A review by natashaleighton_
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Beautifully crafted and emotionally gripping, Angeline Boulley takes us back to Sugar Island once more, as we explore life ten years on from the events of Fire Keeper’s Daughter. And Following the POV of Daunis’ endearingly impulsive, justice seeking niece, Perry. Whose loyalty  and determination to see the remains of her ancestors returned, leads to a Lara Croft meets Ocean’s eleven-style plan to steal them back. 

Having recently finished reading Fire Keeper’ Daughter (which had me uncontrollably sobbing at times) I was soo excited dive head first into Perry’s story. And like her debut novel, Boulley masterfully weaves a heartfelt and thought provoking tale of injustice which deftly highlights the very real and relevant issues that still affect native communities today. 

From the racial discrimination and indifference towards the violence perpetrated on native community, to the sheer lack of empathy for the many indigenous women and girls who go missing (or are murdered) each year— Boulley perfectly captures the bubbling rage and unrelenting despair that soo many of the characters (and real life people) have had to endure.

The characters were all exquisitely vibrant, complex and full of depth — but I was particularly impressed with Perry, whose strong sense of justice, compassion and love for her family (and community) really showcased her resilience and strength. I personally don’t think I could ever be nearly as strong if faced with the same situation. 

Another fave was Shense who, like Perry very much tells it like it is. A Young single mother, she’s just trying to give her daughter the best life possible and works hard to make that happen. I loved her level of commitment, both to her family and the community—not to mention her sense of humour which had me giggling on more than one occasion. 

It was also great to see some of my fave characters (such as Daunis) from FKD make cameo appearances, which definitely helped to bring this nuanced and incredibly descriptive world to life. 

Overall, an incredibly engaging and informative read that words really cannot do justice—not to mention how perfectly it showcases the love Boulley has for her community and cultural heritage. And though emotional at times (I do suggest checking TWs before reading), I guarantee that this is one YA mystery thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. 

Also, a huge thank you to Rock The Boat/ One World Publicatiksn for the amazing physical copy. 
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