galexy_brain's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.0
What a page-turner! I needed to know more. I appreciated the story's invitation into the lives of indigenous folks on a reservation and learning more about Anishnaabe language and culture. I found
Spoiler
her brother being involved in the drug ring predictable because Daunis idolized him the whole time, even when he was evidently shitty in some ways. I also found Daunis's experience of grief to fall flat partially, but I'm no expert on how people process grief. It's just that as a reader I didn't really feel her grief very strongly, or find it particularly sad when Lily died, since we barely got to know her beforehand. I also really wanted to find out what was going on with the Little People but they never reappeared.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Gun violence, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Death, Addiction, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Racism, Alcohol, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, Classism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Confinement, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia
knittingtipsy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
4.5
I really enjoyed this novel, not least because of how much I learned about Ojibwe culture. I found the main character compelling, intelligent, strong, and sympathetic. I loved the depiction of family and community and the complicated feelings we can have to those we care most about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Drug abuse, Rape, Addiction, and Death
kingrosereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
An incredible upper YA mystery thriller that incorporates drug abuse and issues within and around Native communities, specifically the mistreatment of Native women.
Firekeeper’s Daughter follows 18-year-old Daunis Fontaine just before she begins her freshman year at university. Daunis is half-white/half-Ojibwe woman and has never really fit in with either. She hopes her first year of college will help give her a fresh start, but after witnessing the murder of her childhood best friend, Daunis is determined to discover all the factors that went into her friend’s death. This is when Daunis is brought into an FBI investigation to help track down the source of a new form of meth that’s entering several Native communities around the Great Lakes. Daunis discovers many secrets and is pushed to the point of breaking to discover the source and protect her community.
I think this was an incredible story. It made me cry like so much. There were so many things that weren’t resolved (much like in life) and it’s left a bit open ended. One of the few books I liked that didn’t have a satisfying (or vindicating) ending. I think it’s written well and introduced me to a lot of things I didn’t know about the Ojibwe community, the Great Lakes area, and hockey. I know the last seems silly, but it really is part of that area’s culture and it seems like a useful tool that could bring the Native communities and non-Native communities together.
(Spoiler) I think a lot of readers will have wanted the “bad guy” to be a white dude, and in a lot of ways it was a white dude that took advantage of Native boys that trusted him, but also some of the Native guys were bad on their own. Which is accurate. There’s a lot of people that actively work against their minority communities and I think this book shows how both these individuals as well as oppressors from the majority both take advantage.
I learned about the politics and social issues that play into becoming a federally recognized tribe and a full member of that tribe. And it really pisses you off once you realize how a member can be taken advantage of by outside groups.
It takes place in the early 00s, but I’m not really sure why. It kind of just made things difficult because of the restrictive cell phones of the time. It also seems far fetched that such a young officer would be a detective and qualify to be undercover. Also, where’s the DEA? I’m sure we had that in the mid-00s. Just little things that kind of nagged me, but I loved the book of course.
It’s definitely worth the read whether you’re 17 or 70. Read this book!
Firekeeper’s Daughter follows 18-year-old Daunis Fontaine just before she begins her freshman year at university. Daunis is half-white/half-Ojibwe woman and has never really fit in with either. She hopes her first year of college will help give her a fresh start, but after witnessing the murder of her childhood best friend, Daunis is determined to discover all the factors that went into her friend’s death. This is when Daunis is brought into an FBI investigation to help track down the source of a new form of meth that’s entering several Native communities around the Great Lakes. Daunis discovers many secrets and is pushed to the point of breaking to discover the source and protect her community.
I think this was an incredible story. It made me cry like so much. There were so many things that weren’t resolved (much like in life) and it’s left a bit open ended. One of the few books I liked that didn’t have a satisfying (or vindicating) ending. I think it’s written well and introduced me to a lot of things I didn’t know about the Ojibwe community, the Great Lakes area, and hockey. I know the last seems silly, but it really is part of that area’s culture and it seems like a useful tool that could bring the Native communities and non-Native communities together.
(Spoiler) I think a lot of readers will have wanted the “bad guy” to be a white dude, and in a lot of ways it was a white dude that took advantage of Native boys that trusted him, but also some of the Native guys were bad on their own. Which is accurate. There’s a lot of people that actively work against their minority communities and I think this book shows how both these individuals as well as oppressors from the majority both take advantage.
I learned about the politics and social issues that play into becoming a federally recognized tribe and a full member of that tribe. And it really pisses you off once you realize how a member can be taken advantage of by outside groups.
It takes place in the early 00s, but I’m not really sure why. It kind of just made things difficult because of the restrictive cell phones of the time. It also seems far fetched that such a young officer would be a detective and qualify to be undercover. Also, where’s the DEA? I’m sure we had that in the mid-00s. Just little things that kind of nagged me, but I loved the book of course.
It’s definitely worth the read whether you’re 17 or 70. Read this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, and Murder
amdonn8's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Engaging mystery story set in a Native American in the Upper Peninsula. The author deftly deals with some really heavy themes like abuse, poverty, addiction, identity…without feeling overly preachy. The cultural details made the community feel rich and personal, and also showed us the tribe’s modern reality. I didn’t care for the romance subplot, and some of the writing felt a little juvenile at times, but it’s a YA book after all so I don’t begrudge it. Fans of The Hate U Give will probably enjoy this one !
Fantastic narration in the audiobook ! She really captured the accents and hearing the Ojibwe language was really special.
Fantastic narration in the audiobook ! She really captured the accents and hearing the Ojibwe language was really special.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Addiction, Trafficking, and Drug abuse
Minor: Xenophobia
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this book even though it was so hard to read.
This is the story of Daunis Fontaine, a bi-racial, Indigenous woman. She's an incredible MC and I think her personality really made the book compelling. She plays hockey, she's strong but stubborn, she's proud of her heritage, and she has big plans for her life.
This is also the story of how drugs can infiltrate a community and wreak havoc. It's the story of how difficult it can be to break free of them. It's the story of how desperate people who have been systematically forced into terrible situations can try to use drugs as a way to grasp for an escape.
Any books about indigenous rights and the treatment of indigenous people in North America are always painful and difficult for me to read, but the stories need to be told.
This is a beautiful book.
This is the story of Daunis Fontaine, a bi-racial, Indigenous woman. She's an incredible MC and I think her personality really made the book compelling. She plays hockey, she's strong but stubborn, she's proud of her heritage, and she has big plans for her life.
This is also the story of how drugs can infiltrate a community and wreak havoc. It's the story of how difficult it can be to break free of them. It's the story of how desperate people who have been systematically forced into terrible situations can try to use drugs as a way to grasp for an escape.
Any books about indigenous rights and the treatment of indigenous people in North America are always painful and difficult for me to read, but the stories need to be told.
This is a beautiful book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Drug use, Rape, Racism, and Gun violence
marlihe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
An incredible book that was nearly impossible to put down. A compelling story with such a unique and interesting perspective of a young native woman.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Rape and Violence
Minor: Suicide, Murder, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Infidelity, Death, Death of parent, Vomit, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Car accident, Racism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Grief
babyjay's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Beautiful and heartbreaking read. The themes in the book are painfully realistic even if the action is a bit fantastic. Deep cultural roots are abundant and come from a place of love, respect, and education—this book is firmly set in a traditional (and modern) Native American community but is accessible and digestible to readers outside of the culture. The main character is strong and true and her experiences are a window into the joy and pain and community her story is set in.
The only points that we’re disappointing to me was the love interest.
The only points that we’re disappointing to me was the love interest.
Spoiler
Daunis is 18 and the undercover agent she falls in love with is 22–in and of itself a bit icky. He may be written through the lens of a very young adult, but he is supposed to be an undercover agent who’s had serious trauma, it’s a forced juxtaposition that doesn’t sit right with me. Either he’s experienced enough to not be interested in essentially a high schooler or he’s not and that thread of the story falls apart. Also, an applicant has to be 23 to apply to the FBI so his story is as flat as his character development. I couldn’t have gone without that angle entirely, Daunis can hold the story all on her own. <\spoiler>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Rape, and Xenophobia
sophie42's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Drug use, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Vomit, Rape, Violence, Sexual content, Car accident, and Sexual assault
Minor: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Child abuse, and Pregnancy
muchadoaboutliz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Addiction, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Cursing, Grief, and Drug use
Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Blood, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Violence, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Rape, Suicide, and Torture
meggs1005's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Addiction, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, and Xenophobia