Title: Fire Keeper’s Daughter
Author: Angeline Boulley
Publisher: Henry Holt
Genre: Young Adult
“My girl, some boats are made for the river and some for the ocean. And there are some that can go anywhere because they always know the way home.”
Eighteen year old Daunis is smart and confident, but at the same time doesn’t really know her place in the world. She straddles between two identities. Her Fontaine family and her Firekeeper family on the nearby Ojibewe reservation. Daunis was supposed to be headed off to college, but put all that on hold to look after her fragile mother who is struggling with GrandMary in the hospital. There is a lot going on!
The only bright spot is the handsome new guy, Jamie, who plays on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Daunis begins falling for Jamie, but is cautious sensing something is off with him.
Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder and the FBI come knocking at her door wanting her to be and informant. They need help with a new lethal drug that’s being used on the hockey teams and reservation.
Very reluctantly, Daunis agrees using her background in chemistry and Ojibewe medicine. But, the truth ends up being more complicated than Daunis could imagine!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I wanted to give this 5 stars, but honestly I felt like at times the pacing was off or that it could’ve used a tighter editor. Especially since it is a YA book. I absolutely loved Daunis’s character. So strong, smart, and determined. A true role model. This book was quite thrilling at times! It had a strong sense of community that really I liked. I enjoyed learning more about the culture on the reservation of indigenous people. I can’t wait to read more from this author!