Citation: Boulley, A. (2021). Firekeeper’s daughter. Henry Holt and Company.
This book follows Daunis Fountaine, a recent high school graduate, as she prepares for college and the next steps in her life. The summer is supposed to be a time for her and her best friend Lily to have fun, maybe even get a boyfriend and work before they go to college together. But that all changes in a blink of an eye for Daunis. Daunis lives a divide in her life: she is part Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) and part Caucasian. Her father was a firekeeper, and throughout the book she educates Jamie Johnson, a new student to Sault Ste Maire High School, about her family. When Daunis is asked to go undercover to find out more about a drug investigation in her hometown, she must again divide her life to keep secrets from the ones she loves.
One of the best books I have read in 2023. Realistic characters and great character development. It felt like I was part of Daunis’ community, the way traditions were described within the book was fascinating. This was Angeline Boulley’s debut novel, and it was absolutely gripping.
Read our other review of Firekeeper's Daughter here!