Perry didn't want a summer internship like her sister Pauline, who's known as the "nice twin." But when Perry crashes the car her aunt gifted them to avoid hitting a bear, Aunt Daunis insists she take the last open spot and pay her back for repairs. Perry had intended to spend the summer fishing with her dad. Instead, now she's stuck at the tribe's cultural museum working for Cooper Turtle (known as "Kooky Cooper" by many) Monday-Thursday and doing peppy team-building games with the other interns on Fridays. Though initially against the whole thing, she finds herself learning a lot from Cooper, which stokes her passion and gives her purpose. She also can't help but bond with her misfit toys team of interns. The book does a lot to educate readers alongside Perry about NAGPRA, both the nature of the law and the ugly realities that keep it from being effective. While the spirit of the law is to return Indigenous remains to their communities, the reality is that a lot of entities, like museums and universities, are dragging their feet and claiming the task is too large and complex to complete in a timely manner. All the while, human remains are not treated with the respect, and certainly not the cultural practices of the tribes who should have their ancestors back in their possession.

The more Perry learns and sees on the job, the more she wants to take justice into her own hands. Why should important artifacts like the baskets woven by her ancestors be put on display by those who took and hoarded them, disrespecting their value and provenance? And why should the bodies of those who came before be handled and examined by callous researchers rather than in the hands of loved ones who can give them the rest they deserve? Perry is determined to put a stop to whatever wrongs she can, even if it's dangerous or outside the law.

Perry makes for a fun protagonist in her fast-talking, take-no-prisoners style. She's protective of her twin, her home, and her ancestors, and will fight or negotiate like hell for them. It's the kind of personality I admire and am stressed out by at the same time (largely because I value her personal safety). I think there's a lot to learn from her character about assertiveness and not settling for less than what's right, and she also undergoes a satisfying amount of growth herself. The Perry who started the summer wanting as little responsibility as possible walks away with a purpose, a new appreciation of her own power, and the means to make a difference.

I want to note that there are plenty of callbacks to Firekeeper's Daughter in this sequel, which is now ten years in the past. Consequences of what happened then are still playing out for Daunis and the many other actors in that drama. It hasn't been a smooth road, so expect some twists and turns from where we last saw everybody. Even though I so recently read it, I still went back to check a couple of key details that helped me comprehend the full meaning of what happened in this book.

This is a sequel that lives up to my expectations. With a fresh protagonist and new issues to consider, it branches out in unexpected directions to tell a fresh story. Unlike Firekeeper's Daughter, the mystery is not as obviously present in this one. It's more simmering in the background of what Perry has going on. What we get instead is a unique and powerful take on a heist story that manages to be extra nerve-wracking because of the meaning behind it. The stakes are high, the preparations intense, and the team in sync.

I recommend this read to anyone. It's a great example of what makes YA books important and valuable. Thanks to Henry Holt for my copy to read and review!

I enjoyed Boulleys first book, this one less so. It’s clear she cares a lot about her culture and I love how much education she weaves into her writing. Her novels are full of information I wouldn’t know without the connection to her characters. But this book had a lot happening and the plot felt like it got watered down by all the information.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter Angeline Boulley takes us back to Sugar Island in this high-stakes thriller about the power of discovering your stolen history."

Boulley’s books are so immersive, descriptive, and eye-opening! They should be required reading! I love the new cast of characters, and the connection to a favorite of mine, Firekeeper's Daughter.

I love anything by Angeline Boulley and I especially loved this one. She does a great job shining a light to the injustices done to the Native American community. While raising awareness she makes you fall in love with the characters. In Warrior Girl Unearthed a young girl struggles to find her place while trying to solve the mystery of the missing artifacts.

While I didn't love this like I did Firekeeper's Daughter, it's a really good book, and a good listen.
Up from 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC!

Perry, a high school age Indigenous girl in Sault St. Marie, Michigan, finds herself in a pickle after a car crash. Luckily, her Auntie Daunis help with the car repair, but only on the condition that Perry gets a job through the local council. Perry begins work at the local museum and finds out about the story of the Warrior Girl and the artifacts that the museum has, which are surprisingly few to Perry. What Perry learns in this encounter is that the loss of Indigenous artifacts is not a rare thing and thus begins her mission, with her group of Misfit Toys, to reclaim artifacts for the local family and tribes.

As I read Firekeeper's Daughter and fell in love with Boulley's storytelling, I was really excited to read this book. I feel a lot the aspects I loved in that book translated to this book. An interesting cast of characters, a bit of suspense, a strong main character, and an amazing thought for details. I didn't like this book as much as I did the first, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you for the ARC!

I loved this book with my whole heart. Angeline Boulley is writing something so important and vital in our culture as Americans--the fight to repatriate Indigenous Art, Artifacts and Remains. This was incredibly eye-opening and should be required reading in high school so everyone can understand the implications and existing hurt of the stolen lands, artifacts and remains.

Perry was so fierce and motivated. I loved her drive and determination. This was often a devastating book but I also think it was a really compelling read.

Angeline Boulley can do no wrong in my opinion! The way she weaves together mystery and heartfelt prose is truly incredible. I highly recommend her books.

AB’s deep commitment to her people and culture shines through in every page, immersing the reader in the rich history of the Ojibwe tribe and their ancestors. The significance of their traditions is conveyed with such passion that it resonates strongly. I also enjoyed the exploration of NAGPRA, complemented by real-life excerpts that were thoughtfully integrated into the narrative.

First off to the author @angelineboulley
Migwétch. As someone who is Black Indigenous I appreciate that the main character, Perry is like me. Growing up I often felt invisible and to finally get a character like me I cried a bit.

Warrior Girl Unearthed is more than just a story, it is the life of many Indigenous Peoples. There is no getting over seeing our ancestors and their belongings in a museum or on display like a Circus Oddity. This book hit very close to home on almost every event that happened to Perry.

I found the book enlightening about how Indigenous remains are returned and/or held hostage under the guise of the law. The amount of twists and the final reveal at the end was shocking. I guessed wrong on several accounts, but guessed right in others. I can't wait for more books by the author.

If you like Thrillers, Mystery, and Horror then you will definitely enjoy Warrior Girl Unearthed. If you are Indigenous, be warned that it can be triggering. If you are someone who wants a book out of their comfort zone, please read.

Angeline Boulley has knocked it out of the park again with the follow up to her amazing novel Firekeeper’s Daughter. While this can be a standalone novel and is not a sequel per se it does take place in the same Michigan town and features many characters we got to know in Daughter.

Warrior Girl explores the very real mistreatment and misuse of Anishinaabe ancestral remains. While this is a fictionalized story it included so many important historical details. This author pours her heart and soul into her writing and you can tell she is passionate about the difficult subject matter.

This story of murder, mystery, and betrayal is one that I had trouble putting down; it is a page turner where every second you are learning new things that make you want to continue to find all of the puzzle pieces. In addition to Perry’s story, Boulley addresses the very real issues of missing indigenous women and stolen ancestral remains and artifacts and teaches the reader about these tragedies that need to not be ignored.

WOW! Another incredible book from Angeline Boulley! Second novels can be tough - especially when the first is such a stunning success - but Boulley totally knocked it out of the park with this one!

I absolutely loved this book and was so happy to be back on Sugar Island again! The story takes place about 10 years after Firekeeper's Daughter leaves off, and I loved the role that Daunis played in this story as a supporting character. The character development was excellent, and I loved learning more about the Anishinaabe people, and specifically the Ojibwe nation. Perry is such a strong character and someone who was easy to admire and root for every step of the way.

As the author's note at the end states, "Ultimately Warrior Girl Unearthed is about the need to control indigenous bodies - both in the past and today." I loved that this story brought serious issues to the forefront and gave the opportunity to learn more about the repatriation process and its importance.

Angeline Boulley came through with this second novel, just as thrilling and heart-pounding as FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER. Perry is a brilliant main character to follow, and her quest to right the wrongs done to her people was righteous and heartbreaking to follow. This book, y'all. It was really, really good, and I highly recommend it!

I had mixed feelings about Fire Keeper's Daughter, but I reread portions of it recently and enjoyed it more than the first time, which led me to finally take Warrior Girl Unearthed off my shelf. I was immediately captivated by this story and found Perry to be a quirky, likeable, and realistic narrator. Unlike Fire Keeper's Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed throws the reader right into the action, with Perry's accident and the ramifications quickly occurring in Chapter 1. Like Fire Keeper's Daughter, Warrior Girl also has a large cast of characters and I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of who's who. Still, the pacing on this story was much more even and though the ending was a little unbelievable, it had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the integration of indigenous cultural practices and the clear social justice concerns that were addressed through the topic of repatriation of indigenous artifacts and remains.

The story hooked me from the start. I learned a lot as I was reading this engaging page turner. Highly recommend.

This is very different than Firekeeper’s Daughter. No one can accuse Angeline Boulley of copying the same formula she used In Firekeeper’s Daughter. Perry also seems more like a teenager than Daunis did. In general, the characterization is even better in this one. This one felt a lot more relevant. The dual discussion of missing and murderer indigenous women and return ancestors to their indigenous land is one that is not often discussed and should be asked about more. I think you could read this even if you haven’t read Firekeeper’s Daughter because there’s not a whole lot from the first one in this.

Great follow-up to FireKeeper's Daughter, it will appeal even more to the teen audience. This novel reads fast and informs the reader in a way that is not heavy-handed but interesting.

Amazing, of course. I love the way she brought the current MMIW2SP issues together with the museum/archeology issue. This will be a great addition to my curriculum, especially because Perry is an Alternative school kid for whom the regular school system just didn't fit. I also appreciated how it was really Perry's story, not Daunis's sequel.