Firekeeper’s Daughter

3 min read

Thanks for visiting Ariel’s Arcs! Today I am really excited to talk about Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley. This book was one that I really enjoyed, and I already preordered it and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. Firekeeper’s Daughter is a contemporary crime thriller with a young adult main character who is a recent high school graduate. While it could be classified as young adult, the motifs and themes are poignant enough to be appreciated by those older than the YA age group.

A significant element of this book is hockey. I’m not super familiar with the sport, but it is something that is very important and integral to both the plot and the characters. There are moments that talk about what it’s like to go to tournaments overnight, or sports-related injuries, and I had a pleasant time learning more about a sport I have not had much exposure to in my life.

There are several themes within this book that create a captivating plot and loveable characters. Our main character struggles with grief and loss in the family while finding a balance to continue remaining connected with her community. The community itself struggles with the presence of drug addiction and how to respond when someone they love becomes directly impacted. Those who find themselves addicted are humanized and they are still known as who they are without the drugs, and I loved that component. There are several instances of nuance and the exploration of identity and the tension between owning an Indigenous identity and the federal government recognizing that status. I learned a lot from that, and I am interested in doing further research about those processes.

Sitting down to read this book kept me on the edge of my seat constantly. Even in the in-between moments, revelations and conversations arose that just made it too difficult to put it down. I don’t read a lot of crime and mystery thrillers, so I wouldn’t know how original the plot is in that account, but personally I was entertained. I’d recommend this to anyone looking to read more Native contemporary fiction.