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emily_mh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was… incredible. I don’t think I’m going to stop thinking about this read for a very long time, much like I’ve never stopped thinking about Boulley’s debut (and the companion to this novel), Firekeeper’s Daughter.
In her Author’s Note, Boulley states that: “Ultimately, Warrior Girl Unearthed is about the need to control Indigenous bodies - both in the past and today.” I genuinely cannot think of a better way to describe the story here. The narrative is based on both the fact that 108,000 ancestors remain stolen across the U.S. alone (and those are just the reported cases), and the fact that there is a crisis of MMIWG2S.
Through her summer internship, Perry learns about how museums and universities have been resisting the repatriation of Native American ancestors, as well as cultural items, despite legislation (NAGPRA) being made to enforce repatriation. Instead, these institutions find loopholes which they use to avoid this process, which the less-than-watertight NAGPRA allows for. Another massive issue with NAGPRA is that it cannot hold to account private U.S. “collectors”, or public and private “collectors” overseas! It really disgusted me how academics here (reflecting their real-world counterparts) treated the ancestors and the cultural items as monetary assets, as “things” that belonged to them and that they had a right to. It shone a light on the white supremacy inherent in academia, and in particular challenged my view on archaeology. A striking quote found in the book is “one person’s archaeologist is another person’s grave robber.” It made me question how old a grave needs to be before it turns from grave-robbing to academic study - or perhaps a more apt question is, who the grave belongs to? Is it ever okay to place academic study over respect for a human’s burial? Where is that line drawn and why? I’m coming at these questions from my POV as a Classics student; these questions obviously have clear answers when it comes to Native American ancestors.
The same racism, fetishisation, and control that informs the attitude of museums and universities towards repatriation is also behind the epidemic of MMIWG2S that the book includes. Here I learnt about VAWA (the Violence Against Women Act); I don’t know why I didn’t remember this from Firekeeper’s Daughter. It is another piece of legislation that is supposed to protect Native Americans, but its massive blindspot renders it ineffective. Essentially, non-Indigenous folk have a very low chance of prosecution over harming Indigenous people on tribal land due to how jurisdiction is set up by VAWA. This is just such a glaring oversight and enables non-Indigenous people to harm Native Americans without consequence - as is detailed in the story here.
Please don’t go into this expecting a fast-paced thriller. You will do yourself and this book a disservice. There are definitely mystery and thriller elements that propel the story forward, but the focus is on Perry as she learns about and experiences the issues her community is facing, figures out what she can do about it, and takes action. It is slow-paced, but this fits the story well as Boulley uses the space to realistically show an MC learning, growing, acting, and finding her purpose.
Perry’s character development is significant. She does not begin as directionless per se, but there is such a difference in her at the end of the book where she has found something that she is wrapped up in, that drives her, that gives her actions meaning. Perry was a great MC to follow in other ways too. I loved how headstrong and determined she was, how committed she was to her community and ancestors. I liked how she wasn’t perfect, instead a little messy, but her heart was always in the right place.
I cannot wait to be able to read a new Angeline Boulley, whenever that might be!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Colonisation, and Racism
Moderate: Blood, Murder, Cursing, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Car accident, Death, Rape, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Addiction, Slavery, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Animal death, Excrement, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Abandonment, Ableism, Drug abuse, Cannibalism, War, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Major: theft, missing loved one, MMIWG2S Moderate: trichotillomania, blackmailing Minor: menstruation, childbirth, grooming, one use of the anti_Inuit e-slur, blood quantum, residential schools, loss of a loved onekaybee23's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Murder and Sexual violence
Minor: Child death, Police brutality, Violence, and Death
Another must read by Angeline Boulley. I highly recommend the audiobook.saara_ilona_muu's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Car accident, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Confinement, Grief, Kidnapping, Blood, Death, Misogyny, Medical content, Colonisation, Racism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
laurevanaerschot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, and Racial slurs
leannanecdote's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Misogyny, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
sometimesalyreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you know me, you know that Firekeeper's Daughter is one of my favorite reads from last year and I recommend it to almost everyone if they listen long enough. This was a great "somewhat sequel" to the original Boulley book!
Daunis is still around and she's in love, but not out of trouble completely and Perry, her niece is a whirlwind out of control with a passionate heart. I felt like this book felt more realistic in the way it was told through a teen's eyes, the relationships she's navigating, the culture she's proud of, the choices she has to make.
I learned so much about NAGPRA or the process of reparation of Indigenous items and remains. I knew it was bad, but not THAT bad, and how it serves to alienate, fetishize and further colonize Indigenous people and their history. There was also a list of further reading in the back for those who want to learn more or get involved in improving the process.
Boulley also talks about MMIW (missing and murdered Indigenous women) and people, and discusses why Indigenous people are so targeted, including fetishization and easy to evade laws.
Many reviewers complain about the amount of Ojibwe in this book without translations, but that's just it, this book is not FOR you to have your hand held, but to dive in and learn from context. It only took me a moment to Google a phrase if I struggled.
One of my favorite things about Boulley's books are her tactful way of handling tough subjects and providing education, or cultural context without it being difficult to read. She explains things in a way that are inviting, and inclusive, and I find myself going down a rabbit hole of research.
All in all, I give this read 4.5 stars! I found myself enthralled from page one, did not see the twists and turns coming, and felt like I was amongst the people in this book, from their losses to their celebrations. You can enjoy books with other languages and cultures, you can read diverse reads and still relate, even if you aren't the target audience or who the book was written for!
Daunis is still around and she's in love, but not out of trouble completely and Perry, her niece is a whirlwind out of control with a passionate heart. I felt like this book felt more realistic in the way it was told through a teen's eyes, the relationships she's navigating, the culture she's proud of, the choices she has to make.
I learned so much about NAGPRA or the process of reparation of Indigenous items and remains. I knew it was bad, but not THAT bad, and how it serves to alienate, fetishize and further colonize Indigenous people and their history. There was also a list of further reading in the back for those who want to learn more or get involved in improving the process.
Boulley also talks about MMIW (missing and murdered Indigenous women) and people, and discusses why Indigenous people are so targeted, including fetishization and easy to evade laws.
Many reviewers complain about the amount of Ojibwe in this book without translations, but that's just it, this book is not FOR you to have your hand held, but to dive in and learn from context. It only took me a moment to Google a phrase if I struggled.
One of my favorite things about Boulley's books are her tactful way of handling tough subjects and providing education, or cultural context without it being difficult to read. She explains things in a way that are inviting, and inclusive, and I find myself going down a rabbit hole of research.
All in all, I give this read 4.5 stars! I found myself enthralled from page one, did not see the twists and turns coming, and felt like I was amongst the people in this book, from their losses to their celebrations. You can enjoy books with other languages and cultures, you can read diverse reads and still relate, even if you aren't the target audience or who the book was written for!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Alcoholism
sophiestasyna's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual violence
mysterymom40's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Colonisation
Moderate: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Rape, and Violence
Minor: Car accident
Due to some of the content, audience could be older teens to adultscarolined314's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Colonisation
Moderate: Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Racism, and Violence
ashcrash's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
i LOVED firekeeper’s daughter so i had v high hopes for this one and i was not disappointed. perry is an incredibly lovable mc, the relationships she has are so fleshed out, and the plot is just enough to keep you on edge. i do think it took a little longer to get started on the action, but the set up is important and still engaging. can’t wait to go back and reread the first one and then probably this one again to pick up on all the connections. so so so good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Death, and Murder
Minor: Police brutality