Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Firekeeper’s Daughter Review

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4 out of 5)

When I opened the Firekeeper's Daughter, I was encapsulated by the rich culture, supported by the use of the Anishinaabe language and traditions, and the vivid story. The detailed storytelling and descriptive imagery quickly immersed me in the characters' lives. At its core, the Firekeeper's Daughter highlights the struggles and institutional racism that affect indigenous communities in America. Through Daunis' witty and courageous character, Boulley depicts an inspiring story of a young woman harboring change in her community and speaking out against systemic injustice. Additionally, Daunis' story of finding herself through her passions while grappling with her mixed identity can resonate with many readers. 

The novel follows a complex plot that begins with a murder. As Daunis becomes more involved in the investigation, she develops important relationships with Elders and uncovers details about her community. I found this aspect of the book interesting, especially as slivers of information and clues began to piece together to form the truth. The plot twist was unexpected, and the book was exciting to follow. 

In parts of the book, Daunis was a strong, inspirational character who represented courage and cleverness. However, at times, I disliked her narration, which seemed to shame other girls. When discussing the girlfriends of hockey players, she often referred to them as parasites. She was sometimes painted as better than them because of her athleticism, and this tone came off as very condescending. Moreover, her relationship with Jamie, a hockey player and undercover agent, developed very quickly and felt superficial. While they had their cute moments, their dynamic went against Daunis' principles, which she strongly enforced at the beginning of the book. 

Overall, I recommend this book to readers interested in mystery, teenage romance, and indigenous culture, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Firekeeper's Daughter.  

Daunis' life changes forever when she witnesses a devastating murder. With her knowledge of the land and community, Daunis becomes involved in an undercover investigation in her hometown, Sault Ste. Marie. As she discovers information and more people die, the safety of herself and those around her becomes increasingly threatened. Someone doesn't want her to find out the truth, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to prevent her from doing so.