Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

356 reviews

zulm4's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious

3.5

This book tackled some interesting themes and topics, including conversation of indigenous culture and politics, and I enjoyed reading it. However, looking at the book more critically, I felt there were some flaws in the storyline. I also hated the way that Daunis leaned into the dynamic of being "one of the guys" and feeling superior than the girls who came to support their boyfriends' hockey games. It seemed that the worst thing she could be was an "angler fish" and I really would have liked to see more character growth and feminist solidarity by the end. 

It does feel very YA in the way the story develops. I just couldn't bring myself to accept how

the relationship between Jamie and Daunis was generally portrayed. It just felt extremely problematic, with Daunis not seeming to understand (or be willing to understand) the gravity of the situation. This is an 22 year old man who you do not know anything about, who planned to manipulate you in order to advance his own career. I'm glad they didn't end up together, even though it was alluded that it might happen in the future. It just made me feel so icky and I wish the author had given Daunis the autonomy and character growth to more seriously challenge and question the situation that these grown men had put her in. It wasn't just Grant who took advantage of her, it was all of the men - Ron, Levi, Mike, Jamie, etc.

This whole storyline just felt very irresponsible. 

The book also covers some very heavy themes,

including SA. Although I somewhat get what the author may have been trying to do with Daunis' character in terms of showing her growth after being raped and becoming part of an unfortunately large group of similarly abused women within her community. I just wish there was a larger analysis of the patterns and systems that perpetuate these abuses that never receive justice, rather than showing her as just another victim.

One of the book's most redeeming qualities was the conversations on Ojibwe culture, tradition, and the insularity of the tribes, even to someone who clearly has such deep connections and roots. I also enjoyed how strongly Daunis cared about her family and the many genuinely good relationships that were shown.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use

cindylindy'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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Car accident

lizzy1806's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

caitlinmchoi's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious fast-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: Gun violence, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Death of parent

rmljacob39's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Outing

megaan10's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation

ekidow02's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense slow-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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Murder

Moderate: Racism and Grief

ronitamohan_louisskye's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

As others have mentioned, the beginning is very slow and gives no indication of the mystery that follows. So much time is spent on setting up the central romance that I almost gave up. But then there’s a huge twist and the actual mystery plot kicks in. The entire tenor of the story changes that point forward. 

However, I really, really need books to include content warnings in the case of sexual assault. I have given up on books that include sexual violence without warning but I continued with this one. I don’t think the sexual assault was needed at all in this story. It added nothing to the plot or the character development. Having said that, the author uses the incident to underpin how rarely Indigenous women and girls get justice for being assaulted. That’s an important message to send. I still would have liked some warning. 

The best part of the book was the in-depth details of the rituals that the Anishinaabe perform, to grow together as a community, and every day to connect with ancestors and the world around them. Those scenes were beautiful and moving and I could definitely have done with loads more. 

This book required some editing to bring the plot into focus. It deals with a lot of very difficult subjects so I’m not really sure how it would work for its intended YA audience. But it’s engaging and educational. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, and Vomit

Moderate: Sexual assault

memjacks's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Colonisation

marissakellett's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Rape, and Suicide