Firekeeper's Daughter: a haunting story about being true to yourself when you are caught between two worlds

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angelina Boulley is a story of personal identity, communal identity and finding your place in a world that doesn’t quite fit you. As someone caught between two worlds, eighteen year old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in. Not in her hometown or on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start in college but when family tragedy strikes, she must alter her plans in order to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting the new charming recruit, Jamie, on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Soon she realizes that there is more to Jamie than he’s telling. When Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, she realizes that Jamie has been lying to her and she is thrusted into an FBI drug investigation. She reluctantly goes undercover, using her knowledge of chemistry and the Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source of the drugs. As Daunis searches for the truth, secrets and old scars are exposed leaving her to fight her own demons. She is fully tested and learns what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and protect her community even if it tears apart the only world she has ever known. 

Firekeeper’s Daughter first caught my attention with it’s beautiful cover. The story synopsis piqued my interest. After I received a copy of Firekeeper’s Daughter for Christmas, I started reading and I discovered that it was a book to be read slowly. It was not a book to breeze through. It is a powerful and beautiful story that is complex and deeply moving. It is a book that is honest about history and current struggles without really pointing fingers. Simply stating facts and issues. Ms. Boulley presents the issues facing the modern Ojibwe communities including alcohol and drugs but also identity. What does it mean to be a member of the community as well who do you allow to be members of the community? I loved the character Daunis. She is feisty and ready to fight for herself and those she loves. But she is also a deeply wounded girl on the verge of womanhood in a very adult and complicated world. I also enjoyed the glimpse into the Ojibwe culture and people. There were many great quotes that I wrote down and will remember long after I have finished. It is a book I would definitely read again. I highly recommend Firekeeper’s Daughter. 

Firekeeper’s Daughter is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook.