Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

316 reviews

alexashabit's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape

jennaniho's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was the first book I read about the Ojibwe community and culture by an Ojibwe author. Angeline's writing is riveting and beautiful. I couldn't put this book down because it is so good! You could read how she loves her culture through the character of Daunis Fontaine. It's the kind of book that deserves a TV series (which I think it's already in the works!).

What I love the most about this book is how the story flows seamlessly from beginning to end. Daunis is a character that you instantly connect with because of her authenticity and strong spirit. Though there were moments in the book where the story felt a bit long and overly descriptive, it was quickly picked up by the thrill of a clue, a newly discovered secret, or even a new betrayal. 

Another element I love about the book is how it explores the relationship between Native and Non-Native folk in current times, showing mature themes, but not in a graphic way. This adds to Daunis' relatability, because these issues continue to impact people of all ages, especially Indigenous communities, and I feel they were treated realistically in this book.

Firekeeper's Daughter can be viewed as a coming-of-age story, but I see it more as a hero's journey. Daunis Fontaine has all the traits of a heroine: she is courageous, cunning, empathetic, intuitive, and capable of learning from her mistakes. Her story mirrors that of many Indigenous women who have faced unimaginable—and often unjust—challenges in their desire to be authentically themselves in a world that continues to push them to believe they can't. While we often admire Greek heroes, I admire Native women even more. Because their stories are not myths...they are living proof that you can overcome adversities no matter what comes at you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Minor: Misogyny and Medical trauma

This book does not shy away from the violence against native/indigenous women. It is an empowering fictional story that highlights these very real topics.

alyssadorn's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective 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? No

5.0

From the first page, I was hooked. This book makes me want to write an essay about it, that’s how compelling it is in how it invites readers to explore the themes, learn the characters, and investigate the intrigue! The characterization is vibrant, the cultural nuance captivating, and the traditions poignant. The worldbuilding is top-tier, and every character feels real (with the possible exception of Jamie, but the juxtaposition of Jamie and his lack of a firm identity with Daunis and her exploration of all her identity facets came together in a really fully-fleshed-out way). 

The first 90ish pages are a little slow, but after something intense happens (I don’t want to spoil it), I was fully immersed as the plot just gets more and more intense while existing within the context and nuances of racism, tribal politics, relative privilege, science and traditional medicine, storytelling traditions/earning someone’s story, the persistence of violence against native women, and more all shown within our FMC and her community in a compelling and unique voice that highlights a community surviving in the face of adversity and grief— current and ancestral. 

The way absolutely everything is shown, not told, with nuance and a smooth melding of traditional teachings and contemporary realities is part of why I was shocked to learn this is a debut novel; it’s just so good! 

The ways in which so many of the themes and stories come full circle in this book, connecting and meaning growing from the connection, is masterful— I especially liked the moment where we see her in her dance regalia and we know her because we now know the story of how she gained each piece of that regalia. 

And the way the book begins and ends with the East! “Where all journeys begin.” 

And the definition of a lee lee being trilled mostly to honor someone but “other times there’s more to it. Something else. But I’m not sure what.”

and how later lee lees are trilled and she recognizes them more deeply— “it means we faced worse than you and we are still here. It is our survival song.”

Plus, I enjoyed the friends to enemies to reluctant allies to lovers of it all, though the romance really took a back seat for me; what really shown was the community. 

I would definitely recommend this book for older teenagers to adults, not younger teens, even though it’s listed as YA. 

I will say the “guy lies” arc could’ve been done better— less black and white thinking or show her adjusting her view to more shades of grey as more information comes to light. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Terminal illness

thenextbookdilemma's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Car accident, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Suicide, Cultural appropriation, and Sexual harassment

mj_86's review against another edition

emotional 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Murder

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

Minor: Racial slurs, Vomit, and Car accident

emmagrace012's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Great storytelling, kept me engaged throughout and had a nice steady build. Check tw before reading, nothing gratuitous or too explicit, but does have mentions and descriptions of intense themes for younger readers. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

cearask's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping

Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

chaosbumblebee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

1 star deducted because the writing style wasn't 100% my jam and I think the first 100 or so pages could have been severely edited down, but damn, after that point this book GRIPPED ME. Also, the tenderness and respect that Anishinaabe culture is held with through every part of the story is incredible and palpable. Highly recommend; give it a chance past the first bit!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

acopytopy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

ruffian23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Colonisation