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micaelamariem's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Each chapter left me hungrily wanting more and there were deep scenes that evoked strong emotions from me. The representation of grief I thought was done really well as well as the PTSD the character was experiencing; though it wasn’t named that, the symptoms were visceral and evocative, and it felt believable, not a laundry list from WebMD. I’m not indigenous, so I can’t speak to the representation of a native tribe, though I think I learned more about tribe systems and laws. And with the ending, that wasn’t quite happy or sad, we got just a taste of the injustices indigenous tribal members face to this day.
Though I felt empathy for the main character, there were times I didn’t like her. I felt like she slipped into the “not like other girls” category like a lot of YA protagonists have a tendency to do. She acted like she wanted to speak up for women, but she called other girls dating her brother’s friends “angler fish” and judged them way too harshly.
I also think the pacing was slightly off. The first two thirds of the book was slow to medium paced, but still enjoyable. In the last third, lots of action came seemingly out of nowhere and it felt like we were racing to keep up until the end. If the pacing could’ve been evened out a little more, I think it would’ve made for an even more enjoyable read.
However, I did love this, and I do recommend it! It kept me on my toes and taught me a few lessons, while being mostly believable.
Graphic: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Death, Classism, Racial slurs, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Alcohol, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Pregnancy, Addiction, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Confinement, Grief, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment
plumpeony's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Vomit, Gun violence, Colonisation, Rape, Classism, Grief, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
lonicera_fragrantissima's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Racism, Rape, and Murder
Minor: Vomit, Forced institutionalization, and Genocide
hmetwade's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Death, Car accident, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Grief, Racism, Blood, Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Murder, Racial slurs, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic relationship
libristella's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Addiction, Death, Rape, Gun violence, Car accident, Violence, Medical content, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Murder, and Blood
potaylachips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Car accident, Classism, Genocide, Infidelity, and Racial slurs
Minor: Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Vomit
vincentpriceisright's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Dementia, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Violence, Death, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Minor: Homophobia, Addiction, Body shaming, and Genocide
I would say the two biggest CWs/TWs to be aware of are drug abuse/addiction and rape/sexual harassmentjennastopreading's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I don't know what I thought this book was going to be about, but I had no idea..I just had no idea. I didn't know the depth of content matter, the breadth of the subjects covered, the raw pain my heart would feel as I listened with a knot in my throat. Both the story and the narrator chilled me to my core. If you can access this on audio, I recommend it - I loved hearing her speak the languages I don't speak.
My heart broke with Daunis from start to finish, and my eyes were opened to so much more than I could ever describe. This book will be a lot for sensitive readers, and I have a hard time thinking of it as Young Adult - mostly because the MC is more mature than pretty much any character I've ever read...
It's January 25, and I'm calling it - this will be the most important fiction book I read this year.
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Xenophobia, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, Rape, Cursing, and Violence
katewithtea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Gun violence, Sexual content, Grief, Rape, Drug abuse, Car accident, Colonisation, Sexism, Death, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Vomit
comfycryptid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The author's note brought me to tears:
"There's an important distinction between writing about trauma and writing as tragedy. I sought to write about identity, loss, and injustice...and also of love, joy, connection, friendship, hope, laughter, and the beauty and strength in my Ojibwe community. It was paramount to share and celebrate what justice and healing looks like in a tribal community: cultural events, language revitalization, ceremonies, traditional teachings, whisper networks, blankets parties, and numerous other ways tribes have shown resilience in the face of adversity.
Growing up, none of the books I'd read featured a Native protagonist. With Daunis, I wanted to give Native teens a hero who looks like them, whose greatest strength is her Ojibwe culture and community. When making decisions for our tribe, we look seven generations ahead, considering the effort on our descendants. My hope is that, in sharing our Anishinaabeg experiences, Firekeeper's Daughter will have an impact on future generations."
Angeline Boulley, I think you did just that. Aho!
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racism
Minor: Vomit