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creationwing's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This review is based on the audiobook.
This book is a coming of age story that reminds us that sometimes wisdom comes in the harshest of ways. I appreciated the very real depictions of how grief relating to death and "lost ones" manifests in different ways for different people.
While knowledge of histories such as residential schools (or, as the book calls it, "boarding schools") and the Sixties Scoop is not necessary, it's clear that the history informs the actions of many characters, including Daunis and her elders. I highly recommend looking into these histories before or as you are reading this book.
Overall, I think it was a well-written book with important themes. Boulley did a good job of leaving hints and foreshadowing as the book went along. My only real issues were with pacing and the ending. It was hard at times to know if months, days, or merely hours had passed in the narrative. This may have been an issue with listening by audiobook, however. As for the ending... it felt like it was merely there to tie loose ends in the plot, like the ending screen in a documentary stating what happened after filming ended. The knowledge was satisfying, but the way it was written wasn't.
This book is a coming of age story that reminds us that sometimes wisdom comes in the harshest of ways. I appreciated the very real depictions of how
While knowledge of histories such as residential schools (or, as the book calls it, "boarding schools") and the Sixties Scoop is not necessary, it's clear that the history informs the actions of many characters, including Daunis and her elders. I highly recommend looking into these histories before or as you are reading this book.
Overall, I think it was a well-written book with important themes. Boulley did a good job of leaving hints and foreshadowing as the book went along. My only real issues were with pacing and the ending. It was hard at times to know if months, days, or merely hours had passed in the narrative. This may have been an issue with listening by audiobook, however. As for the ending... it felt like it was merely there to tie loose ends in the plot, like the ending screen in a documentary stating what happened after filming ended. The knowledge was satisfying, but the way it was written wasn't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Daunis is 18 years oldklitanightfuryreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
I love love this book. Honestly I’m trying to put my thoughts together cause there is so much to unpack in this book.
As a non-native - in a way (I know it’s fiction) I learned a lot and feel like I was given some insight on their culture and some of the challenges they encounter.
There is so much to say but seriously just read it and check trigger warnings.
*********
PS: I only gave it 4.75 cause I did not enjoy the relationship between the main character and her mom.
As a non-native - in a way (I know it’s fiction) I learned a lot and feel like I was given some insight on their culture and some of the challenges they encounter.
There is so much to say but seriously just read it and check trigger warnings.
*********
PS: I only gave it 4.75 cause I did not enjoy the relationship between the main character and her mom.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Firekeeper's Daughter is everything I hoped it would be. This contemporary mystery set in Sault St. Marie (that's "soo" not "salt") deliveries a realistic world, an interesting story, and memorable characters. Boulley's debut is formidable. She builds a story with an intriguing rotation of characters, a crime that is familiar but explored from a different perspective, and a narrative that keeps the reader engaged. I read this book slowly and enjoyed it - if you stop reading this review right now, know that I recommend this book highly. It's wonderful.
Sault St. Marie and Sugar Island are beautifully crafted. Boulley is from the area, and she wove her love into the little details about her home. The blending and failings both of culture and community bring the story to life. Boulley graciously shares Native culture throughout the book, sharing the beauty of the people alongside the prejudices big and small they have to live with. One of my favorite parts of Firekeeper's Daughter was the way Anishinaabemowin was folded into the storytelling. I really want to reread this book in its audio format so I can listen to the language and hear the pronunciations.
I'm not sure why, but I didn't expect this book to involve so much hockey. I'm not a sports person as a rule, but for some reason, I love hockey. I really enjoyed that aspect of the world building - for me, at least, it was something different that I rarely read in books. It was nice to see a town come together around a sport other than football, even though the interactions were not always wholesome.
While I felt most the Supes - even important ones like Levi and Stormy - were uninteresting and a bit flat, I really liked Daunis and several other characters. Daunis lives in a constant state of struggle and balance. She loves both of her parents and respects the Ojibwe culture even though she knows she is not entirely welcome because of her mixed heritages. She still practices Ojibwe customs and speaks some of the language. I loved her determination, her naivety, her intelligence, her anger, and her love. Bt our protagonist isn't the only good character. I loved Granny June and the Elders, and I loved Auntie and the girls.
There were scenes in Firekeeper's Daughter that made me smile, scenes that made my heart ache, and scenes that made me smile. I learned from this book: small things (like the healing abilities of the human liver), and big things (like berry fasts). A lot about the plot was predictable, but I felt more drawn to Daunis's own journey than the investigation, so it didn't bother me at all.
All in all, this is a fantastic book. I hope we continue to see more from Boulley and other Native authors. Five out of five stars from me, and I will certainly be reading it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Alcohol