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A review by liamliayaum
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
5.0
Content Warnings: As a general note, while this book is billed as Young Adult, this book doesn't shy away from the less appealing aspects of human life and I would only recommend this to more mature readers. That being said, the book has aspects of alcoholism, colorism, death, drug overdose (mentioned), drug use (meth), grief, kidnapping, murder, physical abuse, racism, rape, sexual assault, suicide, violence
Set in Sault St. Marie, Michigan, eighteen year old Daunis Fontaine struggles to find her place in the world as both a Anishniaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and white. While she dreamed of escaping to UofM (University of Michigan), family circumstances keep her in town and instead attending Lake Superior State in town. Growing up in a hockey town, hockey is as much in her blood as her Indigenous ancestry. The new hockey recruit on her brother's hockey team, Jamie Johnson, seems to be the only good part of her life, that is, until she finds out Jamie is an undercover FBI agent and recruits her to help in the investigation of a new lethal drug. Can Daunis help the FBI solve the case but more importantly, can she do so while helping and putting her community first?
A few words come to mind to describe this story: potent, raw, emotional, educational, compelling, and wow. Boulley intertwined so many worlds with ease with a leading character that was captivating, intelligent, strong, and loyal. The UP (upper peninsula) and hockey are apart of my own life story and to see both of those showcased just warmed my heart. Both were eclipsed by the main star, which was the interweaving of Native community, culture, traditions, and language into this gut wrenchingly raw story. I hold no Native identity but this book felt like home and I think lots of folks could find that same sense of home in this beautifully written novel.
I cannot say enough about this novel, outside of why haven't I read this sooner and this should be on your immediate TBR list. As Boulley says in their Author's Note, "...there are simply too few stories told by and about Native Americans, especially from a contemporary point of view." There are so many voices that need to be uplifted and I sincerely hope more Native authors feel that they can share their stories and ideas with the world and be loved and cherished in every way that they deserve.
Set in Sault St. Marie, Michigan, eighteen year old Daunis Fontaine struggles to find her place in the world as both a Anishniaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and white. While she dreamed of escaping to UofM (University of Michigan), family circumstances keep her in town and instead attending Lake Superior State in town. Growing up in a hockey town, hockey is as much in her blood as her Indigenous ancestry. The new hockey recruit on her brother's hockey team, Jamie Johnson, seems to be the only good part of her life, that is, until she finds out Jamie is an undercover FBI agent and recruits her to help in the investigation of a new lethal drug. Can Daunis help the FBI solve the case but more importantly, can she do so while helping and putting her community first?
A few words come to mind to describe this story: potent, raw, emotional, educational, compelling, and wow. Boulley intertwined so many worlds with ease with a leading character that was captivating, intelligent, strong, and loyal. The UP (upper peninsula) and hockey are apart of my own life story and to see both of those showcased just warmed my heart. Both were eclipsed by the main star, which was the interweaving of Native community, culture, traditions, and language into this gut wrenchingly raw story. I hold no Native identity but this book felt like home and I think lots of folks could find that same sense of home in this beautifully written novel.
I cannot say enough about this novel, outside of why haven't I read this sooner and this should be on your immediate TBR list. As Boulley says in their Author's Note, "...there are simply too few stories told by and about Native Americans, especially from a contemporary point of view." There are so many voices that need to be uplifted and I sincerely hope more Native authors feel that they can share their stories and ideas with the world and be loved and cherished in every way that they deserve.