Firekeeper's Daughter - Angeline Boulley

 

Firekeeper's Daughter - Angeline Boulley

Bibliography: 

Boulley, A. (2023). Firekeeper’s daughter. Rock the Boat. 

Plot Summary: 

Daunis, who is part Ojibwe, defers attending the University of Michigan to care for her mother and reluctantly becomes involved in the investigation of a series of drug-related deaths.

Critical Analysis:

I am pretty blown away by this book, I can’t believe it was written by a debut author. One of the most original books I’ve read in a long time and I very much enjoyed it. Oddly, I went into this book thinking it was a fantasy novel? Not sure why other than the cover. To be very truthful I didn’t read the synopsis very well before starting the book so most things about it were a nice surprise. It was definitely more, um, intense and graphic than I was expecting from a young adult novel. But I think the author handled the tough subjects really well.

One thing I really appreciated about this book was how much I learned from it. I feel like a lot of what we know about Native Americans in the media is more about the history of and not the present day. I was most interested in and appreciated the tribal enrollment/registered aspects because you read how some authors or actors are registered or enrolled in certain tribes but there’s no context to what that entails. I also see native stories being told by white creators and I was glad to read one from an own voices perspective.

From a librarian perspective, I think this book is great for older teens and adults. At times the pacing and the plot were a little off it seemed. There’s a lot of triggering aspects (sexual assault, drug use, murder, etc) that can make this a difficult book to stomach. But at its heart it’s a beautiful book about community, family, and what you would do for the people you love. Plus I love a badass female heroine and Daunis is awesome. I really hope a lot of people read this book because I think it’s something special.

Review Excerpt: 

Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

Hitting hard when it comes to issues such as citizenship, language revitalization, and the corrosive presence of drugs on Native communities, this novel will long stand in the hearts of both Native and non-Native audiences.

BookPage (starred review)

Though Firekeeper’s Daughter contains gripping action sequences and gasp-inducing twists, it’s Daunis’ mission of self-discovery, which begins as a low and steady growl and grows to a fierce, proud roar, that has the most impact... Though it both shocks and thrills, in the end, what leaves you breathless is Firekeeper’s Daughter’s blazing heart.

Booklist (starred review)

Boulley, herself an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, writes from a place of love for her community and shares some key teachings from her culture, even mixing languages within the context of the story. She doesn't shy away from or sugar-coat the very real circumstances that plague reservations across the country, and she tackles these through her biracial hero who gets involved in the criminal investigation into the corruption that led to this pain. An incredible thriller, not to be missed.

Horn Book (starred review)

This suspenseful upper-YA novel will keep readers wondering who Daunis can trust.

Connections:

Native American Mystery

Self Esteem and Self Reliance

Literature Guide with Discussion Questions as you read