Firekeeper’s Daughter written by Angeline Boulley, narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc
What a fiercely powerful debut novel! It is a complex & deeply layered story that immerses readers in the intricacies of Ojibwe culture & traditions set in Sault St. Marie & Sugar Island between Michigan & Canada. Indigenous narrator Isabella LaBlanc lends her voice and brings this story to life with radiancy & fluency.
18-yo Daunis Fontaine is mixed race, Zhaaganaash & Anishinaabe, born a secret by a white mother & a native father. The Fontaines are descendants of wealthy French traders and the Firekeepers are one of the oldest families from the Ojibwe tribe. She often felt the tug-of-war between her two identities but not wholly belonging to either. As she’s finding her own path, her close-knit Anishinaabe community is upended with tragedy that is personal to Daunis. As more deaths occur, she reluctantly becomes an FBI confidential informant to discover what new drug is impacting her community.
The novel is broken up into 4 Directions, starting with Waabinong (East) & ending with Kewaadin (North), representing Daunis’ journey. The writing is beautiful, atmospheric, and peppered with Anishanabe language. This is an enigmatic story that highlights the murder & violence of indigenous women, exploitation of indigenous culture, and continued oppression of indigenous people. But it’s also a story of the strength of the Anishinaabe community built upon their elders, coming together & holding strong to their teachings, traditions & medicines to prevail against adversity. Daunis is a strong female protagonist from start to end that forges her own path & leans into her Anishinaabe community for strength and healing.
“Our elders are our greatest resource, embodying our culture and community. Their stories connect us to our language, medicines, land, clans, songs & traditions…”
I felt such love for this story & I’ll be thinking about it for years to come. The book cover is absolutely stunning just as complex as the story itself. Boulley is an incredibly talented author and I’m looking forward to reading all her future books.
Chi’miigwech @henryholtbooks for the finished copy & @librofm for the ALC & BookishFirst for the chance!
What a fiercely powerful debut novel! It is a complex & deeply layered story that immerses readers in the intricacies of Ojibwe culture & traditions set in Sault St. Marie & Sugar Island between Michigan & Canada. Indigenous narrator Isabella LaBlanc lends her voice and brings this story to life with radiancy & fluency.
18-yo Daunis Fontaine is mixed race, Zhaaganaash & Anishinaabe, born a secret by a white mother & a native father. The Fontaines are descendants of wealthy French traders and the Firekeepers are one of the oldest families from the Ojibwe tribe. She often felt the tug-of-war between her two identities but not wholly belonging to either. As she’s finding her own path, her close-knit Anishinaabe community is upended with tragedy that is personal to Daunis. As more deaths occur, she reluctantly becomes an FBI confidential informant to discover what new drug is impacting her community.
The novel is broken up into 4 Directions, starting with Waabinong (East) & ending with Kewaadin (North), representing Daunis’ journey. The writing is beautiful, atmospheric, and peppered with Anishanabe language. This is an enigmatic story that highlights the murder & violence of indigenous women, exploitation of indigenous culture, and continued oppression of indigenous people. But it’s also a story of the strength of the Anishinaabe community built upon their elders, coming together & holding strong to their teachings, traditions & medicines to prevail against adversity. Daunis is a strong female protagonist from start to end that forges her own path & leans into her Anishinaabe community for strength and healing.
“Our elders are our greatest resource, embodying our culture and community. Their stories connect us to our language, medicines, land, clans, songs & traditions…”
I felt such love for this story & I’ll be thinking about it for years to come. The book cover is absolutely stunning just as complex as the story itself. Boulley is an incredibly talented author and I’m looking forward to reading all her future books.
Chi’miigwech @henryholtbooks for the finished copy & @librofm for the ALC & BookishFirst for the chance!