all throughout the text and added to the rich reading experience. This is a great mystery with great characters and a high light on the Ojibwe community.

I don't think this hit as much as Firekeeper's Daughter but WGU was still very emotional and still got me right in the heart. I love Angeline Boulley and I love the type of storyteller she is -- I already can't wait for her next works!

This companion piece to Firekeeper's Daughter follows Perry Birch-Firekeeper during her summer internship at the local museum. There she becomes involved in the campaign to have her ancestors artifacts and bones returned home. This is a fascinating and relevant look at injustice wrapped in enough romance and mystery to interest a YA audience.

This author can do no wrong.

Perry is both frustrating and so easy to root for. Some decisions she made were real questionable, but her motives were always so pure. Namely, returning her ancestors. There are so many things that I learned and want to research more (pretty much all of NAGPRA and the relationships between tribes and museums).

The mystery woven throughout the book was also so intriguing and the conclusion of each plot line was so lovely and satisfying.

I will be recommending this book to like everyone, especially those who enjoyed The Firs Keeper's Daughter!

As you know, I shared this book at NCTE and ALAN. I have also been booktalking it regularly at teacher events. The book is incredible, and I am adopting it for my class of preservice teachers.

Ok, i really WANTED to like this one, but i just didn't. The premise was good, but I was ultimately very confused by the ending. There were glimmers of hope during the story where I thought it was going to turn a corner, but ultimately the book fell flat and I wish I would have DNF'd.

While not quite as tense and propulsive as Firekeeper’s Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed gives us a canny protagonist who’s in over her head as she tries to do right by her community, without bowing to white settlers. Firekeeper’s Daughter taught me about the laws surrounding criminal offenses committed on Native land against Indigenous people, and how easily career criminals can exploit loopholes to go unpunished. Warrior Girl Unearthed similarly taught me how “collectors” (whether that is private collectors or museums or educational institutions) can hold on to artifacts and remains, once again slipping through loopholes and denying tribes their heritage, heirlooms, and ancestors.

But it also gives us the story of a girl who is frequently overlooked even as she refuses to stay silent; a girl who doesn’t want to wait amid the humiliation of white people trying to decide if her people deserve the return of stolen things; a girl who thinks the ends justify the means - until she doesn’t.

I love love love the sheer passion and love that Boulley has for her culture, it's truly infused in everything. And I thought the entire plot of reclaiming the ancestors and what rightfully belongs to the nation is so interesting, so unique, and so vitally important. My one quibble is that I don't think the actual mystery is that strong--I understand and can appreciate that a part of it is to draw attention to the plight of MMIWG2S (thank you for that analogy, I'm trying to learn!), but I think the actual contemporary story is stronger than the mystery, I felt that way about Firekeeper's Daughter too.