The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
The writing ranges from dry to pointedly (in other words, unnaturally) quotable, and the dialogue is somehow even more stilted and unrealistically grammatically flawless than the narration. A few spoken lines toward the end literally go on uninterrupted and with no stuttering or backtracking for 100+ words; virtually no one, let alone who's suffered recent repeated physical trauma, is that eloquent. Information is revealed in stilted blocks and repeated ten times over. I don't think any teenager -- or person at all -- in the history of cell phones has ever texted like the teenagers in this book are written as doing.
In terms of substance, there's a lot left to be desired as well. All of the individual narrative threads -- or at least most of them -- would make interesting stories, but here they're all kind of crammed into one unbalanced mess. Is the central plot supposed to be Daunis's complex relationship with her family members and community? Her desire to pursue a career in medicine/science and unite traditional and more modern "scientific" practices? Her recovering from and learning about the factors leading up to her best friend's sudden, tragic death? Her role as an undercover informant in an FBI investigation involving meth and her community (as much suspension of disbelief as that requires)? Her and Jamie's relationship? A general critical overview of the treatment of Indigenous women in American and Canadian society? It's never really decided, and so we jump awkwardly from one to the other without more natural transitions or better multitasking, leading to really overall odd pacing.
The general emotional pacing never quite hits either. A significant medical detail about the protagonist is made explicit for the first time 70% in and never serves any real relevance (and is outright contradicted or ignored at other times). Major traumatic events like the murder of Daunis's best friend and
The characters -- including, perhaps especially Daunis -- lack depth, whittled down to one trait (not even one that is shown, but told... multiple times). The supporting cast especially kind of blends together as a result of that weird pacing and unrealistic, stilted dialogue. I couldn't get a real sense of any of their motivations, so the culprit reveal and relationships all feel more than lackluster. In that regard, the romance is particularly egregious, even putting aside the core issues with
Overall, quite disappointing execution of multiple interesting premises, and I remain bewildered by the overwhelmingly positive response. Perhaps it was a great book for many others, but nothing about it ended up clicking or sitting well with me.
(Also, urine, even your own, is not actually sterile! Please do not use it as a substitute for hydrogen peroxide. I know this is set in 2004 -- as little as there is to solidly ground it there -- and a lot of people believe that myth even today, but it just feels... irresponsible to include in a book like this, especially framed as an objective valuable fact.)
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Addiction, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Car accident, and Child abuse
charliebriggs96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Racial slurs, Rape, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Drug use, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
takeaim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The main character, 18-year-old Daunis Fontaine, is Native American (Ojibwe) and white. After she witnesses a fatal shooting, she uses her knowledge in chemistry and Native medicines to help the FBI investigate a new illegal drug plaguing her town and other Native communities. Boulley expertly depicts the issues facing Indigenous people in the U.S. It never feels heavy-handed because the characters are more than just their trauma. More than just their grief, anger and sadness. There is love, humor, inner pride, loyalty. And that is what drives Daunis to uncover the truth. And as we all know, the truth hurts.
Please check content warnings.
The Obamas have optioned "Firekeeper's Daughter" for a series on Netflix. Boulley's follow-up is "Warrior Girl Unearthed." I look forward to both.
Graphic: Sexism, Grief, Addiction, Racism, and Sexual violence
emtk2118's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Rape, and Drug use
Moderate: Car accident, Sexism, Vomit, Racism, Blood, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Classism, and Colonisation
Minor: Abandonment
skudiklier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Addiction, Death, Grief, Racism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Suicide, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Fatphobia, Car accident, Vomit, and Xenophobia
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Racial slurs, Torture, Sexual content, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Ableism, and Alcoholism
lovealwaysadi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Blood, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Addiction, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, and Cultural appropriation
math_scooter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Blood, Grief, Confinement, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Moderate: Rape, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Addiction, Medical content, Death of parent, and Racism
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Stalking, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Homophobia
josefinessen's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Sexism, Murder, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Rape, and Car accident
findleydunn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Dementia, Death, Cultural appropriation, Sexual violence, Classism, Confinement, Car accident, Blood, Vomit, Violence, Racism, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexism, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Addiction
margaret_k30's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Drug abuse, Racism, Death of parent, and Addiction
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, Vomit, Rape, Physical abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Car accident, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Medical content, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Body shaming