Firekeeper's Daughter

Hello!

I am so excited to be writing and sharing my first blog post/book review with you all. This is a project that has been in the back of my mind for awhile and I have just been slowly working at making it happen. So, thank you for checking it out! I am not totally sure how I plan to review (every book, just ones I love, etc), but we can figure that out together as we go! Disclaimer: I am absolutely not a professional reviewer nor do I have any english degree...I just love books and talking about them. Please correct me if I am wrong or overstep, but with kindness.

Today I wanted to leave a review for you all to read about Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley. It is now three books ago that I read it, but guys. It is STILL at the forefront of my brain.

First, here is the official synopsis from Goodreads:

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. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.

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

Next, my take:

First, that cover! All the heart eyes. Admittedly, it is what captured my attention and made me buy this one. I honestly still wasn't sure what I was going to be reading when I opened it up. I am SO glad I chose to read it, though. This book was SO unique, so needed, and so eye opening. It completely captured my attention and transported me to another place (the first book in a WHILE that I didn't want to pick my phone up after every chapter). I gave this a solid 5 stars on Goodreads. There are many different complicated themes and subjects in this novel:

• Separated parents

• Teen drug use and distribution

• Indigenous community

• Sexual assault

• Grief

Boulley handles all of those very complex, hard topics in such a graceful way through her writing without making her readers feel awkward, but instead shedding some reality on them. It is a very emotional book and I felt everything for every character. It is narrated and told through the eyes of Daunis, the eighteen-year-old teen who is at the center of everything happening in her community. She is extremely passionate and empathetic to everyone around her which is why she is tasked with going undercover for the government agency investigating the drug distribution.

While the reader follows Daunis through her world, Boulley forces contemplation about the injustices and history of the many Indigenous communities. This is one of the most important things I took from this book. I learned and expanded my views on these communities and how things have altered their lives throughout history. Most of us (me included) truly do not understand the problems that are still occurring in Indigenous communities and it is so important for us to try and learn, even if it is through a fictional story. This was the perfect mix of learning and enjoying the broader, more beautiful story all together.

It does surprise me this book is categorized as young adult due to it's heavy subject matter and I believe it will break out of that category. I will not go into more details so I don't spoil anything, but PICK THIS BOOK UP. Read it. Think about it. Share it.

Here is a link to get it for only $9.99: https://www.mybotm.com/m9nh1q3i1am?show_box=true or go support your local Indie store! ;)

If you have questions or comment, drop your info below and let's chat!!