Firekeeper's Daughter

Bibliography

Boulley, Angeline. FIRE KEEPER'S DAUGHTER. Square Fish, 2023. ISBN: 9781250866035.

Plot Summary

FIRE KEEPER'S DAUGHTER is about Daunis Fontaine, an 18-year-old girl who is half Ojibwe and white. Being part of two different cultures, she does not feel fully accepted by either side. Her father's Native community is quite close to Daunis, but she is also living in her mother's wealthy white family. Daunis struggles to feel complete in either side. Daunis ends up witnessing the murder of her best friend and becomes part of the investigation. Daunis uses the knowledge from both sides of her family: science, hockey, and Ojibwe traditions, to help her find the truth. Throughout the story, Daunis finds her footing with who she is, who she can trust, and how far she is willing to go for the people she loves.

Critical Analysis

This story has become quite popular for a reason. It has mystery, culture, and finding a sense of belonging all in one. By highlighting Daunis’s searching to find out who she is and where she belongs, the mystery and investigation make this story amazing.

Daunis is a strong character, atypical of most female main characters. She is quite diverse in all of her traits. She is smart, observant, and athletic yet very caring to her family. Daunis also craves justice, forcing her to realize that sometimes doing the right thing is a bit more complicated. All of these traits are important to the story as they help her character feel more real for readers to connect with. 

The cultural representation in this book is spectacular. Angeline Boulley is an Ojibwe author making the cultural details authentic to Native Americans. From the language, ceremonies, and family dynamics, Boulley's personal experience and writing showcase the culture beautifully. On the darker reality for Native Americans, the story also shows the struggles they face. Boulley writes about the drugs, grief, racism, violence, and the way women aren't protected.

Overall, FIRE KEEPER'S DAUGHTER is a powerful YA novel because of the connections readers can make. The suspense and emotions mixed with conversations of identity and justice will keep older students engaged with this book.

Review Excerpts

"A suspenseful tale filled with Ojibwe knowledge, hockey, and the politics of status." Kirkus, a starred review.

"This debut novel is gripping from the start, letting the reader know that theyre in for wild ride. Boulley, herself an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, writes from a place of love for her community and shares some key teachings from her culture, even mixing languages within the context of the story. She doesnt shy away from or sugar-coat the very real circumstances that plague reservations across the country, and she tackles these through her biracial hero, who gets involved in the criminal investigation into the corruption that led to this pain. An incredible thriller, not to be missed." Booklist, a starred review.

Awards (Large List)

100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time, 2021  Young Adult

Amazon Editors' Picks: Top 20 Children's Books, 2021  Young Adult

American Indians in Children's Literature Best Books, 2021  Middle Grade

AudioFile's Best Audiobooks, 2021  Young Adults

Best Books for Teens, 2021 

Best Children's Books of the Year, 2022  Ages 14 and Older

Best of the Best Books, 2021  Teen Fiction

Booklist Book Review Stars, 2021 

Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Youth, 2021 

Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2021  Fiction for Older Readers

Booklist Editors' Choice: Top of the List, 2021 

Booklist Top 10 Mystery/Suspense for Youth, 2021 

Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens, 2022  Ages (14 and Up)

Choices, 2022  Fiction Young Adult

Distinguished Books, 2021  Fiction

Heartland Books Recommendation for Life-Long Readers - Excellence in Young Adult Literature, 2022  Young Adult

Horn Book Fanfare, 2021  Fiction

NPR's Book Concierge, 2021  Young Adult

Notable Books for a Global Society, 2022 

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2022  Teen, Action / Adventure

Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2021  Young Adult

Rise: A Feminist Book Project for ages 0-18, 2022  Young Adult Fiction

School Library Journal Best Books, 2021  Young Adult

School Library Journal: Best Books for Young Adults, 2021 

Top 10 YA and Children's Books, 2021 

YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, 2022  Audiobooks

YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2022  Young Adult Fiction

Connections

This book is great for a high school class during a unit on multiple topics: identity, Native American literature, or social justice. Conversations could be led by students by asking them to identify any of these items. It could also be used during a lesson about character development. As Daunis learns more about herself, students can track how her choices affect her growth. This could be done on a character map connecting major moments in the book to all of Daunis' traits.