Member-only story

Firekeeper's Daughter: A Novel by Angeline Boulley

Jarrett Blair

·8.1k Followers· Follow

Published in Firekeeper S Daughter Angeline Boulley

5 min read

1.4k View Claps

86 Respond

Save

Listen

Firekeeper's Daughter is a young adult novel by Angeline Boulley that follows Daunis Fontaine, a Native American teen who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation on her Ojibwe reservation. The novel explores themes of identity, culture, and the challenges facing Native American communities.

Firekeeper's Daughter

by Angeline Boulley

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3575 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Print length	:	489 pages

Plot Summary

Daunis Fontaine is a biracial Ojibwe teen who lives on the Sugar Island reservation in Michigan. She is a talented hockey player and dreams of playing for the national team. However, her life is turned upside down when her best friend, Lily, is found dead.

Daunis is determined to find out who killed Lily, and she teams up with Tribal Police Officer Levi Iron Horse to investigate. As they dig deeper into the case, they uncover a web of secrets and corruption that reaches the highest levels of the reservation.

Daunis must use all of her skills and knowledge to find the truth and bring Lily's killer to justice. Along the way, she learns more about her own culture and heritage, and she comes to a deeper understanding of the challenges facing her community.

Characters

Daunis Fontaine: A biracial Ojibwe teen who is a talented hockey player and dreams of playing for the national team. She is determined to find out who killed her best friend, Lily.
Levi Iron Horse: A Tribal Police Officer who teams up with Daunis to investigate Lily's murder. He is a skilled investigator and a respected member of the community.
Lily: Daunis' best friend who is found dead at the beginning of the novel. She was a bright and ambitious young woman who had a promising future ahead of her.
Chip: Daunis' boyfriend who is also a talented hockey player. He is supportive of Daunis' investigation and helps her in any way he can.
Grandma: Daunis' grandmother who is a wise and respected elder in the community. She provides Daunis with guidance and support throughout her investigation.

Themes

Firekeeper's Daughter explores a number of important themes, including:

Identity: Daunis struggles with her identity as a biracial Ojibwe teen. She feels like she doesn't belong in either world, and she is often judged by others for her appearance and her heritage.
Culture: The novel provides a rich depiction of Ojibwe culture and traditions. Daunis learns more about her heritage as she investigates Lily's murder, and she comes to a deeper understanding of the challenges facing her community.
Justice: Daunis is determined to find out who killed Lily and bring them to justice. She believes that everyone deserves a fair trial, and she is willing to fight for what is right.

Critical Reception

Firekeeper's Daughter has received critical acclaim from critics and readers alike. The novel has been praised for its well-developed characters, fast-paced plot, and important themes. It has been named one of the best books of the year by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Time magazine.

Firekeeper's Daughter is a powerful and moving novel that sheds light on the challenges facing Native American communities. It is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary Native American literature.

About the Author

Angeline Boulley is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a former prosecutor and tribal judge. Firekeeper's Daughter is her debut novel.

Boulley is a passionate advocate for Native American rights. She is a member of the National Indian Child Welfare Association and the Native American Rights Fund. She is also a founding member of the We Are the Fire Collective, a group of Native American writers and artists.

Firekeeper's Daughter

by Angeline Boulley

4.6 out of 5