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lisathepoetlibrarian 's review for:
Firekeeper's Daughter
by Angeline Boulley
Angeline Boulley's debut novel speaks to all those who feel between worlds while bringing readers into the contemporary life of the Ojibwe reservation. Structured as a mystery/crime novel where Daunis Fontaine faces grief head on trying to find the truth about her uncle's death and several of her peers' decline into a meth crisis in the community. Yet through Daunis, who does not fit into any neat category -- half white and half Ojibwe, an aspiring scientist, a student of traditional medicines and ceremonies, a hockey player, a dancer, and an unwilling sleuth -- Boulley speaks out about the very real economic and social issues of contemporary Native American communities seeking to thrive within a history of oppression and erasure. In particularly, Boulley brings to light the horrific reality of violence against Native women. Furthermore, Boulley excels in the most difficult task of writing about trauma and violence within a community that is also loving and healing without a need to explain or diminish one experience over the other -- with Daunis we are invited to dwell in the reality that both exist as one and to see clearly the pain and beauty of our world so we can be a point of healing and light for ourselves and those around us.