In Firekeepers Daughter, we follow Daunis Fontaine as she navigates her identity and where she belongs. As a biracial 18 year old with a white mom and Native American father, she has never quite fit in. She grew up with her white mom, and learned about her Native roots through her father’s sister. Although she’s biracial, she is fiercely proud and protective of her Indian community. She eventually finds herself in the middle of an undercover criminal investigation to find a drug ring suspected to be on her reservation. She agrees to be an informant, but there’s no way she could prepare herself for what her investigation would unearth.

I really enjoyed this own voices story. Angeline Boulley did a great job writing a story rich with Native American language, tradition, ceremony, folktales...etc. It’s so important to have stories about this community from people who identify with the community. I liked every ounce of Native American culture she put into this story. It’s also just nice to read a story about this community that goes against stereotypical depictions. We need so much more of this!

The mix of mystery and young love was great. Daunis has gone through so much even before the investigation starts, so I was happy she had a romantic interest as a positive light during a dark time. The build up to the investigation was slow, but once the investigation started, I was glued to the story and I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. It was a mystery I couldn’t predict, and the result had my jaw on the floor. I also really loved every character in this story. Daunis in particular is so strong, kind, respectful, passionate, and intelligent. She is a true fighter.

I didn’t necessarily like how much trauma Daunis experienced in the story. Not to say it’s impossible or unlikely that anyone can go through all those things, but I think the story could’ve still been strong if less negative things happened to her. It’s as if Boulley just wrote in every bad thing she could think of. In this case, I think less would’ve been more. I also think there are multiple scenes that didn’t add anything to the story and could’ve been scrapped.

Overall, this is a great story, and I’m looking forward to more from this author. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian for the Firekeeper's Daughter ARC.

This is a phenomenal debut--I can't stop thinking about it days after I finished it. It's marketed as a YA mystery/thriller, but it is so, so much more than that. It's also a literary book that is the most poetically beautiful thing I've read in awhile, and it includes so much well-deployed information about Anishinaabe culture, religion, and language (but even the most info-dumpy sections are well-motivated and gloriously well-incorporated). It's NEVER a slog, though I do think the novel is a bit long and includes so many different tones that at times I felt a bit of whiplash (particularly in the transition from pt. 1 to pt. 2). However, I think this is probably, for the most part, intentional, as it mirrors the whiplash the main character is experiencing (as well as the way violence/trauma and assault/murder interrupt the flow of life and irrevocably change things). I felt like the thriller elements weren't quite as well done as the rest, but that doesn't detract much from this tour-de-force of an epic novel (and I did not go into this expecting any 'epic' quality, but here we are).

An extraordinary debut novel that brings the beauty and depth of the Ojibwe culture to life. The story pulls you in not only with the mystery at its center but the way it weaves in all the facets of Ojibwe life into the story is truly remarkable. You will come away from this story touched on so many different levels. The experiences that so many Native women have lived is so vital to bring to a wider audience and this book does that important work through this well crafted, wonderfully paced story that brings so many amazing characters to life. The story focuses on Daunis, a biracial, but not enrolled member of the Ojibwe tribe. She should be leaving Sault Ste Marie for college but a family tragedy has changed her plans and will keep her at the local college. Daunis loves science and medicine as well as hockey, and through her brother she meets the local hockey teams newest star member, Jaime. But there is something that just doesn't quite mesh with Jaime, and after a devastating murder close to Daunis, she discovers exactly why things seemed off. There has been an explosion of meth related incidents and this latest brings an undercover FBI operation to town. Daunis becomes an informant in order to help but the connections she finds to so many people close to her and revelations about her past have terrible impacts beyond anything she could have imagined. Add to that the connection she has with Jamie which brings both joy and heartache in equal measure.
I absolutely loved how Angeline weaves in so many traditional stories but also combines that with the science of plants and medicine and how these are combined into Daunis' worldview. The importance of the elders and their knowledge, the strength of the bonds between women and how this is the core of the story make this just a gripping tale. And the reveals of who is behind the incidents certainly left me shocked!! The relationship between Daunis and Jaime is beautifully written, and the novel is full of so many wonderful, complex, flawed, real characters whose experiences will stay with you long beyond finishing the book. This book is fantastic not only for mystery lovers but for anyone who wants a greater understanding of Native culture and specifically the experiences of Native women. Truly, this a marvelous read.

You know the saying “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover” well in this case, you can. The beautifully illustrated cover leads to an intricately crafted story about community, heritage, family and love.

Daunis was raised between two worlds and learns to navigate between them,. Boulley’s descriptions of life in the Eastern Upper Peninsula are spot on including the cultural aspects of Anishinaabe traditions.
Great debut!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian for the Firekeeper's Daughter ARC.

I couldn't put this book down. It's one of the best books I've read in a while. Well-written, well-plotted, with fully fleshed out characters. I was given an advanced reader's copy through NetGalley.

Content warning: This book contains gun violence, sexual assault, drug overdose and possession.

Daunis Fontaine is bi-racial and struggles to fit into her two worlds: her mother's white family and her Ojibwe culture. She dreams of studying medicine but puts her plans on hold when tragedy strikes her family. Her Uncle David dies, presumably of an overdose, and shortly after her grandmother suffers a stroke. Daunis decides to spend her freshman year of college at home, where she can support her family and still earn course credit.

Everything feels a little easier when Daunis meets Jamie. Handsome and kind, he's new to town and the newest player on her brother Levi's hockey team. It isn't long before Daunis finds herself trying to push aside the way Jamie makes her feel.

But everything changes on a fateful night when Daunis witnesses a murder. It's clear Jamie is not at all who he appeared to be and something sinister is happening in her community. Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to become a citizen informant to uncover what's happening in her community. It is hoped that her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine will help uncover exactly what's happening and who's responsible. But each clue leads to more questions and more deception. Daunis has to decide how far she'll go to protect her community.

Daunis is tough. She doesn't take anyone's shit but she's an unquestionably good person who cares deeply for her family and her community. I want there to be more main characters like her! Smart and ambitious, she's determined to figure out what's going on in her community and who is causing it. Her relationships are beautiful. Her friendship with her best friend Lily, Lily's grandmother and other elders in her community, with her aunt are all such good stable relationships built on trust and respect. I loved seeing the strong support system she had even when she was forced to pull away from them because her role as an informant. Her relationship with Jamie is complicated to say the least. There are so many layers of truths and lies to untangle but it is clear he truly wants what's best for her.

Untangling the layers of this thrilling mystery was exciting, heart-pounding and, at times, even jaw-dropping. It was difficult to put the book down and go to bed. I truly didn't want to stop reading. Daunis' journey is full of emotion and pain but she has the support of a community that will always carry her through her most painful moments and show her how to heal, which was beautiful to read about. The ending felt right for the story and for Daunis as a character. Her strength is there at every moment in the book, guiding her.

I appreciated and loved the way Dauni's Ojibwe culture was shared and weaved throughout the story. It was so clearly a part of her character and I learned so much. I am grateful to the author for sharing that knowledge.

I'll be continuing the story in my head, creating a vision of how I want Daunis' life to turn out but I ended this book feeling it was true to Daunis.

Firekeeper's Daughter is a book that swept me away. I was pacing myself, minding my own business, until at about 60% when I needed to finish the whole thing in one evening. Oops. There are so many elements I loved about this ownvoices debut like the feelings of Daunis feeling split between the pieces of her family. Boulley tells the story of Daunis feeling like her identity is controlled and defined by other people. The complications in the system while also knowing the truth in our bones.

Firekeeper's Daughter doesn't shy away from the trauma of the past. The generations of cruelty, racism, and crimes committed against the Native community. One of my favorite elements is Daunis' family. It's complex, but full of so much tenderness both in our biological relations, and the found family, her community. Boulley tackles the notions of "one of the good ones" as well as questioning how we seek justice. Does it take external help or do we have to root out the problems in our community from the inside?

Firekeeper’s Daughter is a gripping read that explores modern Ojibwe life through the eyes of an incredible character entangled in a criminal investigation. Daunis is a biracial teenager who witnessed a murder and is pressured to assist the FBI in their investigation, all while seeking her place in the Ojibwe community. This was a very powerful book that will stick with you long after you finish it. I would highly recommend this book for older teen readers, due to the realistic issues that the main character faces (violence, drugs, sexual assault, and more). These topics are treated with dignity and maturity; at no point is the description excessive or exploitative. This is sure to be a popular title, and rightfully so.

This is an incredible debut novel, full of emotion, courage, devastation, and truth. It is technically a mystery/thriller, but the character development and cultural insight make it so much more than one genre. I hesitate to give more details because it will spoil the magic of going into this book without knowing what’s in store, but it is a must-read. One thing I do want to mention is that this is the first recent book I’ve read that is set in the early 2000s, and I really enjoyed it as someone who grew up during that time (flip phones, low rise jeans, no social media!).

As a white reader, I very much enjoyed the insight into Ojibwe culture and language, and really felt the tensions Daunis experiences between the two sides of her family. This book is devastating in a lot of ways, but it’s also hopeful.

It it marketed as YA, but should really be read by only mature teens and adults. The topics covered would’ve been too mature for me as a teen, but I was a very sheltered late bloomer.

For anyone who is interested in Native/Ojibwe culture, loves kickass women, or appreciates a good mystery, this is a must read!

Author Angeline Boulley's debut has a soothing storytelling tone and strong female protagonist.

Thank you for the e-ARC Macmillan Children and NetGalley!

Listed as fantasy however I looked up but both the Ojibwe tribe and Anishinaabe indigenous people and yes they did exist!
Ojibwe Indians (msu.edu)
also
http://www.bigorrin.org/anishinabe_kids.htm

I am not a big fantasy fan and sometimes they work for me other times they are Okay!
I have no doubt there are many readers who will connect with this story and love it!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this early release granted to me for an honest professional review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 2, 2021

t took me a long time to read and process this book. The story of an Anishinaabe young woman who stumbles into an FBI investigation on her reservation seemed a little ridiculous. However the incorporation of Ojibwe/Saulteaux culture into the story was carried off pretty well, and saved most of the incredulous scenes.

Daunis is a half white, half Abishinaabe woman living in Sault Ste Marie, UP Michigan. She lives with her white mother, who comes from a well off family in Sault. Her life has had a lot of upheaval before the story starts, including the sudden death of her beloved Uncle David, the debilitating stroke of her mother's mother Grand Mary, the end of her hockey dreams, and a break up. She runs every day to help herself heal from these things, all the while anticipating another tragedy, which comes when her friend Lily becomes entangled with a meth dealer.

Obviously there's a LOT happening in this book, and the juggling of all the plots points kept me from getting into the story for the first half. I kept putting it down because it was getting too complicated, then picking it back up to be so lost in the story that I had to backtrack to figure out what was going on (again). At some point I figured out everything that was happening, and all the players involved, and from there the story went by quickly. Once it got going, it was great. Very exciting, and even though the story takes place in 2004, there were a lot of things that felt very true to now. The characters were fantastic, from Levi to Auntie's family, to Ron, to all the elders, who reminded me so much of the elders in my own Native community, full of humor and snark, and willing to do anything to protect their community.

There were a few points about the story that bothered me, and are the reason this book is not a five star. The main thing that made me nuts was that Daunis was so willing to be an informant to the FBI. I cannot imagine a Native person who would voluntarily do this. Maybe if the FBI was threatening, or blackmailing someone with federal charges, or federal prison, but some kindly FBI agents ask you for a favor, and you just do it? There is not an Indigenous person in the world who is raised to trust the FBI, or the Bureau of Indian Affairs. At best, you would treat them with extreme suspicion. Agreeing to help them out, just because you feel like it? No, no, no, no, no. Daunis has some bullshit about how she wants to protect her community, and her little cousins, which are sentiments any Native woman can agree with, but any Native woman also knows the real ways to protect the community and they have more to do with blanket parties, and yellow pansies than with government agencies. I guess I can imagine that Daunis, who is not an enrolled member of the tribe and has always felt like something of an outsider to "true" tribal members maybe doesn't feel empowered to help her people in any other way, but this still felt stupid. The way to be accepted by tribal communities is to NOT run around with the FBI. Along with that, she tells EVERYTHING about her community to Jaime, the FBI agent posing as her boyfriend. As a reader I liked the info dump of Anishinaabe Life 101, especially because although some things about their culture is familiar, and even similar to Pueblo culture, so much of the information given were things I didn't know. But again, I don't know of many Native people who could get away with just spilling out every secret of their culture to someone who doesn't belong to that culture, and who is there to gather information that could hurt people in the community. At some point Daunis is like, "Oh yeah, I probably should stop telling him so many secrets," but to quote George Costanza in the infamous "backwards" episode of Seinfeld, "But you already told me everything!" As a Pueblo woman I am constantly amazed at the openness of Northern tribes, just yapping away about every little aspect of their culture, so take my Puebloan criticism with a grain of salt, but Daunis's eagerness to share every little thing about Anishinaabe life was . . . startling. Especially considering she was sharing with an FBI agent who clearly had no idea what his tribal status was, or even who his people were.

Getting past these nitpicks, this is great book that depicts modern Native life beautifully. Daunis is a proud Nish Kwe, a strong Indigenous woman who takes her connection to her people very seriously. Their continuance is her focus, and the reason for her life's work, but she is fully aware of the negative aspects of life as a Native woman. The sexual assault, the access to drugs, the divide between those who are enrolled, and those who are not, and the divide between those who are mixed, and passing, and those who are not. Instead of painting over these problems, or justifying them, she works like hell to make sure there is some justice to keep her people moving forward. Her culture defines her, but doesn't immerse her. I like to think the same is true of me. I also loved all the characters who reflect a range of so many Native people, from the father who drums and sings outside his son's jail cell, to the elders who wryly call their cars "good pony" and who come through for Daunis more than once, to Auntie who carries the burden of being a Native woman and mother with grace and strength. I see people I know and love reflected in these characters, and I am so grateful this book tells pieces of their story. And although I nitpicked and struggled with this book I am so glad more Indigenous fiction is being published; someday I will be able to pick and chose over the great ones, and the bad ones, and not feel guilty when I don't love everything about them because there will be so many Native writers out there it won't matter that there are some not so great ones. This one falls in the middle for me in terms of story, but is a ten star reflection of Native life.

This is one of the best books I've ever read and while it is labeled YA, I believe it transcends age.

I was totally invested in this beautifully written novel and grew so attached to the characters that I didn't want it to end. It's a book that is always going to stay with me-- it's incredibly woven narrative, use of Anishinaabe language and traditions and it's heartbreaking resolution are still tugging at my heartstrings. Daunis Fontaine is the MC that all Indigenous girls need in their lives and I loved how she was unapologetically herself.

I feel like I just said this, (see Barren Grounds review), but although this is technically YA, it covers so many issues-- intergenerational trauma, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, blood quantum, racism, murder and MMIW-- that it transcends age (also note potential content warnings). I don’t want to give too much away because I think the mystery and suspense is what majorly drives the plot, but my absolute favorite part of the book was the Elders and Daunis’ relationship with them. But I also loved her Auntie. Gah! I loved it all.

Daunis Fontaine just graduated from high school and is getting ready to head off to U of M in the fall. Then, Uncle David dies and GrandMary has a stroke and she decides to stay home, go to the local community college with her best friend Lilly, and take care of her fragile mom. Still, things aren't all bad, she and Lilly will go to classes together and a cute new guy has joined her brother Levi's hockey team.

Then, the community is rocked by a shocking murder and Daunis, as the only witness, finds herself in the middle of an FBI investigation. Agreeing to become a confidential informant is a hard decision for this biracial, unenrolled tribal girl who doesn't feel like she's fully accepted by either the Ojibwe people or the White community of her mother's family. But, Daunis considers herself an Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and starts her own secret investigation in the investigation, determined to protect her community traditions while helping law enforcement officials.

Trigger warnings: drug use, meth addiction, rape, violence against women, grief & mourning, racism

Daunis is a strong protagonist, looking out for others and herself and making mostly good decisions. The world Boulley creates feel completely real and I felt like I was sitting there playing cards with the Elders at the Tribal Community Center and tromping through the woods with Daunis. The tension between traditional tribal ways of life and modern American life were dealt with respectfully as she works to find a balance for herself. I love how Boulley portrays the Indigenous woman's power and powerlessness. She both honors their traditions and their innate strength and beauty, while at the same time exposing how the current system both victimizes them and allows their abusers to do so with immunity. It's raw and heartbreaking, but inspiring and powerful, too.

This book is a coming of age YA novel, but it's also a crime novel and it does both very well. I look forward to reading more from this debut author! I highly recommend <i>Firekeeper's Daughter</i> to all readers ages 14+. 5 stars


Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As an Anishinaabe reviewer, I can say confidently that this book is good medicine. Angeline Boulley has artfully crafted a story that is both fiercely Anishinaabe and also accessible to those readers unfamiliar with Anishinaabe community, history, and culture. Firekeeper’s Daughter is also multi-layered with a gripping plot and care and love for Anishinaabeg (Boulley’s dialectic uses Anishinaabek).

Firekeeper’s Daughter is precisely the kind of book I wish I had access to as a teenager and young adult. While her novel is centered around real and difficult issues (drug abuse, violence, MMIW), she has also crafted a novel that exposes the unwavering strength of Indigenous knowledge and community. Daunis Fontaine is relatable and inspiring. Her family and elders are determined, loving, and funny. And, despite all that faces Daunis and her people, Boulley deftly shows how Anishinaabe people survive and will continue to do so.

I can’t wait to reread this novel!

Boulley provides readers with an excellent mystery to unravel intertwined in a rare setting found in fiction - Indigenous American lands and communities. The ties to culture and family are at the heart of this novel, and while the pacing was a little slow in parts, this was an incredible read, and one to come back to again and again.

I had the wonderful opportunity of getting to read Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley ahead of its publication date March 16 2020.

I went into the book not knowing much but I thoroughly enjoyed where the story took me. to be brief, the novel begins with some devastating events that lead our protagonist Daunis Fontaine into the eye of an FBI investigation.

It’s so easy for me to say what I loved about this novel: from Daunis’s unwavering love and care for her community, the immersive experience that Boulley created for the reader, the tender care that Boulley and Daunis both held for those struggling with addictions and never once vilifying them, and the resilience of Indigenous people and our languages. I love all the Anishinaabemowin words and traditions and teachings that were woven into this book.

kinanâskomitin to Angeline Boulley for this beautiful novel that i won’t forget. I encourage everyone to pre-order or pick this up on march 16! Truly an unforgettable reading experience.

This is a great own voices, indigenous author book to have on a classroom shelf, Thrilling, compelling, and engaging, This one is sure to have students wanting to start a conversation.

This story is the perfect mix of mystery and coming-of-age, and I could not put it down - twist after twist and the power of family and friendship kept me hooked.

As an outsider looking in, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the traditions and culture of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Daunis’ relationship between her mother’s wealthy Eurocentric family and her father’s native family is a central struggle because she feels as if she has one foot in each community. The dynamic between and within each community is fascinating as well.

I was left wanting to visit this area of Michigan to see the beautiful locations described and to learn more about the “Lost” boys and girls in the native community.

I will start by saying I was under the false assumption that this was a fantasy piece and I am sadly inadequately educated on the many indigenous nations that exist in North America. I'm embarrassed to say I did not realize the Anishinaabe people were real for the first few chapters and I diligently educating myself as I read. I found the passages where Daunis acts as cultural ambassador for one of the side characters to be a brilliant tool to educate the reader in Ojibwe culture while moving the story along.

The story itself was heartbreaking and captivating- I now believe its slow start is completely intentional because I as the reader, like the main character, entered this story with a certain level of naïveté that is completely broken down and built back up by the end of the book. Some of the mature themes (injustice/betrayal/ identity/toxic vs health relationships/grief) are not exclusive to indigenous people and will undoubtedly cross cultural boundaries -but are representations that are absolutely needed in a YA readings.

I was in tears by the end of this book because, despite it being a complete work of fiction, I knew this narrative was most likely pieced together from many realities. This story brings awareness to disproportionate statistics of sexual assault, missing persons cases, drug abuse, poverty, and violence against women faced on reservations. However, despite the hardships- these communities continue to hold strong to their heritages and aim to restore, rebuild, and endure. I think the only think that could possibly make this book better is pointing the reader toward resources for furthering their education at the end.

I loved how the character of Daunis is split between two worlds: her rich, white grandmother's world and her Native roots from her father's family at the same time. She is so respectful of both worlds and I love how this allows the author to have a reason to "explain" things without it sounding like a textbook. "Native means different things, depending on who is asking and why... It's your identity, but i gets defined or controlled by other people." When Daunis is asked by the FBI to help with an investigation into a meth distribution ring, it becomes that much more important to her to define for herself who she is in the world. But first she must understand the secrets kept by those closest to her as well as overcome her own issues with trust and love.

All the buzz about this book is so well deserved. The perfect combo of a coming-of-age story, a thriller, an Own Voices story with romance. And a pitch-perfect ending.