Mara B., Crofton High School
The Firekeeper's Daughter is a coming-of-age/suspense story about Daunis, a young Ojibwe woman, who finds herself in the midst of a drug scandal in her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie. In this story, she navigates relationships with her family, friends, and teachers/coaches while investigating the death of close family and friends related to the drug scandal, all set on the backdrop of life on a reservation which is beautifully illustrated through native culture.
I love that the author is able to express her upbringing and culture through the book. My favorite way she does this is through traditions that Daunis experiences and explains that she does on a daily basis and also when remembering a loved one. This is emphasized as a large part of the book and shows how important it is to the Ojibwe people. I also enjoyed how the author used Algonquian words to further immerse the reader into the story and also educate them about native culture. Another thing I liked about this book is how realistic it is. The dialogue and interactions between each character seem like they could happen in real life and feel natural. I did find some parts of the plot a bit intense or absurd but overall I think it drove the plot well and emphasized the suspense the author wants the reader to feel well.
I would recommend this book to anyone 14+. I truly think that this book hits on a lot of different genres and niches and anyone mature enough to read can enjoy it. It has elements of mystery, suspense, and romance while being centered around a realistic-fiction genre. I recently recommended this book to my grandmother who is an avid reader because she loves learning about new experiences and cultures so I think this book can be enjoyable for a large range of ages.
Click here to check out Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley.