Firekeeper's Daughter

 Bibliography: Boulley, A. (2021). Firekeeper’s Daughter. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 978-1-250-76656-4

Plot Summary: Narrated by Daunis, an 18 year old girl of mixed white and Native American heritage, tries to come to terms with her identity as a product of a scandalous relationship.  Her life changes when her grandmother dies and she must deal with the loss while caring for her own mother. Soon, she becomes entangled with an FBI investigation into a drug that threatens her community. Mix into that a relationship with a young hockey player, and Daunis' life becomes even more complicated. 

Critical Analysis: The author tackles issues of racism, drug use, and sexual assault among others in an honest way, not sugarcoating it to make it easier for the reader, but addressing it head on.  The language is appropriate to that of an 18 year old headed off to college, neither too simple or overly intellectual.  The main character is given much dimension, and we see her struggle and her vulnerability. When using words from her native language, the author is careful to let the reader know the meaning of the word without being condescending.  The cover art was a major pull for this work, beautifully designed.  A read well worth the time. 

Reviews:

     NPR.org: "Firekeeper's Daughter forges a new path, creating a deeply engaging mystery that illuminates far more than the expected whodunnit."

    Kirkus Reviews: "A suspenseful tale filled with Ojibwe knowledge, hockey, and the politics of status."

Awards: 

     Michael L. Printz Award-2021

     NPR Best Book of the Year-2021

     School Library Journal Best Books of the Year-2021

Connections: (Borrowed from mackidsschoolandlibrary.com)

     Use in a high school Social Studies class. Students will research displacement of Native American groups, and using maps, will locate tribal origin and track displacement. Students will also discuss how colonization created the issue.

      Use in a high school Sociology class.  Discuss issues faced by minority populations in the US, focusing on Native American populations. Students will also analyze excerpts of other narrative and informative texts to reflect on why these issues still exist. 

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