Boulley takes us back into Daunis' world, Perry is an engaging character, She is a new and fresh voice, an essential character that is fierce and unyielding. Like The Firekeeper's Daughter, this novel provides insight into Ojibwe culture. It also highlights the important issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. This book is an essential part of the young adult canon.

Title: Warrior Girl Unearthed
By: Angeline Boulley

Genre:
Young Adult Fiction, Mystery, Native Americans

Recommended Ages:
High School (due only to references)

Red Flags:
References to Rape and Drugs, Murder

Summary:
Perry and Pauline are twin sisters but complete opposites. Pauline is the academia, and Perry is all about the outdoors. Pauline loves the summer internship program and is excited to participate, however, Perry would prefer fishing, but due to her recent fender bender she is forced to participate in the internship program. Perry begins to learn and become passionate about Turtle, her mentor, begins to teach Perry the importance of following the laws and the repatriation process. Perry begins to immerse herself in reading, learning more about her indigenous people, and their Ojibwe tribe. Perry is determined to bring the “Warrior Girl” back home and in the process discovers more missing artifacts, and remains. This is Perry mission to bring her people home. In the meantime, several young adult, indigenous woman are missing. And so the mystery begins…

Review:
I am a huge fan of “Firekeeper’s Daughter” and had high expectations for “Warrior Girl Unearthed.” This novel exceeded my expectations! Angeline Boulley has a beautiful talent for writing, teaching the reader, all while grabbing the reader’s attention. “Warrior Girl Unearthed” is an outstanding, fast paced, and beautifully informative novel. Perry Firekeeper-Birch is the main protagonist, a dynamic character who quickly changes throughout the story. The reader learns alongside Perry, becomes engaged in the process, of not only the repatriation process, but the mystery behind the missing women. This is an intricate, informative, and gripping Native American novel! I highly recommend this read.

I did begin the eBook and ended with the audiobook. This audiobook is narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc, who gives the reader a passionately, phenomenal, narration.

Thank you to Angeline Boulley, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#angelineboullley
#macmillanaudio
#macmillanyounglisteners
#Isabellastarlablanc
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions

Though this book falls in the shadow of Boulley’s debut Printz-Award winning novel The Firekeeper’s Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed still lands as a coming-of-age story that also teaches readers about modern Ojibwe culture through a teenager’s eyes. The cover claims that the book is a mystery, but that facet of the plot is a slow burn with a quick resolution. Read The Firekeeper’s Daughter if you haven’t already, but when you do (and inevitably love it), pick up this one next. You will enjoy, even if you aren't as enthralled as you were with Boulley's previous work.

I was lucky enough to receive an audiobook ARC of Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, in exchange for my honest opinion. Well, my opinion is that this is an engrossing, moving and important book.

I won’t go into the synopsis, because I just want to rave. I was blown away by this book. I learned so much about Indigenous and Ojibwa culture. What I loved about this is that Angeline Boulley wove so much of this seamlessly into the narrative. I was immersed in the culture, and never felt lost.

Perry, our main character, is flawed and impulsive. But it rang true of many teens and lent itself beautifully to the narrative of the story. Her, and her team of Misfit Toys, are extremely likable and endearing. I enjoyed their interactions and how they banded together.

The story itself has many moving parts, and I was captivated by it. This was due in large part to Isabella Star LaBlanc’s great narration, the reclamation of Indigenous artifacts and heist plot line, as well as Perry’s journey and growth throughout the novel.

Most importantly, Warrior Girl Unearthed highlights the many injustices Indigenous people have faced - and continue to face today. This includes the convoluted process they must go through in order to reclaim Indigenous remains and ceremonial and historical objects, as well as the very present epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW).

Warrior Girl Unearthed is a beautifully written book that will make you laugh and cry, and will totally entertain you. It makes reflect on your own ancestors and where you came from, as well as has you gain a deeper, empathetic understanding of what Indigenous communities continue to face. Totally recommend.

I’m not typically a YA reader and I didn’t expect to love Firekeeper’s Daughter but I absolutely devoured it and it quickly became one of my favorite books of the year. I was thrilled to read more about Daunis and her family/community and even more excited when I learned Warrior Girl Unearthed would have the same incredible narrator.

The audiobook was absolutely fabulous! I really enjoyed listening to this book and the narrator made the story so engaging. Ultimately I didn’t enjoy this book as much as Firekeeper’s Daughter, but the bar was set pretty high. Perry is a great character and I loved getting to learn more about her culture and community.

Pub date: 5/2/23
Genre: YA, own voices, coming of age
Quick summary: Perry Firekeeper-Birch wanted a lazy summer - but a crashed truck forces her to take a last-minute internship. There she learns of the "Warrior Girl" and other ancestors whose remains are stored in local museums, and she makes it her mission to bring these remains back to her community.

Angeline Boulley has crafted such a moving tale in her second novel. Perry's voice is so strong, and Isabella Star LeBlanc's narration put me right in her head. Perry's mentor Cooper Turtle did a wonderful job showing Perry the injustice of museum collections and how museums used loopholes to avoid NAGPRA-ordered repatriation. I wasn't familiar with NAGPRA pre-reading, so I appreciated the opportunity to learn about these issues. LeBlanc's narration made it clear how painful the continued hoarding of these remains and artifacts is for Native communities.

In addition to the museum plotline, Perry also has to get to the bottom of women going missing from the reservation and help her overachieving sister Pauline, whose perfectionism has turned unhealthy. Boulley's earlier novel FIREKEEPER"S DAUGHTER had slower plotting, but WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED moves quickly and covers all these issues well. I finished it in two days because I had to know how Perry's story would end. This was an easy 5 star listen for me, and I highly recommend it for all readers.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow....this book was amazing to me. I enjoyed her first book, but this one was even better. Learning about the Ojibwe Indigenous people and their want to reclaim their ancestral remains was highly educational.

Perry Firekeeper-Birch has always been the laid-back twin and is currently looking forward to what she is calling her “Summer of Slack.” But as the evens of the summer unfold, Perry finds herself caught up in a murder investigation and tensions rise as Indigenous women continue to go missing and a grave robber tries to turn the Anishinaab culture into profit.

The Fire Keepers Daughter firmly solidified Angelline Boulley’s place on my list of auto-buy authors so I jumped at the chance to snag an advanced copy of her new novel! There are so many things I loved about this book!

I loved Perry’s adventurous spirit and love for her tribe and their culture. She is the type of strong female character that you want to stand up and cheer for by the end of the book. The other members of The Misfit Toys were likable and endearing. I also loved getting to see Daunis again. I felt like her story was unfinished in The Fire Keeper’s Daughter and was happy to get that closure from this novel.

Warrior Girl Unearthed is a YA thriller but it is also very informative. It deals with issues of racism, cultural appropriation, and violence against Indigenous women.

I enjoyed the narration of this audiobook. Isabella Star LeBlanc did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life!

The plot has a medium pace with a several twists and reveals. The ending and events leading up to it were unexpected and not what 8 predicted!

Warrior Girl Unearthed is an adventurous and emotional YA thriller that you won’t want to miss! Im hoping that this isn’t our last trip to Sugar Island!

This was a vivid glimpse into the culture and lives of the Native Americans of Sugar Island and surrounding areas in the Great Lakes area. I loved getting to know the dynamic characters and living in their world. It was rich with passion and courage. Perry, a young Anishinaabe girl, discovers the strength of her connection to her ancestors and her people that guides her actions in the present and propels her towards a future she had not imagined for herself. It really helped me see indigenous history through the eyes of the descendants of those we know only as view them and their possessions in museums. It opened my eyes to the importance of NAGPRA. Thank you Angeline Boulley for this wonderful window into your culture and home.

A great sophomore novel from Angeline Boulley. If you enjoyed The Fire Keeper's Daughter, you will enjoy this one as well. I really enjoyed listening to it on audio and hearing the words in native languages spoken a loud. It was a great story that touched on some important current events. It was very well done!

I’ve seen and heard the term human remains at least a hundred times. But it registers differently now. The remains of a human being who lived and breathed. It’s my honor to introduce you to Warrior Girl.

I admire warriors…Those who are willing to do what others can’t or won’t do for the community…Warriors might lose a battle, but they keep their eyes on what truly matters–the final result…The Warrior Girl was willing to sacrifice herself for her community. So that others could live full lives…Sugar Island is always ready to welcome our warrior girls home, where they are loved.

Perry Firekeeper-Birch is the reluctant intern at the tribal museum, supervised by kooky Cooper. He teaches her that everything is connected…The past. The future. The beginning and ending. Answers are there even before the question. You’re supposed to go back to where you started. And if you step off the path, you better keep your eyes wide open.

When she learns about stolen ancestral remains in other museums and private collections, Perry decides to return the ancestors to Sugar Island, like a reverse Indiana Jones…or an Indigenous Lara Croft” and embark on Project Bigiiwen Enji Zaagigooyin, Come Home Where You Are Loved.

She is determined to do everything to help which memories get preserved. Like storing seeds in a cool, dark, and dry place to keep them alive. However, she learns that working within the process, following the laws…matters…It’s not just about winning; it’s about how you conduct yourself and represent your community…the means justify the end. Doing the right thing for the right reason, with a good heart and clear intentions, matters.

As author Angeline Boulley expresses, ultimately, Warrior Girl Unearthed is about the need to control Indigenous bodies–both in the past and today. A cultural and literary tour de force.

Another winner from Angeline Boulley, Warrior Girl Unearthed is as educational as it is entertaining. Like Firekeeper's Daughter, this story is set in the Sault Ste. Marie area of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, in the Native American Ojibwe community. We meet teenager Perry Firekeeper-Birch right out of the gate and are quickly drawn into her story.

Perry is a bit rudderless at first - her twin sister Pauline is the brilliant, overachiever, while Perry is just waiting for her Summer of Slack. Instead, after a fender bender that was entirely not her fault, she’s stuck working to pay back her Auntie Daunis for repairs to the Jeep. If you read Firekeeper's Daughter, you'll love seeing adult Daunis throughout the story!

During her internship, Perry learns about the federal reclamation laws/acts (NAGPRA) that allow indigenous remains and artifacts to be returned to their native tribe - and how the laws are often skirted or ignored and rarely enforced. When she learns that the "Warrior Girl" remains at a local university have not been returned to her tribe, she begins to her mission to make it happen.

Along the way, she is haunted by the disappearance of several young native girls. And then she stumbles onto the disturbing mystery of a secret vault of remains. Why are they there and for what purpose? Along with her sister and friends, a plot is hatched to return the remains for proper burial.

I have to say I do think I enjoyed Firekeeper's Daughter a bit more than this one. Perry is younger and not as mature, but she is also 16 and you'd expect a few poor decisions. The story didn't have the same dangerous, propulsive feel either. I still thought it was a great story and Boulley's love and admiration for her Ojibwe community and heritage continue to shine.

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan/Henry Holt and MacMillan Audio for the digital ARC and ALC. The audiobook is again narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc, who also narrated Firekeeper's Daughter, with a rich and authentic portrayal of the Ojibwe language and its people.

Perry Firekeeper-Birch is not excited about her summer internship. Forced to join a tribal summer program after wrecking her Aunt Daunis’s car, she quickly falls in with the other outcasts of the program, fondly naming themselves ‘Team Misfit Toys.’ Through her internship, Perry learns of “Warrior Girl,” an ancestor stored in a museum’s archives and her world is forever changed. Perry is determined to bring her home, but her plans don’t always work out the way she thinks they will. As the summer moves forward, Perry finds herself in the position to possibly bring some ancestors home, but is her way the right way?

• • •

Warrior Girl Unearthed is a companion novel to Firekeepers Daughter and it held true to all my hopes and expectations for it. Angeline Boulley immerses her readers into her characters lives - their joys and their heartaches, their triumphs and their failures. She educates as she entertains and is shining a light on indigenous culture.

Perry is a character that readers can relate to as she finds her path to who she wants to become. She is strong and determined, she loves fiercely and is unflinchingly loyal to her family and culture. She may act rashly at times, but her heart is always in the right place.

I HIGHLY recommend listening to the audio AND following along with the print version of the book. Being able to hear the correct pronunciations and see the Ojibwe language when it is being used in the story is beautiful.

• • •

🧡🐻🏫🗡️👶🏽⛈️🚗🐾🏥🧡

• • •

#2023reads #bookstagram #audiobookstagram #NetGalley #WarriorGirlUnearthed #FirekeepersDaughter #YAmystery #YAcontemporary #indigenouswomen #indigenousauthors

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free book.
I loved Firekeeper's Daughter, and this was one of my most anticipated of the year, and it did not disappoint. Perry Firekeeper-Birch was a character I won't soon forget. She worked hard to do her best for her Native community. I loved how this story hit on such an important topic of giving Native communities their items and people back. But it didn't make the story informal. Instead, Boulley created such a deep ambition through Perry that I could feel how deeply important these items are for their community to get back. I thought the friendships were so well developed. I was immersed in this story from beginning to end and will definitely revisit it. I also liked how this tied into Firekeeper's Daughter. I cannot wait to hear Boulley speak about this book while she's on tour.
Isabella Star LeBlanc is such a fantastic narrator, and she captured Perry's character and attitude so well during her performance. I felt every emotion alongside Perry thanks to this stellar performance.

Amazing. I'm definitely a fan of this author for sure. Absolutely check and be aware of triggers and content warnings.

After swerving to avoid a bear and crashing her car, Perry’s summer of fishing and relaxing is in the rear view. Now, forced into a summer internship to pay her aunt back for the damages, she’ll spend her days cleaning glass cases in the tribal museum. But when her boss draws her interest to repatriation of Indigenous belongings to their home communities, the lengthy process proves to take too long for Perry’s liking - rather than paperwork and bureaucracy, it’s time for a heist.

This book held so much cultural beauty, much like Firekeeper’s Daughter. I loved that Anishinaabemowin was woven throughout once again, and the audiobook showcased it in a really accessible way without needing to give a translation for every single word used.

The discussion of NAGPRA, the federal law that allows tribes to request the return of ancestral remains and sacred items and the ways in which institutions and individuals keep these items through loopholes in the law was extremely impactful. The quotes at the beginning of chapters and seeing the story follow Perry as her growing knowledge and passion for returning ancestors and items home created a great space for the reader to learn more about the injustice that continues today.

The references throughout the book ground it in its setting of 2014 (Can you believe it’s been a decade since Flappy Bird?) and the small details are what make it great. It also covers so many important topics like Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, corruption from people in power, and more.

I loved seeing characters from Firekeeper’s Daughter again(well, most of them), and their growth. I will continue to read and listen to anything that Angeline chooses to share in the future - I’m hooked!

I’ve been looking forward to this book since Angeline made an appearance at a book club meeting, and teased the premise, and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest! I selfishly want more and more of her writing, and will gladly read any and all that she is able to give to the world. Miigwech, Angeline!

So many of the things that I loved about Firekeeper’s Daughter carried over here: strong, engaging writing; a main character who is so clearly herself in all the complexities that entails; a really deep interest and investment in, knowledge of, and respect for her indigenous culture; and a direct discussion of the ways that people outside of the native community have, regardless of intention, failed in supporting and protecting those within it. I loved reading about Daunis as an adult, and the way Perry’s narration brought in the aspect of being biracial and even touched on anti-Black racism in native communities. I did think that the mystery element kicked off a little slow, the plot got a bit muddled in the last third or so with all the different crimes being brought in, and I would have appreciated a bit of a stronger ending and more examinations of motives and aftermath, but overall it’s a great read read whether or not you already enjoyed Firekeeper’s Daughter.

Angeline Boulley is one of my favorite contemporary YA authors and storytellers. Her zone of genius lies in marrying important history of the treatment of Indigenous people in North America with propulsive narratives that are exciting and ultimately a celebration of Ojibwe culture and traditions.

I absolutely loved Firekeeper's Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed met my high expectations, bringing so much of what I enjoyed from the first into this completely original story. I like how this standalone book continued the first story in a way that readers of that book could recognize but didn't make it necessary to have read it to understand. This was an enlightening read and Angeline Boulley has cemented herself as a must-read author!

4.5/5

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

Another excellent read from Boulley. The narrator for this book did a fantastic job, it was well paced and really gave a great voice to the characters. I really enjoyed the pacing of the audiobook, and felt like I was fully immersed in it for most of the listen.