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Firekeeper's Daughter

Book 1 in the series:Sugar Island

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Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley is a compelling coming-of-age mystery novel that delves into the life of Daunis Fontaine, a young woman navigating her Native American heritage and the complexities of her community. Through Daunis' journey, readers are exposed to themes of identity, family relationships, grief, discrimination, and the cultural richness of the Ojibwe tribe. The story intricately weaves together elements of mystery, Indigenous culture, and societal issues, offering a poignant exploration of tradition, resilience, and self-discovery.

Characters:

The characters are richly drawn, particularly Daunis, who embodies the struggle of living between two worlds.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style weaves cultural authenticity and personal depth through Daunis's internal and external conflicts.

Plot/Storyline:

The story centers on Daunis as she confronts her mixed heritage and engages in an FBI drug investigation within her community.

Setting:

The setting immerses readers in the unique cultural backdrop of the Ojibwe community, enhancing the story's authenticity.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, with a slower start focused on character and cultural context that transitions to a faster-paced investigation.
I start my day before sunrise, throwing on running clothes and laying a pinch of semaa at the eastern base of a tree, where sunlight will touch the tobacco first. Prayers begin with offering semaa and...

Notes:

The protagonist, Daunis Fontaine, is a biracial young woman with Ojibwe and white heritage.
The story addresses serious issues like drug addiction, murder, and racism within Daunis's community.
Daunis is drawn into an FBI investigation as a confidential informant after witnessing a traumatic event.
The novel highlights the cultural aspects of the Anishinaabe community and incorporates their language and traditions.
Hockey plays a significant role in the story, as the protagonist and her brother are both talented players.
The book is set in 2004 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, specifically in Sault Ste Marie.
The narrative is told in the first-person point of view, giving an intimate look into Daunis's thoughts and feelings.
The author, Angeline Boulley, is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
The title 'Firekeeper's Daughter' reflects the author's personal heritage and the responsibilities that come with it.
The book is marketed towards young adults but deals with adult themes making it possibly suitable for a more mature audience.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include drug use, violence, assault, suicide, and themes of grief and trauma.

Has Romance?

Romance is present but it is intertwined with the main character's struggles and isn't the central focus of the narrative.

From The Publisher:

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller

Soon to be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground.

"One of this year's most buzzed about young adult novels." -Good Morning America

A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time Selection

Amazon's Best YA Book of 2021 So Far (June 2021)

A 2021 Kids' Indie Next List Selection

An Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Selection

A PopSugar Best March 2021 YA Book Selection

With four starred reviews, Angeline Boulley's debut novel, Firekeeper's Daughter, is a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, perfect for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange.

Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi's hockey team.

Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug.

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims.

Now, as the deceptions-and deaths-keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she'll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she's ever known.

Ratings (24)

Incredible (8)
Loved It (10)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (64):

Read It (25)
Want To Read (32)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (6)

3 comment(s)

Incredible
1 week

I had high expectations for this book going in and I was by no means disappointed, more that it went over my expectations by a lot. It was an intense and emersive story that while was very intriguing with the plot and characters, did teach me a lot about a culture I know nothing about. I hope the author will publish another book soon as I really enjoyed her way to tell a story

 
4 months

The pacing was off; didn't feel super invested in the story or characters; writing was weird and felt disjointed in places

 
Liked It
5 months

I liked the dichotomy between Daunis' Fontaine and Firekeeper sides throughout the book and how big a point of contention it is. The middle where she is an informant and the side stepping with Jamie was really tedious for me. There was a lot of skimming in the middle.

However, the ending really ramped the novel back up and I think it brings a neat resolution to it all.

 

About the Author:

Angeline Boulley, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is a storyteller who writes about her Ojibwe community in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She is a former Director of the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Angeline lives in southwest Michigan, but her home will always be on Sugar Island. Firekeeper's Daughter is her debut novel.

 
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