This YA novel for older teens and beyond has so many layers. Duanis is a biracial 17 year old who runs, loves science, and is close to the Ojibwe side of her family. She is making mature decisions and is set on a path for her life, It gets delayed by a need to be home during a loved ones’s illness and then a tragic death fills her with grief. The events of the story include deaths of peers, an FBI investigation, and a forbidden romance. Readers may have their suspicions about who is behind the dangerous drug causing deaths and violent acts in the community, but the last few chapters are unexpected and twisty. The included romance starts off as fake dating, but not for the usual trope reasons. The author knows this community and its people and learning about cultural practices and traditions are part of the evolving plot.

I listened to the completed audiobook and read parts of the e-galley provided by Henry & Holt and NetGalley. Thanks to both. My ratings and reviews are my own.

Content Warnings: suicide, murder, sexual assault, drug abuse, and physical acts of violence.

The Firekeeper's Daughter lived up to the praise and buzz. The writing is often lyrical and the story beautifully crafted. I've been recommending this book to my reader friends of all ages.

In Firekeeper's Daughter, we are introduced to Daunis Fontaine, an eighteen-year-old mixed race (half white, half Ojibwe) young lady getting ready for her first semester of college. She is from a hockey town, well known amongst the die hard hockey fans, called Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan (it's not Salt, it's pronounced Soo). Her father, Levi Firekeeper, was a great hockey player until an accident ended his career. Both she and her brother (also Levi) are hockey players.

Her family's past though is a little complicated. Her mother is from the richest white family in town. When she discovered she was pregnant, she went to tell Levi, only to catch him in the act of cheating. She ran off, he followed and got into the accident. Her parents sent her to stay with relatives in Montreal. When she returned with three-month-old Daunis, she discovered he was now married and had a son called Levi Jr.

Despite this unfortunate beginning for Daunis, her mother always made sure she had access to her Ojibwe family, no matter how much her GrandMary (grandmother) disagreed with it. Daunis grew up in two different worlds. One that was white and French, the other that was a part of the indigenous Ojibwe community.

I'm always a big supporter of stories featuring mixed race kids, because I am one myself. You're always stuck between two worlds, and one side is usually unaccepting of the other side. You tend to be more assimilated into one culture than the other. But you're always an outsider of both cultures, and never fully accepted, even though you do everything you can to be accepted.

Daunis here is in the same boat. She is a star hockey player, really smart, volunteers her time, a pillar in her community, and always looking out for her friends and family. She is literally a female warrior throughout this book, and that's what made me love her character so much. They call this Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman).

When we enter Firekeeper's Daughter, it is shortly after Daunis's uncle dies from an overdose. Two months later, her GrandMary is hospitalized. Her mother takes off work to watch over her while she is in a long-term care facility, and Daunis decides to forego leaving home to attend college at University of Michigan so she can be closer to her family during this time. She decides to enroll in the local community college where her friend Lily will be attending, and then transfer to U of M the following year if everything gets better.

What Daunis doesn't know is that her world is just starting to change.

It starts with a murder, then a suicide. Then she is roped into an FBI investigation where she is asked to become an informant to help them uncover where a strange strain of meth is coming from. All the FBI knows is that it has something to do with her small town, her community, and hockey. But how?

It is here that I would like to warn readers that there are content warnings for this book. Do not read if you are sensitive to any triggers, because to accurately tell the story of the Ojibwe people, the author had to talk about the things that happen in their community. It is not all fairy tales and happy endings...although, this one had a fantastic girl power ending.

Indigenous communities suffer from a higher rate of suicide among men than any other race in North America. They are plagued with substance abuse issues, drugs, and criminal activity. What broke my heart though is that this is a harsh wake up call for those who want to understand how people of color are treated in America, especially when a group of people face systemic racism and poverty. People are forced to do things that can destroy everything about the community they love, just for their own survival. And they don't care who gets hurt along the way.

When I realized in the story who was behind the drugs, I kept thinking...no. Please, no. This will break Daunis's heart. But if Boulley is going to accurately describe what was happening in her community, she needed to tell the truths that would hurt. But she helps the reader survive those heartbreaks by making Daunis a strong Ojibwe woman.

Daunis doesn't let the evils of the world transform her or stop her from being her own true self. She builds strength by standing against the evils and standing with her community. When she stands with them, they stand with her. And that is a powerful message.

I highly recommend this book. It was a 21 Jump Street meets hockey in an Ojibwe community kind of story. It tells us about the horrors that Ojibwe women go through, as well as what their community is going through. Boulley wanted to remain as true as possible to their stories when she wrote this book. She enlightens the world with who the Ojibwe people are and how they are being destroyed, yet somehow she knows all too well they will survive together if they stick together.

I think Firekeeper's Daughter will be one of the big award winners this year. It is a superb novel in every way. This is one of those books that sinks into your bones and makes you a better person for having read it.

Daunis is deeply rooted in her native spirituality and community. She longs to study medicine, but is instead taking a year to take classes at the community college with her best friend while she helps her mother take care of her dying grandmother. Life is primarily going according to her plan, until her best friend is killed by her boyfriend, and Daunis's life is turned upside down. She becomes immersed in a dark secret plaguing her tribe and must decide for herself if she is willing to do anything to help her tribe, or keep these secrets to herself. (Disclaimer, I had a really hard time summarizing this beautifully complex novel without giving anything away. This book really just needs to be experienced.)

I admired so much about Daunis. I loved how her spirituality and belief system propelled her. I loved how she put her family first, even when it was hard. I loved how Daunis looked at and experienced the world. My heart broke with her and for her over and over. I cannot imagine living through the loss she has experienced, and how strong she was when it came to making decisions that might ostracize her from her family.

I loved the way this book was written. All of the characters had something to say. I loved learning more about this culture, and even though a dark side was exposed, overall, the positive insight into this tribe was life-changing. I am so thankful for the privilege to have read this book and to have learned so much. Daunis has inspired me in so many ways. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this book will become a YA classic, and I cannot wait to watch it win all kinds of awards this year.

Content: Language, kissing and sex, drug use and distribution, sexual assault, murder, death of a friend, death of a family member. Recommended for older teens.

I loved this book from starting to the end. It has ao many plot twists. The native American representation was good too. I will record this book. It was a good read.

WOW. This is a serious Morris contender- just a fantastic debut! Plot was riveting and the Ojibwe culture represented authentically. Could not put this down!

Firekeeper’s Daughter is a phenomenal book. It is the story of 18-year-old Dauntis Fontaine who is an unenrolled tribal member of her Ojibwe tribe. She becomes a witness to an awful crime that spirals into something much more. This story really has something for everyone. Mystery, check…thriller, check…hockey fan, check… Ojibwe culture, check…a gripping story with fantastic characters, check and check. It simply has it all. The characters and the culture were some of my favorite parts. I loved how Dauntis kind of explains things as she is doing them. She teaches us about her culture and why members do certain things. I enjoyed learning of the different Anishinaabe teachings and how death and grieving are approached. The elders at the community center were wonderful. Turns out they were helpful in so many ways. The mystery part was solid. While I was able to put the pieces together it did not take anything away from the pulse-pounding ending. It is a top three book of the year for me. I loved it. I can’t wait to read more from this author, their talent is extraordinary

This was an engaging novel. Daunis's loyalties are tested throughout the book and that is partially what kept me turning pages. The other part is that it is a compelling mystery. I had a feeling I knew who the bad guys were early on and when I was proved right it did not diminish my enjoyment of the novel.

The Firekeeper's Daughter is an exploration into the complicated relationships that exist in tribal communities. Boulley uses mystery as a way to present difficult social and political issues that Indigenous communities experience. The plot is intriguing and fast-paced due to the amazing female protagonist and supporting characters. Daunis is fully conceptualized with emotion and strength. She understands her place in the community and how her physical appearance allows for bias. Throughout her investigation, the reader is introduced to the culture and traditions of the Ojibwe reservation. Boulley does the transitions from Ojibwe and American language/culture seamlessly and readers will walk away from the book with a greater knowledge of Ojibwe culture. While some of the mystery is predictable, some twists and turns will surprise the readaer.

This book was so many things to me. I am not a Native American but I do recognize a portion of the things that they deal with and am more than saddened by the reality they must live with. There was so many hard things dealt with or brought up in this book and sadly many do not realize the are truths and not a work of fiction.

The Author crafted Daunis, Lily and every other character in this book beautifully. Their circumstances were often a beautiful and more often horrible truths. Daunis is strong and willful and everything that I want in a main character. She deals with so much but to her it is life and her people and tribe come first. At times my heart heart broke for her, I wanted to scream at the injustices she was regularly facing but I admired her for so many other reasons.

Every bit of this book is packed with emotion and I cannot recommend it enough. There are some triggers, so please be aware. That being said I liked how honest to the situations everything was and am glad that this may start shedding some light on issues that should be acknowledged instead of being brushed aside.

I don’t have words for how stunning this book was. I’m in absolute awe of everything that Angeline Boulley was able to accomplish in this debut. I learned so much about the beauty and the resilience of Ojibwe culture, as well as the generational pain. I’m just absolutely gut punched by the power of this book and I need everyone I know to read it.

What an unexpected treat! Firekeeper’s Daughter is not a light-hearted book by any means, so I truly did not expect to enjoy reading it this much. The heart-wrenching, twisty plot had me hooked from the start; and Daunis’s dry humor, sardonic wit, and boundless intelligence were delightful.

Boulley's ownvoices novel is an amazing combination of celebration of indigenous peoples' beliefs, history, and everyday lives with a modern day issue plaguing people of various ethnicities. The pros and cons of being an enrolled tribal member juxtaposed with the non-native law enforcement's efforts to crack down on drugs. Throw in some family drama, the hockey world as it appears in a place where hockey is king, and a strong, smart, loving female protagonist and you've got a winner. I expect this will be on several short lists for awards and honors this year.

I really loved this book! It captivated my attention and I found it had the perfect balance of dialogue and narrative. The author did a wonderful job developing the characters and storyline. As an educator to middle schoolers, I would be hesitant to recommend this book as some themes are a bit too mature; however, I think high school and college age students would enjoy.

WOW! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! This was such a powerful and heartbreaking story, and it left me speechless. I will auto-buy anything this author publishes in the future. I can't believe this was a debut, it was so amazing.

Such a powerful book. The main character, Daunis, went on such a heart-breaking journey in this book. She is dealing with the two sides of her family and mourning her Uncle while also managing the situation with her grandmother's deteriorating health. Then when her best friend dies well I just wanted to wrap her up in a hug. Daunis does her best to protect her community and find answers only for those answers to come at a terrible price. Her pain, her loss and her grief were tangible. I wanted to scream at the injustice of it all, but I also admired her strength. This was a very moving, very impactful story.

BOOK REPORT for Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Richly Layered
Bonus Factor: Strong Women, Ojibwe Culture, Hockey
Anti-Bonus Factors: Sexual Assault, Drugs
Relationship Status: Something There


Cover Story: Montell Jordan

I think this cover is so eye-catching and beautiful. Going off the story points alone there is a lot of meaning hidden away in the layers of the colors and images, and I’m guessing there may be more that I’m not catching if the author had any input in the design. This is one I’d never brown-bag.

The Deal:

Daunis Fontaine lives in one of those towns where everyone thinks they know her, her story, or her family. She’s got roots tying her to Sault Ste. Marie going back generations on both sides of her family tree, and enough scandal in that family past to continually fuel the flames of gossip. But Daunis herself is just trying to make it through what has become a very traumatic year. Her beloved uncle David died after a relapse, and her GrandMary recently suffered a debilitating stroke. She decides to go to a college closer to home so she can keep an eye out on her mom and try to keep the tattered remains of her life together.

Unfortunately, she didn’t heed her Firekeeper grandmother’s words that bad things come in threes. After a tragic murder compounded by a meth epidemic that is sweeping across her community, Daunis decides to protect her people the only way she knows how: by discovering the truth, even if it means risking her future in the process.

BFF Charm: Yay

Daunis has to go through a lot of growing pains and major events challenging her expectations in this book. Some people would completely shut down, but Daunis isn’t the type to stand by and let things knock her down. She may start off a bit naïve sometimes, but I can see glimpses of the measured, wise woman she will one day be, and that person seems pretty great. I will be the first to say I am not very science-minded, so I enjoyed being in Daunis’s headspace because it was so different from my own. I guarantee this comparison would never have crossed my mind, but I liked the imagery:

I watch Levi, with Stormy at his side, as they are absorbed into the mass of excited fans. It’s like watching a human depiction of phagocytosis, with my brother and his best friend playing the part of bacteria getting swallowed by the crowd as one giant feasting amoeba.

Swoonworthy Scale: 5

Jamie is the new guy in town whose hockey skills get him an instant spot on the Supes, the local hockey team where Daunis’s brother, Levi, is the captain. Levi needs someone to show Jamie the ropes and volunteers Daunis’s time. It’s not exactly a hardship, because Jamie is inquisitive, kind, and, of course, HOT, but he’s also got a long-distance girlfriend, so Daunis has to continually remind herself that he is off limits.

Talky Talk: Richly Layered

It’s hard to talk about the plot without revealing too much, and I don’t want to ruin how the plot unfurls, so I’ll keep that vague. It took me some time to “get into” the story; in fact I picked it up and put it down over the course of a month and couldn’t get past the first few chapters. On one hand, this was absolutely my fault; I tried to read it on my phone while out and about, and this is not the kind of book you can give half your attention to. The other problem was the story itself—it throws you in the middle of Daunis’s life and name-drops a ton of people, places, and complicated familial relationships without a lot of hand-holding. This will absolutely turn some people off, but I promise that if you keep reading it will eventually make sense. Once I sat down and gave the book my undivided attention, I was quickly swept up in the investigation and the rich culture of the Ojibwe tribe.

I enjoyed Boulley’s thoughtful, quiet writing style, and there were some beautiful contemplations about life, grief, and finding one’s place in the world. Like the bit I quoted above, she also had some great observational moments that caught my eye:

Her laughter is a wind chime of glass shards, quick and pretty but with dangerous edges.

Elders speak Anishinaabemowin while they work on puzzles together. Others speak English, with Ojibwe words added liberally like salt on bland food.

He has a barely there mustache I recognize in Native guys whose facial hair present as lone wolves determined not to get too close to one another.

If I had to nitpick, the book definitely could have easily been shorter and still provided the same impact, but, overall, it was a strong debut. I would gladly pick up another of this author’s books in the future.

Bonus Factor: Strong Women

Daunis has no shortage of positive female figures in her life, and I loved seeing all these relationships. Special shout-out to her BFF Lily’s bad-ass Granny June, who is the kind of older lady we should all aspire to be. I also enjoyed Daunis’s aunt, Teddie, who is a strong leader in her community and suffers no fools, and who will text her niece things like, “YOUR PLEASURE IS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN HIS. MAKE SURE HE KNOWS THAT.” Damn straight, Aunt Teddie.

Bonus Factor: Ojibwe Culture

I am woefully under-educated about Native American culture, as I am willing to bet many of us are. There is a distinct lack of Native authors and stories in the publishing industry, which seems to be one reason the author felt drawn to writing Daunis’s story. I love when fiction both teaches and entertains, and Boulley weaves in a ton of interesting cultural stories/information while also giving space to heavy current events affecting her community.

Bonus Factor: Hockey

You know how crazy small towns in the South get about football? Well the same can be said for small towns in the Mid-West and hockey. As my most-tolerated sport, I liked the inclusion of the hockey moments, although I whole-heartedly reject the gross attitudes people continually display towards male athletes and letting them get away with inappropriate behavior.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Sexual Assault

Your heart will ache and you will burn with righteous rage at all the casually horrible things women suffer at the hands of heinous men. The Native women of Daunis’s tribe have a few of their own rituals to deal with this injustice, one rooted in revenge and one in healing. There was a moment at the end of the book that really got me in the feels.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Drugs

Someone is selling a special kind of meth in the community that is super addictive with hallucinogenic properties. Drugs effing suck, y’all.

Relationship Status: Something There

Our time together, Book, was intense. We experienced some heavy moments together, and I value your perspective. I can definitely see some kind of relationship in our future.

As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. As Daunis gets to know Jamie more, she realizes that certain details don’t add up and she senses he’s hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.

FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER has been one of my most anticipated 2021 releases since it first landed on my radar and it did not disappoint one bit! This book is a mix of crime fiction, young adult, and contemporary fiction blended together to create a compelling whirlwind of a story.

The reader instantly connects with our main character, Daunis Fontaine, who is a realistic portrayal of an eighteen-year-old. She has put her life on hold to take care of her family and that love pours from the pages. It’s easy to look inside Daunis and see the many struggles that she has experienced in the past and in the present day. Her great love for her family and culture completely swept me away to a world I am unfamiliar with and transplanted me into a compelling narrative.

Not only is the main character incredible, but the journey she takes and the way the plot unfolds are nothing short of mesmerizing. This is one of those books that you immediately get hooked reading and can’t put down because every chapter feels a bit like a cliffhanger. Aiding with all of the magic of this story is the phenomenal narration of the audiobook. I can’t speak high enough praises for the way Isabella Star LaBlanc truly captures Daunis and makes this book come to life. If you’re a fan of audiobooks, I highly suggest going this route or doing a hybrid read/listen.

This is one of the best books that I have read in 2021. It was a compelling mystery and a great #ownvoices story.

A Five Star Read Through and Through
Lately, I have had a hard time focusing on, and feeling captivated by, the books sent to me to review. The problem wasn’t that the books were bad, but rather that they could not compete with my preoccupation with the insurrection at the capital, the inauguration of President Biden, and the ever-present corona virus crisis. Firekeeper’s Daughter was the remedy to my frustrating distraction, drawing me in with a totality that I haven’t experienced in a long time. At first glance, the story would be classified as a mystery: who is making meth and distributing it to vulnerable Native American communities, and who is responsible for the suspicious deaths relating to the investigation and distribution ring? But this story is so much more than just a mystery. It is a reminder of the systemic wrongs done to indigenous communities over time, and across America, it is a celebration of Native culture and traditional practices and beliefs, and it is a 34 Native American Girl Dancing At Pow Wow Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStockstory about the healing power of community and romance built on truth and justice.

Daunis, the main character struggles with her identity, as she desires to be a strong Ojibwe woman, while also yearning for the full approval of her racist white grandmother. She is uncompromising in her embrace of Ojibwe culture, despite not being an enrolled member of the tribe, and worries about the effects of alcohol, drugs, and stereotypes on her community. It is this love of her extended family, and the community as a whole, that leads her to accept the offer from the FBI to help in the investigation of local meth making, despite her internalized resentment towards the government for wrongs done to her people. Daunis’ spiritual journey, and development into the strong Ojibwe woman she always wanted to be, is marred by tragedy, but also inspiring through her resilience and commitment to something greater than herself.

” Wisdom is not bestowed. In it’s raw state, it is the heartbreak of knowing things you wish you didn’t.” — Daunis Fontaine

One word of warning about this book: there is a rape scene, that while not graphic might be harshly triggering for some (it was for me, hence this warning). The scene, and its later mentions, discusses the sensory aspects of rape: feeling disembodied, the smell of the surroundings, physical bruising left behind, etc. It was particularly jarring because I didn’t see it coming, but it is also a powerful commentary on the epidemic of rape perpetrated against women of color, and the difficulty in pursuing any sort of justice.

HD wallpaper: silhouette of man and woman kissing, silhouettes, couple, love | Wallpaper FlareAs the mystery around the meth ring unravels, there are plenty of shocks and plot twists, along with an ever-increasing amount of sexual tension between Daunis and her FBI contact, Jamie Johnson. As they face mortal danger together, they build a bond built on unexpected trust and admiration, even as it is tested repeatedly by deceptions, that are essential in maintaining safety and anonymity. Firekeeper’s Daughter doesn’t fit neatly into any particular genre– it includes elements that could make it a mystery, a thriller, a romance, a paranormal and spiritual tale, or a coming of age epic, making it easy to recommend to anyone who just likes good books.