
Member Reviews

Angeline Boulley has done it again! Written with so much raw emotion Sisters in the Wind might be Boulley’s best work thus far. Lucy Smith has never known a home without her father. Seeing as though he died five years ago her life since has been less than ideal. Bouncing around the foster system and then being out on her own has been a rocky ride. When Mr. Jameson offers his help to reunite her with her Ojibwe family she turns him down. However, someone has been following Lucy and Mr. Jameson may be the only one that can help her out of her tangled past.
There are not enough words in the English language to describe how much I love Boulley’s writing, characters and storyline. She continues to blow me away everytime and she writes in a way that I can practically see the characters lifting up, out of the pages. The Native American communities have suffered such horrors and Boulley is not afraid to call them as they are and fight for the rights of all Native People. Every time I read one of her books I walk away with a deeper understanding of the communities around me. Angeline Boulley will forever be an auto-buy author for me, I can’t wait to see what she does next.

At this point, Angeline Boulley is an auto-buy for me, and I have already pre-ordered a copy of this to add to my high school library. The summary of this book doesn't do the novel justice. Boulley tackles so many issues: foster care, family dynamics, and how Indigenous people have been mistreated by the US government. In the past, I have listened to Boulley's books, so this was the first time "reading" her work on page. Her writing is stunning! Lucy is a character who will stay with me for a long time. I cannot wait to give this to students!

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for a copy of this arc, all opinions my own.
I haven't read either of the two other books by Boulley, and while I know that this series isn't linear ,I think it would have helped me to know Boulley's style before reading this one.
I did really like the storyline and the thriller aspect of this. The characters were really interesting to follow. However, I was a little confused by the end and I think having more description at the end would have helped. There were also a few times when I thought that the plot was a little mirky, but otherwise a strong story.

Angeline Boulley is a master storyteller and her most recent novel is no different. If you loved Firekeeper's Daughter like I did, you're going to want to pick this one up as soon as possible. Though Lily's half-sister Lucy is the main character, we get to spend a lot of time with Daunis and Jamie in this story and that was one of my favorite parts of the book for me. I think this book is best suited for upper high school--Firekeeper's Daughter I think you could read with any high school grade level (with of course the content warning of sexual assault and rape) but Sisters in the Wind I think would only be for juniors and seniors: A lot of the experiences Lucy has in the book are very adult and need to be handled with maturity. It's not that any of the experiences are more graphic or terrible than Firekeeper's Daughter, which certainly has its share of mature themes, but Lucy (and Jamie and Daunis) are older in this story. Lucy, through much of the story, is aged out of the foster system, making her at least 18 and I believe more like 20, and then Jamie and Daunis are in their late 20's. This makes the feel of the book older and more adult. I don't think this is a bad thing though; it allows readers to grow as the series expands and still keep them engaged. I really loved how the story went back and forth in time and massive credit to Boulley for the myriad ways she built suspense. There were so many mysteries about what was really going on with Lucy, who was hunting her, and what really happened in her life; this mystery and all the ways it unfolded kept me turning pages late into the nights and racing to find out what happened. Boulley's magnificent storytelling, combined with her ability to teach us about Indigenous culture and issues also shines in this story. No spoilers, but she definitely ripped my heart out at the end of the story. I would recommend this story to anyone mature enough to handle the tough issues this story tackles and especially those who were living for a Firekeeper's Daughter sequel as much as I was. Highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

"From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.
Ever since Lucy Smith's father died five years ago, "home" has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a "ward of the state." But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe.
Five years in the foster system has taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his "friend-not-friend," a tall and fierce-looking woman who say they want to look after her. They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has - had - a sister, and more siblings, a grandmother who'd look after her and a home where she would be loved.
But Lucy is being followed. The past has destroyed any chance at safety she had. Will the secrets she's hiding swallow her whole and take away any hope for the future she always dreamed of?
When the past comes for revenge, it's fight or flight.
Angeline Boulley's award-winning canon of books puts compelling characters and fast-paced action at the center of narratives rich in historical context. Read Firekeeper's Daughter; Warrior Girl Unearthed; and the soon-to-be-released Sisters of the Wind in any order; but like the world itself, there are echoes within each for the other stories."
Fight the past to claim your future!

Review + a cloudy summer day park walk☁️🌿
I devoured this book in just two days. I loved both Fire Keepers Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed so I was so excited to get an ARC for Sisters in the Wind! Big thanks to netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. for a copy of this ebook🩵
This story takes place between FKD and WGU, and it has cross over characters from both. This one follows a women, Lucy, who’s newly released from the foster care system. The story alternates timelines between the story of Lucy’s past in foster care and her present situation on the run from someone.
What I loved about this one was how fast the story moved. I was hooked from the very first chapter and couldn’t put it down. As I said I loved the authors first two books but they definitely took me a handful of chapters to get into. This one had me instantly intrigued with the mystery.
Two really important topics that were featured in the book were foster care and ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act). Both played big roles in the story and were insightful to read about.
If you liked the authors other books you’ll enjoy this one too💚 It’s out September 2nd 2025!

Lucy Smith has been in the foster care system since her dad died 5 years earlier. Every time she thinks she has found a good placement she finds that there is really no such thing and now she's been on the run and caring for herself for months. Is someone truly after her? Is she safe from her past mistakes and has she finally found family to champion her? This beautifully written book will transport you, educate you and keep you on the edge of your seat.

I was so excited to see Daunis and Jamie again after Firekeeper’s Daughter!
As far as the mystery plot line goes… Lucy’s story is tragic and definitely kept me guessing, though not really in a super engaged way. Something about the structure and pacing sucked a lot of the tension out of it. Most of the characters outside of Lucy/Jamie/Daunis felt very vague/uncertain or maybe Lucy’s narration style was super distant?
However, I definitely appreciated getting a closer look at how ICWA can both benefit and fail indigenous children - though Lucy is the only indigenous foster child we actually meet on page, so it felt a little info dumpy in that way.
Boulley is definitely an auto-read author for me

I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow, but enjoyed how previous characters were brought in and rounded out the storyline. I look forward to book 4 and wonder what this author has left to tell. I love learning more about the Indigenous people of Northern Michigan and am familiar with many of the places she talks about in her book.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Sisters in the Wind. I am a huge fan of Angeline Boulley's novels, so to be able to read this one was very exciting. While Warrior Girl Unearthed is still my favorite, getting to know a grown-up Daunis and Jamie was a treat. Like all of Boulley's books, this one ripped my heart out, piqued my curiosity, and allowed me to experience a situation unlike my own, giving me a new perspective to consider.
Overall, Sisters in the Wind was wonderful. I will highly recommend it to others, and I will definitely purchase it for my school library.

This was a beautiful story that kept me on my toes. I really enjoyed this. I love this author .I didn't read the second book with these characters and am now looking forward to going back and reading it.

I will read any new Angeline Boulley book and so far, I always like them. Sisters in the Wind bring readers another exciting and socially-aware mystery and brings back Daunis and Jamie from The Firekeeper's Daughter which is sure to delight fans.
The story follows Lucy Smith and has a bit of a slow start. We meet Lucy, who lives with a very religious single father in mid-Michigan. He marries a young teacher from Lucy's school shortly before being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Lucy's life is forever changed and she is suddenly living with a step-mother she barely knows. When that relationship goes awry and Lucy strikes out in anger, she becomes a ward of the state and finds herself in foster care. We meet Lucy at the age of 18, living on her own, seemingly on the run from something. Within a few days, she meets Jamie, who has reached out because he believes Lucy to be a Native girl lost to poor foster care practices, and is the victim of a bombing at her diner. Following her hospital stay, she lives with Jamie and Daunis in an extended stay hotel, and we slowly learn about her previous life in flashbacks, which watching her become close with Jamie and Daunis in the present. All the while, some big, dangerous mystery is plaguing Lucy, but we as readers do not know what it is until close the book's conclusion.
As I mentioned, this book started a bit slowly for me, and the nature of the mystery made the plot seem to have holes at times. I kept wondering if I had missed something as I read. But the pacing picked up quickly once Lucy, Jamie and Daunis are together as both the flashbacks to Lucy's younger years and her time with Daunis and Jamie become equally compelling stories. I found I was reading into the night to get further in the book and find out what was going to be revealed next. I really enjoyed this book and loved seeing Jamie and Daunis again. I will definitely recommend it to my students and I suspect many of them will enjoy it as much as I did.

I have to be honest in that I am extremely conflicted when it comes to this book. I really wanted to like it, and there are some incredible elements and moments; however, overall, it lost me at about the 60% mark.
First, I appreciate the attention that Angeline Boulley is bringing to the history of Native Americans and their treatment here in the United States. I love how accessible Angeline makes the facts by interweaving them into stories that are engaging, thoughtful, and provocative. Readers are invited to sit in reflection of our past and how we may be perpetuating systemic practices and biases without realizing it. For this reason, I will always read Angeline Boulley's work.
I also loved the interconnectedness with Firekeeper's Daughter and seeing some of our favorite characters again. I especially appreciated that you don't have to read Firekeeper's Daughter in order to understand the importance of these characters.
Unfortunately, I feel as though Boulley tried to tie together too many story lines which made for a muddled and chaotic last 1/3 of the book. The dual timelines helped in shaping the story and Lucy's character, but the addition of certain plot points felt overwhelming which left the ending feeling rushed.
Again, I will always read what Angeline Boulley writes; however, Sisters in the Wind missed the mark for me. Two and a half stars, rounding up to three.

A Powerful, Unforgettable Story
Sisters in the Wind is another masterful novel from Angeline Boulley that blends sharp storytelling with deep cultural insight. From the very first page, I was hooked by the gripping plot and the emotional complexity of the characters. Boulley writes with a fierce honesty and a reverence for Ojibwe traditions that makes every chapter feel both urgent and sacred.
The story centers around sisterhood, identity, justice, and the strength it takes to confront generational trauma. It’s beautifully layered—balancing mystery, coming-of-age, and social commentary without ever feeling heavy-handed. The prose is lyrical, yet grounded, and Boulley’s ability to weave Indigenous culture and language into the narrative feels both educational and deeply respectful.
This book made me feel—anger, hope, sadness, and empowerment—and left me thinking about the characters long after the final page. Sisters in the Wind is not just a compelling novel; it's an important one.
If you're a fan of Firekeeper's Daughter or Warrior Girl Unearthed, this is an absolute must-read. Angeline Boulley has done it again.

I’m so excited I was able to get my hands on this one before its publishing date. Boulley is a master of a characterization and character development. Even though there are a ton of characters in this book, each one felt well developed and unique. I love how her books both teach you about nuanced topics and keep you on the edge of your seat with the suspenseful plots. I would highly recommend reading Firemeeper’s Daughter before this book, but you do not have to in order to understand the plot.

Such a good mystery book like that last 20% had my jaw on the ground and my eyes glassy. I loved returning to some amazing characters from Firestarter’s Daughter and while you definitely don’t need to read that before this one, it definitely enhanced my experience.
There’s an array of important topics in this book that goes way beyond a basic mystery. There’s Native culture and history through out which was educational to read about. The foster care system was examined both through female and poc lenses that I found both heartbreaking and inspiring. It also tackles death in a very authentic way and shows the resilience of human beings
The overall plot had me sat!! I needed to know what was happening next and why she was being followed and I think the way they told it through flashbacks was perfect and I really didn’t see many of the turns coming by the end.
I recommend this if you:
-like mysteries
-enjoy books with dual timelines
-want to diversify your reads
-read other books by this same author
-like a comeback story
-aren’t scared of trauma
Thanks Macmillan Children's Publishing Group & NetGalley for the arc

In her latest, Angeline Boulley creates another sharp, powerful narrator. Lucy was raised by her single father until he passed away, and then was shuffled around foster homes in northern Michigan. When we meet her, she’s 18, working at a diner in Mount Pleasant. One day, an attorney approaches her. He tells her she may be Native American, explains the Indian Child Welfare Act, and offers to help put her in touch with her birth family. Lucy is already overwhelmed, and then a bomb explodes in the diner and injures her.
The attorney turns out to be Jamie from Firekeeper’s Daughter, who calls Daunis; the two of them care for Lucy as she recovers (and reconnect with each other). The narrative alternates between the present-day (2009) and flashbacks that begin before Lucy’s father passes and proceed chronologically, showing how she wound up in foster care in the first place and the different homes she lived in. In some, Lucy witnesses or experiences harm; in all, she bonds with foster sisters. In the present day, Lucy tries to find out and escape the person who set the bomb.
I don’t want to give away too much because, as with Boulley’s earlier work, this is a propulsive thriller with a rapidly unfolding mystery. However, I did feel like the plot wasn’t as tight here. The didactic components of this one didn’t feel as well-integrated with plot and character as in Boulley’s previous novels. Of course disregarding ICWA is how Lucy ended up in foster homes in the first place, but what happens to her there seems to be more about the evil of some individuals, and though broken systems allow those individuals to get away with things, the truly horrible events in the novel seem disconnected. I also thought the novel needed a longer denouement, both because the ending needed further explanation and because the characters needed a little more time to process what happened. Though I didn’t find the craft to be as strong here, I loved following Lucy, and am sure Boulley will create another excellent character in her next book.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I love how the flashbacks help the reader to really understand Lucy's past and really fall in love with her character. The only thing that I disliked was the number of characters that were introduced along the way. It seemed to make the storyline a little confusing at times, but things came together great in the end!
This was the first book I have read by Angeline Boulley. I will definitely be going back and reading her previous novels and any she puts out in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book before it is released!!

Thank you to NetGalley and. the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!
Infinity stars for this one!
The Firekeeper's Daughter blew me away years ago and I was thrilled to see some familiar faces in Sisters in the Wind. This book is just so, so good. Lucy was thrown into the foster care system after her dad died and as you would expect, did not have good experiences. Part of the story and her character's development revolve around her embracing her Native American identity, which had been kept from her. The mystery element of the plot involves a pipe bomb and some very sketchy foster parents.
This book had me in a chokehold from the beginning and I think teen readers will enjoy this just as much as FKD. There is much for readers to learn about Native American children and the foster care system, identity, strong family ties and bonds of friendships, plus a suspenseful mystery. It also broke my heart a little and about had me sobbing at the pool when I finished reading.
If you are a high school teacher, this is a must-add to your classroom library!

Thank you to Angeline Boulley, NetGalley, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this ARC. As always, it’s an honor to read what Boulley writes.
Boulley hooked me with The Firekeeper’s Daughter and have now completed all books she has written. Sisters in the Wind might be my favorite out of the three. Maybe. FKD is just so good. This story is one that ropes you in from the beginning with its mystery and intrigue. We get to revisit old characters that we know and love. We have our hearts broken. We become outraged at the injustices of the past and those still ongoing. We grieve with the characters. We find family and belonging. This newest book is a work of art that makes you feel deeply. Miigwech.