Angeline  Boulley

For fans of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange comes a ground-breaking YA thriller about a Native American teen who must root out the corruption in her community

Firekeeper's Daughter

** Soon to be a Netflix series with the Obamas’ Higher Ground Production Company ** Keep the Secret. Live the Lie. Earn your Truth. For fans of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange comes a ground-breaking YA thriller about a Native American teen who must root out the corruption in her community "Raw and moving," Cosmopolitan 
Eighteen-year-old Daunis’s mixed heritage has always made her feel like an outsider, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. When she witnesses a shocking murder, she reluctantly agrees to be part of a covert FBI operation into a series of drug-related deaths. But the deceptions – and deaths – keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home. Now Daunis must decide 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.

The Firekeeper's Daughter

joana ashley

I'm reminded that our Elders are our greatest resource, embodying our culture and community. Their stories connect us to our language, medicines, land, clans, songs, and traditions. They are a bridge between the Before and the Now, guiding those of us who will carry on in the Future.

We honor our heritage and our people, those who are alive and those who've passed on. That's important because it keeps the ones we lose with us.

Grief is a cruel and sneaky bastard. You love a person and then they're gone. Past tense. You forget them for an hour, a day, a week. How is that even possible? It happens because memories are so fickle; they can fade. 

'Last night, Levi called you Firekeeper's Daughter. What was that about?' he asks. 

'Well, there's a teaching about the daughter of the original firekeeper,' I say. 'She starts each day by lifting the sun into the sky and singing. 

'My brother calls me that sometimes... our dad's last name and all. He thinks it's ironic because I'm a really bad singer.

'I don't like her story, because she doesn't even get her own name in it. Her identity is in relation to her dad, Firekeeper, and then her husband, First Man, called Ashinaabe, and then her sons, named after each of the four directions. She gets stuck with the responsibility of lifting the sun every morning.' 

Women are at their most powerful during menstruation, connected to life-giving forces.

Be a smart kwe. Lust doesn't last, but herpes is forever.

Firekeepers strike the fire for ceremonies, funerals, sweat lodges, and other cultural events where our prayers are carried by the smoke to Creator. A ceremonial fire is special; you don't roast marshmallows or sing forty-niner songs at it. Firekeepers ensure that protocols are followed the entire time it burns: no politics, no drinking, and no gossip. Only good thoughts to feed the fire and carry our prayers. 

Now focus one just one dancer - say, a Jingle Dress dancer... Every atom has subatomic parts. Her regalia includes a dress, belt, moccasins, and a lot of other items. Dancers don't start out with their full regalia; they get it bit by bit. Each piece is a connection to her family, her teachers, and even to ancestors generations back. If you know the story of her regalia - who and where and why each item came to be - then you know her. 

When someone dies, everything about them becomes past tense. Except for the grief. Grief stays in the present. 

Lilly 

Her voice cracks. "It's hard when someone says they love you, but they need to contain and control the things that make you you."

She ends the call with "Be a smart kwe. Lust doesn't last, but herpes is forever."

Why do all the liars find their way to me? Because all men are liars.

Jamie turns away when changing, but I can't resist taking a peek at his back muscles. For science.

Lily's creative parking skills always attract police attention. 

Keep the Secret. Live the Lie. Earn your Truth. For fans of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange comes a ground-breaking YA thriller about a Native American teen who must root out the corruption in her community Eighteen-year-old Daunis's mixed heritage has always made her feel like an outsider, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. When she witnesses a shocking murder, she reluctantly agrees to be part of a covert FBI operation into a series of drug-related deaths. But the deceptions - and deaths - keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home. Now Daunis must decide 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.

Saffia

" I used to be with this one guy. I thought the sun rose just to shine light on him. He was handsome and smart and the life of the party. But oh, when we fought . . . it was so bad." She shivers and pulls the coat around her more tightly. "He consumed all the oxygen in the room and left nothing for me to breathe. If the sun dared to shine on me instead of him, it was my fault. The only way to keep him happy, to see the version of him he was when other people were around, was to make myself small." Her voice cracks. "It's hard when someone says they love you, but they need to contain and control the things that make you you."

౨ৎ 

It's hard to explain what it's like being so connected to everything here... yet feeling that no one ever sees the whole me. 

luca marie

It's hard to explain what it's like being so connected to everything here ... yet feeling that no one ever sees the whole me. 

Visiting every morning is part of the New Normal, which is what I call what happens when your universe is shaken so badly you can never regain the same axis as before. But you try anyway. 

archie

Firekeeper’s Daughter

akynn 

1.5 points off for how unbearably slow the middle was. I think if it was an audio book it would be a 4.5

Megan Christensen

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller Soon to be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground. “One of this year's most buzzed about young adult novels.” —Good Morning America A 2021 Kids' Indie Next List Selection An Amazon Best Book of the Month for March Selection An Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Selection A PopSugar Best March 2021 YA Book Selection With four starred reviews, Angeline Boulley's debut novel, Firekeeper's Daughter, is a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, perfect for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange. Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after 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, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug. Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims. Now, as the deceptions—and deaths—keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

chloe rae

3.5?

My thoughts to come after discussed with my book club (:

I loved every minute of this book! The investigation was interesting and I loved learning more about another culture. The author highlighted many issues with how the Ojibwe community are treated, especially by the law enforcement/government. Daunis was such a great lead with so many layers. How she worked through problems and situations was so fun to read.The ending was so sad but also empowering for Daunis and extremely realistic. I cannot wait to read the second book in this series!!

Summerlyn Grainger

The Firekeeper’s Daughter

Francesca Starecheski

As I have only recently been made audience to so many such issues facing the indigenous American community, such as MMIW, I find myself sudden to forget that these tragedies have lived lifetimes in native history, that though I am new to these ideas, they are not new to the world, and I must continue to pursue, we all must, these silenced voices. Yet, I also find myself prone to acknowledging only struggles and injustices which plague native peoples without considering the mosaic of stunning cultures that are illuminated in storytelling, and after this read, I am eager to continue exploring :)

Tatiana

Firekeepr's Daughter: 4/5


  “When someone dies, everything about them becomes past tense. Except for the grief. Grief stays in the present. It’s even worse when you’re angry at the person. Not just for dying. But for how.”

This took me almost two weeks to read. By no means is it easy and lighthearted. Make sure you look up TWs before you read it, but this story is so essential and captivating that it transcends genre. Anyone from any age can pick this up and love it.

Premise:
In this stunning debut from Angeline Boulley, set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, we meet 18-year-old Daunis Fontaine amongst the Native American Ojibwe community. Daunis is biracial and born through the scandal of an underage white mother and a Native American father who lost his hockey career due to an accident. She feels deeply for her Native culture but feels like she never fits in with either community.

After her uncle David’s sudden relapse and death from overdose, the news shocks the community, especially as a new hockey star, Jamie, joins the team. Daunis gets close to Jamie, but he seems to have many secrets that break loose when innocent people around Daunis start getting hurt. Due to Daunis's connections and scientific knowledge, she can be an asset to help solve the mystery of drug trafficking inside her community and its members getting hurt.

Writing & Plot:
Although this book is difficult to read due to the nature of the topics, it is so worth it. The setting was incredible, and though nobody's fault but my own and my education, this book opened up my eyes to Native American culture that I never been exposed to. Angeline Boulley also writes in such a way that nothing is confusing, even for a mystery book.

The plot itself was so captivating and had so many twists and turns. It is layered like an onion, and the reader slowly pulls back each layer to find something even wilder and breathtaking. I cried, laughed, and gasped in shock. This was a rollercoaster of a book.

My one criticism is that I think this book could have used one more round of edits. A lot was introduced that had almost nothing to do with the story. I think a few of those small paragraphs could have been taken out, but honestly, it is nothing major. I cannot wait to see what Angeline Boulley comes up with next, and she has become an auto-buy author for me. 


  “Inaction is a powerful choice”

Characters:
Angeline Boulley has written some of the most complex characters I have ever read. They change so much throughout the story but always seem to stay true to themselves. I don't want to spoil anything but nothing is as it seems, and as soon as you know a character, Boulley changes it up.

Conclusion:
I don't usually pick up a mystery, but this may have changed my mind. The way Boulley writes is so captivating and different it feels like a breath of fresh air. This book's plot and setting are wildly different, and I have never read anything like it. Make sure you look up TWs before reading, but Boulley does an incredible job writing traumatic scenes while staying respectful. I don't know how she does it, but please read this book. It's incredible.

Julie Burszan 

This book left me speechless. It’s beautiful and so powerful. 
Content warning for sexual assault

Very strange day today, with bad news making me feel very uncomfortable. But this book was my companion this afternoon. 

It’s the first time I read a novel set in 2004 in a native American community, and where the characters play hockey. 

It’s deep, I really enjoyed getting to know Daunis and her culture, her ties with friends and family, with love, with nature, with the elders. 

This book is never cheesy, it’s got good vibes, and despise having the FBI in the background, helped me today to get my feet back on the ground!

Barbara

Couldn’t stop! 

Very strange day today, with bad news making me feel very uncomfortable. But this book was my companion this afternoon. 

It’s the first time I read a novel set in 2004 in a native American community, and where the characters play hockey. 

It’s deep, I really enjoyed getting to know Daunis and her culture, her ties with friends and family, with love, with nature, with the elders. 

This book is never cheesy, it’s got good vibes, and despise having the FBI in the background, helped me today to get my feet back on the ground!

** Soon to be a Netflix series with the Obamas’ Higher Ground Production Company ** Keep the Secret. Live the Lie. Earn your Truth. For fans of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange comes a ground-breaking YA thriller about a Native American teen who must root out the corruption in her community "Raw and moving," Cosmopolitan Eighteen-year-old Daunis’s mixed heritage has always made her feel like an outsider, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. When she witnesses a shocking murder, she reluctantly agrees to be part of a covert FBI operation into a series of drug-related deaths. But the deceptions – and deaths – keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home. Now Daunis must decide 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.

'Raw and moving' Cosmopolitan

This is one of the most moving books I’ve read. The story told is lined with history and truths. I honestly learned so much throughout it because of the way it was written and the way the culture was wrapped around every page. I’m so glad to see an indigenous women write such an incredible novel and it be praised as it should. 

Lamia Hajani

Wow. From the minute I saw the cover and read the description, I had a feeling that Firekeeper's Daughter was going to captivate me, and it met the mark. I finished the book feeling sad that I could no longer keep reading the book. Boulley's writing is that good - you just want to keep reading it and reading it.

The book is about Daunis, daughter of an Ojibwe man and a white woman. Her birth began in scandal - she and her brother were born only a few months apart to different women. Her brother's mother kept the Firekeeper name. Now, Daunis' father is dead, her Uncle David recently died and her grandmother on her mother's side has had a debilitating stroke. She is attempting to get used to the "New Normal." 

Enter Jamie Johnson, new kid on the Junior A hockey team that her brother Levi captains. She becomes Jamie's ambassador, introducing him to the town. Yet, she can tell Jamie isn't telling her the full truth. Then, when she witnesses a shocking murder, she becomes embroiled in an investigation, rooting out the disease that is plaguing her community.

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this novel. It made me tear up, it made me smile, it made me feel so many feelings. Boulley has written a stunning masterpiece, and I vow to read every single book she writes in the future. She has paid homage to her beautiful culture in the best of ways and proved why we need #ownvoices novels. 

This is a book that reminds me why I read. So make sure you pick it up as soon as it comes out. Thanks to NetGalley, Angeline Boulley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this as an eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

A PRINTZ MEDAL WINNER! A MORRIS AWARD WINNER! AN AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD YA HONOR BOOK! A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller Soon to be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground. “One of this year's most buzzed about young adult novels.” —Good Morning America A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time Selection Amazon's Best YA Book of 2021 So Far (June 2021) A 2021 Kids' Indie Next List Selection An Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Selection A PopSugar Best March 2021 YA Book Selection With four starred reviews, Angeline Boulley's debut novel, Firekeeper's Daughter, is a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, perfect for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange. Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after 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, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug. Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims. Now, as the deceptions—and deaths—keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

Q&D- totally forgot the plot by the time I actually read the book. Quickly became engrossed in the world. CW for drug abuse, death, gun violence, sexual assault. Loved the realistic and healthy messages on love and relationships. 

Abigail F

HanaKyle Moranz

Omg. What an incredible read. I saw this book around, maybe even got it out of the library once before and didn’t read it, and now let me shout from the rooftops: READ THIS BOOK. I’m too floored to explain all the feelings. I didn’t expect it to be a murder mystery, though, and that was a special treat, along with solid a solid romantic plot line, done way better than most YA. And then it’s all happening within a realistic (I think? Not fantasy) portrayal of Native American reservation life. Really epic and really engaging of my whole brain and body. Thank you Angeline Boulley for this labor of love, and for sharing your culture with us through this book.

Absolutely loved this book. I didn't want to put it down but at the same time I didn't want it to end! Captivating and beautifully written, loved it! 

Lucy Mills-Taylor

Joana da Silva

What a great book. Representation, diversity, good build-up, lovable characters. The stars were very much aligned with this one.

Alexa M

honestly way too long & kind of boring. I liked some parts but feel it could’ve been edited waaayyy down. all the Native American culture was very interesting to read about and Daunis was a bad ass main character I just wasn’t really gripped by the plot.

Addie 🌻

I think this book has both a lot of pros and a lot of cons. I loved the diversity and reading Indigenous rep by an Indigenous author, and the underlying mystery was interesting, but it felt like a subplot in the book

I felt like a lot of this book was slogging--I know it was probably more realistic, but it wasn't gripping.

This book covers a lot of heavy and important topics, and it handles them well.

I really wanted to love this book after hearing so many good things, but I just don't think I vibed well with it:( 

Holly

I think this book has both a lot of pros and a lot of cons. I loved the diversity and reading Indigenous rep by an Indigenous author, and the underlying mystery was interesting, but it felt like a subplot in the book

I felt like a lot of this book was slogging--I know it was probably more realistic, but it wasn't gripping.

This book covers a lot of heavy and important topics, and it handles them well.

I really wanted to love this book after hearing so many good things, but I just don't think I vibed well with it:( 

Suzanne

I'm an avid reader and this book blew me away. It is on of the best books I have ever read.
The story follow Daunis, who has a native American father and a christian mother.
It follows Daunis just ending her high school and getting ready for college when disaster strikes. The book takes us into the beautiful heritage and ways of the Ojibwe. It is written beautifully and with the short chapters you cannot stop reading.
The onion that is Daunis is pealed slowly in the book set in the backdrop op Ice Hockey, the rez and drugs.
I hope to read more by Angeline in the future. 
this review doesn't do the book full justice, but please buy and read it.

the book was provided as an ARC by NetGalley

Kristen Claiborn

First, let’s address the GLARING FACT that this is not at all appropriate for most “young adult” audiences. When I worked with middle school kids, I actively sought out books for young adult readers, because I wanted those kids to find a book that “speaks” to them. This book is not one I would suggest for a middle school student, despite the “young adult” designation. The themes are far too adult for this to be even considered a young adult book. 
	Beyond that little aside there, this is a great damn book. For some bizarre reason, I was under the impression that this was a fantasy novel…even now when I look at some reviews it’s listed as fantasy. This is NOT a fantasy. There are some Native American stories weaved into this book, but that does not make this a fantasy. This is a story about drug use, and how badly it has impacted the Native population. There is drug use, drug abuse, murder, overdose, and rape, but none of them exist in the fantasy genre. It’s very well-written. I fell in love with Daunis and her story. I know there is going to be more to this story, and I’m excited. 
	But seriously, it’s not for most “young adults.”

The cultural introduction nade this book rich and interesting even without the mistery part

The relationship between these characters screamed healthy, and showed a very positive image

The characters were okay, not super complex but not stereotypical either

Eszter Baranyi

It was very gripping. 

The cultural introduction nade this book rich and interesting even without the mistery part

The relationship between these characters screamed healthy, and showed a very positive image

The characters were okay, not super complex but not stereotypical either

CW: drug addiction, r*pe, violence, death

Sophia 

What an incredible read. 

CW: drug addiction, r*pe, violence, death

Tracie McMurray

I loved the fresh perspective and voice in this novel. I have never read anything like it.

Lillian

Elizabeth Hagenlocher

Wow.

This book was poignant, powerful, and eye-opening. 

At its heart, it’s a story of a young woman who chooses her community and herself above all else. It’s a story of loss and grief, wrapped up in love and hope. 

It’s beautifully written, and shares with readers Ojibwe language and traditions and strength.

Daunis is a perfectly imperfect person, and I found her very relatable. To the world, she’s good at all the right things. Internally, she struggles with complicated emotions and trauma. Not to mention, she feels like she toes the line between her two communities. 

Enter Jamie. He’s frustrating and imperfect, and also impossibly patient and understanding. There’s a bit of an enemies to lovers dynamic, which I’m a sucker for.

Finally the plot—I think the characters are truly where this book shines, however when the mystery finally starts unraveling I was rocked to my core. The clues were all there, right under the readers nose.

So much more I could say, but I’ll leave it there—a fabulously written story about a woman coming into her own and stepping up to protect her community.

CW: rape, murder, drug addiction and overdose, suicide, kidnapping

Firekeeper's Daughter

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