Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and then bought my own copy of the book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Firekeeper's Daughter

Author: Angeline Boulley

Book Series: Standalone

Diversity: Biracial MC (Ojibwe/White French ancestry)
Canadian born MC
Part Ojibwe side character
Biracial Cherokee love interest
Anxiety rep MC
Black/Ojibwe side characters
Gay side character

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: young adult readers, indigenous reads, mystery, thriller

Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller

Publication Date: March 16, 2021

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co

Pages: 488

Recommended Age: 16+ (Colorism, Sexual content, Language, Underage alcohol consumption, Drugs especially meth, Death, Grief, Suicide TW, Gore, Boarding schools for indigenous children mentioned, Racism, Bigotry, Sexual assualt/Rape TW, Violence, Kidnapping TW)

Explanation of CWs: Colorism is discussed in the book in regards to the MCs biracial background. There is sex mentioned and sexual content described as well as a sexual assault and a rape taken place in the text. Meth plays a huge role in this book but other drugs are also mentioned. Underage alcohol consumption only mentioned and shown briefly. There is a murder/suicide shown and replayed throughout the book. Boarding schools are mentioned occasionally throughout the book. Racism and bigotry are shown throughout the book by white characters. There is also a very descriptive kidnapping shown.

Synopsis: As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother.

The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.

Now, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she'll go to protect her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

Review: So I thought this book would be something different, I can't remember what, but this is why I don't read the book blurb before I read a book. I was absolutely blown away by the story weaved by the author. The characters were amazing, I was kept on my toes the whole time, and the world building was impeccable. The plot was amazing and I loved how the author set the book during 2004 during the height of the meth crisis (at least that's when it became big in my hometown area) because I think the book does well to show how beautiful the Ojibwe tribe is but also show how it's not perfect, but give it a somewhat good resolution at the end (I wanted to see that Blanket Party not gonna lie but I understand why that can't happen). The book turned into one of my 2021 faves and I loved how it was a murder mystery thriller book but so lyrical as well. The book just sings to your soul and commands you to listen.

My only real issue is that for the first 50ish pages the book is a little hard to get into, but not in a bad way. The book uses a lot of French and Ojibwe words in it and for the first 50ish pages you're going to need Google until you figure out and memorize what the words mean. But please keep at the book, you'll not be sorry when you do.

Verdict: Highly recommend and should be required reading for schools.