Firekeepers Daughter Book review written by the Hobbit on May 25th, 2022. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Read
Book: Firekeeper’s Daughter
Author: Angeline Boulley
Genre: Mystery, Sports, Action
Length: 496 pages
Age suggested: 16+
Release Date: March 16th, 2021
Themes: Family,
Warnings: Drug abuse, rape (not explicit), sexuality (not explicit)
Awards:
2022 Michael L. Printz Award (excellence in literature for young adults)
2022 William C. Morris Award (debut book by a first time author for teens)
Quick Summary of Firekeepers Daughter
Firekeeper’s Daughter is the story of Daunis Fontaine, a half-native, half-white 18-year-old girl who does not fit in completely in town or on the Ojibwe reservation. She has started falling for the new player on her brother’s hockey team but senses he is not quite what he seems. Tragedy hits close and Daunis finds herself recruited by the FBI to find the answers behind a drug epidemic.
Firekeepers Daughter Review: (Contains Some Spoilers)
The book is told in four parts, representing the directions of Ojibwe medicine wheel teachings. Daunis is figuring out how to spend a year at the local college, instead of her planned one. Family issues have complicated her life since before she was born, and are still having an influence. Then she begins to fall for Jamie, one of her brother’s new hockey teammates. A sudden death brings her into confrontation with the increasing drug problem on the reservation. She learns that people are not who she thinks they are as she becomes a confidential informant for the FBI as they investigate a deadly new drug.
Lots of Native cultural aspects are included, and the primary characters are well done. The book is a mystery/crime novel, has a little magical realism, and is a great character study as Daunis journeys to become a strong Ojibwe woman.
NOTE: Higher Ground is adapting Firekeeper’s Daughter for Netflix.
–Why Read Firekeepers Daughter–
This is a good book, but there were parts that were tough to read. The amount of discrimination that Indigenous Peoples face still stuns me at times. I think this quote perhaps sums up the reason to read this – “ People say to think seven generations ahead when making big decisions, because our future ancestors—those yet to arrive, who will one day become the Elders—live with the choices we make today.” You get a mystery that has a lot of action, some romance, and you learn about Anishinaabe culture. And in the process, perhaps the generations that are coming will start learning to make the right choices.
-Plot/Story/Spiritual Aspects–
Spirituality plays a large role in the book. Some of the Ojibwe still continue going to a Catholic church – even though the church played a huge role in the boarding schools that many still remember. Others have returned completely to their original religion. There is no animosity expressed regarding either, and the two are often more similar than different.
Firekeepers Daughter Quotes
“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.”
“Love honors your spirit. Not just the other person’s but your own spirit too.”
“If I’m in limbo, it’s because I chose to remain there. Even inaction is a powerful choice.”
Firekeepers Daughter Discussion Questions
- “My Zhaaganaash and Anishinaabe grandmothers could not have been more different. One viewed the world as its surface, while the other saw connections and teachings that run deeper than our known world.” How do you see yourself – as more of a surface person or a deeper connection person?
- “She talked about the boarding school that Granny June’s daughters had been scooped up and taken to. Years spent marching like soldiers and training to be household domestics. They had the Anishinaabemowin and cultural teachings beaten out of them.” How much do you know about boarding schools in Canada and in America? What are some of the underlying reasons this happened?
- Have you ever been affected by the loss of a friend? How did it affect you?
- How important is family in Ojibwe culture? What elements of family are emphasized?
- “Each lie is a fish, with a bigger fish swallowing the one preceding.” Why is this true about lying?
- What is your most important take-away from reading?
Thanks for reading our Firekeepers Daughter Book Review. Before you go, check out these other posts
–A Song of Wraith and Ruins by Roseanne A. Brown
–Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
-Angie Thomas Books: The Hate U Give, Concrete Rose, and On the Come Up
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