Another thrilling mystery from Angeline Boulley!

I loved being able to revisit the setting we got in Firekeeper’s Daughter. And I loved that our main character was a little messy and bold and had such a big heart for her people and their sacred items and remains.

Can’t wait for the next book from Angeline Boulley!

Angeline Boulley did it again! This was an excellent story with great characters and an interesting plot.

Beautiful story that teaches such an important lesson about NAGPRA and the ways that white institutions try to circumvent those guidelines. The author perfectly weaves in a very different storylines while creating a very lovable, authentic protagonist. Angeline Boulley is an "always purchase" for me and my classroom.

You can tell how much Angeline cares so much about her community and sharing stories from the way she writes about them. It's very easy to fall in love with the characters and you'll want to learn more about their culture. This is the first book that I've read by her and I can't wait to read what else she writes.

A stunning follow up (both in terms of publishing order and a literal follow-up within the Boulley's fictional world) to Firekeeper's Daughter. While this work deals with similar heavy themes, it feels less raw and harsh that its predecessor. The baddie reveal is really pushes the limits of credulity, but the characters are so great you as the reader don't really care. We'll be buying this for our library immediately.

We are back in Sugar Island with Perry, niece of Auntie Donnis. I’m this book, Perry stumbles upon Indigenous objects that were stolen and she hatches a plan to get them back. Readers learn how they might feel like to have your culture disrespected by people who claim to cherish history and culture.

I absolutely LOVED Boulley's first book, _Firekeeper's Daughter_, and was very excited when I heard she had a second book coming out. I didn't know that Daunis, the MC from the first novel, was a character in this one as well! In fact, she's the MC's aunt, and the events of this book are set about a decade after the first, so we see Daunis as an adult. While we know that Daunis did in fact go to Hawaii for school, and we know she has a young son, we don't get many details about either of those life-changing events here. But then, Daunis is just a side character here. Still, I hope Boulley will eventually fill in the blanks of her story someday!

I enjoyed reading this novel, though not as much as the first one. I found the MC, Perry, hard to like, She's impulsive to the point of being reckless, and while that's part of the trajectory of her character--she eventually learns how damaging her impulsive acts can. be--it takes a long time for her to get there, and I'm not sure I believe it when she does.

I will say I learned a LOT about NAGPRA by reading this novel, and I love the way Boulley begins each chapter with a quote from old or new scholarship about the ethics of museums holding on to Native American objects and remains. The information about NAGPRA and the many loopholes that make it difficult if not impossible to enforce seems a little "info-droppy" at times...it's not incorporated smoothly into the narrative in the same way Boulley wove details about the dangerous conflicts between tribal law and state/federal law into FKD.

Nevertheless, the novel does show the reader how wanton and horrifying the trade in Native American artifacts is, and by the end, we understand why Perry feels like the ends justify the means employed to repatriate artifacts to their rightful place. We also understand why her mentor at the tribal museum, Cooper, is also right to follow the more straight and narrow path to achieve the same goal.

It's a good novel, but I think if I have to choose one of the two to read in my young adult literature class, or to recommend to young readers, it'll be FKD.

I read Warrior Girl Unearthed last month and was wowed by @angelineboulley ‘s sophomore novel. Staying within the same family, tribe and YA genre, this book tackles yet more struggles Native American tribes face.

This story starts off with a bang. Literally. Teenager Perry Firekeeper’s-Birch is ready to have a carefree summer fishing and not doing much else. Unfortunately, she has a small car accident in the opening pages and must now work to pay her aunt back for damages. She works at the same location as her twin sister participating in an internship summer program for local tribe members.

Perry quickly learns about a “warrior girl” whose remains and knife are stored at the local university rather than within the tribe itself. She quickly learns of the ways tribal remains and other artifacts are treated outside of tribal communities. What she (and you as the reader) learns is appalling. Being the headstrong teenager she is, Perry sets to make things right regardless of whatever nefarious means it might be.

This book is written beautifully though I will say that I did enjoy Firekeeper’s Daughter more. This one still gets a ringing endorsement from me and I can’t wait to read whatever Boulley writes next.

I really liked Boulley's second book. It had everything I loved about the first one: an incredible story with a focus on the culture and history of Ojibwe, so much knowledge about lots of different topics (repatriation, NAGRA, MMIWG2S, etc.), and strong women. I didn't love this one as much as the first one and it felt a little scattered but I will still read anything she writes!

I'd definitely recommend this book to my students. I love how the author weaves in teachable moments without being so in your face. Definitely a lot of information which can lead to great discussions

I wasn't sure how Boulley was going to follow up her debut- "Firekeeper's Daughter" is one of my favorite books of all time. but this book does an excellent job of doing so- Boulley packs the same punch in this book.

A powerful and interesting young adult mystery abou the importance of family and reclaiming your history. Ten years after the events of Fireeeper’s Daughter, Perry Firekeeper-Birch was ready for summer of fishing, but after a fender bender she is stuck working to pay back her Auntie Daunis (yes the same Daunis from Firekeeper’s Daughter). She works as an intern and becomes involved in an investigation to find Indigenous women who have gone missing while also trying to reclaim her ancestors’ remains which have been taken.

Much like Firekeeper’s daughter I could not put it down. I was engaged in the story the entire time. Perry was a likable but flawed character. She felt strongly, was caring, compassionate, and loyal but she acted based on her emotions and didn’t always stop to think about the consequences of her actions. Her impulsivity caused many issues.

I loved the way that Angeline Boulley works so much information about the Objiwe tribe, their customs and the importance of honoring their ancestors. It is so good to read storys about people who have marginalized in our society for so long. Everyone’s story should be told! I learned so much about the injustice that Indigenous people face. Especially indigenous women, although this was covered a lot in Firekeeper’s daughter. This book delved deeper into the world NAGPRA, or the repatriation of native items and remains. It is beyond wild to me the nuances of this and why collector's and museums wouldn't give these back to the communities they belong to.
I cannot wait for more from Angeline Boulley! With this book she has officially been added to my must read list.

I was very excited to get an ARC of this after reading Angeline Boulley’s debut, Firekeeper’s Daughter. I was ready for the same great storytelling, mesmerizing characters and beautiful writing. Unfortunately for me, Warrior Girl Unearthed didn’t have that same pull for me that Firekeeper’s Daughter did. I felt the characters were a little flat and the plot was scattered. I enjoyed the discussion around returning native artifacts and remains to Indigenous communities, but that wasn’t enough to get me through the book especially since I couldn’t get invested in the characters or the multiple plots.

Unfortunately, this second book did not capture me in the way Firekeeper’s daughter. Overall I enjoyed it, but I wanted a little bit more of a fast paced mystery.

I found this to be a bit slow to begin with. There was a lot of information and character development but I couldn't help but wonder where the plot was. However, once it was at a 50 percent I was drawn in and it captured my attention the way Firekeepers Daughter did. I love the stories Angeline creates and what I can learn from reading them. She has such strong female characters and a lot of culture and history in her stories.

This is an incredible author who weaves so much into her stories. I liked Warrior Girl Unearthed ever bit as much as her earlier book. Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC -- I was so happy to have the opportunity to read this book!

After the fantastic first book of Angeline Boulley's, I could not wait to read about Sugar Island again. Headstrong 16 year old Perry Firekeeper-Birch and her very different twin Pauline are the focus of this book. I loved reading this empowering book about stolen art and repatriation. First you will be enraged, then vindicated.

After a bear and her cub cause Perry Firekeeper-Birch to get into a fender bender with a metal gate, she’s had to kiss her chilled out Summer of Slack goodbye in order to pay her Auntie Daunis back for the repairs. Now, she’s working in The Kinomage program, at the museum with Cooper Turtle. It’s not all bad though, she’s with the other outcasts in the group, Team Misfit Toys. Together they ace obstacle courses, plan vigils for missing women in the community, and make sure summer can still be fun.

While working with Cooper Turtle, Perry attends a meeting at a local university where she meets the “Warrior Girl”, an ancestor whose bones and knife are stored in the museum archives. After finding out how her ancestors are treated, Perry is determined to help return Warrior Girl to her tribe. She learns everything she can about NAGPRA, the federal law that allows tribes to request the return of ancestral remains and sacred items. The law was passed back in 1990 and museums all over the United States have found legal loopholes to hold onto remains like Warrior Girl and others. The college has twelve other Anishinaabe ancestors’ remains and Team Misfit Toys are determined to bring them home through a heist.

I absolutely adored Firekepper’s Daughter and am constantly recommending it. This book is no different. This is another powerful and beautifully written story that really focuses on the injustices that happen within the Indigenous Communities both here in the United States and around the world. I always learn so much reading these books. Like, I know America has a horrible relationship with Indigenous and Native tribes, but to hear just how badly and cruel museums are handling the NAGPRA is so horribly sad. This book is set in 2014 and talks about how long it was taking museums to do something that was issued into law 20 years ago - it’s over 30 now and it’s probably not any better.

Perry is a bit impulsive and immature, but so works so well for this story. She loves her community and culture so much and will do everything she can for them. Perry grows so much in this story and I adore her so much.

This book is a 10 year follow up to Firekeeper’s Daughter but could totally be a stand alone too. Though I would highly recommend reading both because you really get the depth to the community, history, characters, and practices mentioned.

*Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co for a digital advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

This was a lively view of native Ojibwa life in current times and the consequences of tragic historical actions. I loved that it told the story through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old who was struggling to find their place in the world. Peppered with native language and numerous cultural references, this novel was able to educate as well as entertain. I could see this novel as a comparison piece with those exploring historical atrocities and their impact on today's society.

While this novel is not exactly a sequel, it does reference a few of the characters from Boulley's earlier work.

The protagonist felt real, and the novel exuded familial love and community, providing a solid base for the fast moving plot. I appreciated some of the plot twists that I didn't see coming, and I appreciated the character flaws present in the secondary characters and the way that those flaws added depth but were not disabling.

While there is not explicit sexual activity, there is reference to sex happening off scene. Overall, this is a solid novel that is worthy of classroom discussion. Enjoy, my friends.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

For those that have read Firekeeper's Daughter, this book serves as a sort of sequel/companion to it, existing within the same universe and featuring many of the same characters you've already been introduced to. While it's not completely necessary to have read its predecessor, I highly recommend it, as it gives you a better appreciation for the references made.

Perry Firekeeper-Birch is Daunis' rebellious and unfiltered younger cousin (though their dynamic is described as being more aunt/niece). She and her twin sister, Pauline, couldn't be more different in demeanor, despite their close connection. At the start of the story, a lapse in judgment and resulting car accident leave Perry in Daunis' debt. To pay it off, she's asked to go work in a summer program, where she meets a fellow crew of "misfits" and her equally quirky boss, Cooper.

While there, Perry learns about NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which is a law that allows tribes to request the return of ancestral remains and sacred items. It is her work with Cooper that allows her to see exactly how slow and arduous this process is. Eventually, she stumbles upon sacred artifacts and remains that are being sold for profit, rather than handed back to their original tribe, prompting Perry to take matters into her own hands. While this is being advertised as a YA mystery, there is a little bit of a heist element, as well (which I appreciated). Boulley proved with Firekeeper's Daughter that she is capable of genre-bending a bit... this was no exception.

Like her previous work, she does an excellent job of showcasing the horrors and brutalities that occur against indigenous women... and how unhelpful law enforcement can be on these matters. Mirroring real life, we see a growing number of native women within and beyond Perry's community go missing. The Author's Note made it clear that the author wanted to emphasize the dehumanization native bodies endured, both in life and after death. I appreciated all of the research that clearly went into the book and how careful the author was in presenting these issues. I knew very little about repatriation and imagine I was not alone in that. Boulley does a seamless job of spreading awareness contextually within her stories, which is something I appreciated so much about Firekeeper's Daughter, as well.

I have only two small grievances with this book, neither of which feel all that significant in the grand scheme of things (but were similar grievances I had with the prequel, as well).

1) The ending felt rushed. This was a long book, but I don't feel like enough time was spent on wrapping things. The "plot twists" were hastily revealed... and then the book was essentially over. I don't know if she's setting herself up for another book (I could see her easily writing another from some of the other characters' perspectives) or if she simply lost steam, but... I wanted the pacing to feel a bit more organic.

2) Some of the writing felt more "tell" than "show"... which I think is fine, given this is for a younger audience.

Ultimately though, there's so much good being accomplished in these pages. Definitely recommend!