The Book Nook

Riveting Thriller   The young adult novel “Firekeeper’s Daughter” by Angeline Boulley generated lots of buzz after its publication in 2021.  Recently I’ve heard so much praise from adults that it’s clearly found an audience with them as well.   The chilling opening describes a violent disaster that brings unexpected change to our protagonist - eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine.  She’s a bright, biracial young woman who feels like a misfit in both her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation.  She’s never enrolled to become a tribal member because she doubts they’d ever accept her.  The one place she feels at home is on the ice, where she excels as a hockey player. Something else that makes her happy is the scholarship she received from the University of Michigan, where she wants to get a medical degree.  Secretly she hopes college will give her a fresh start in life, but those dreams are cut short after distressful events take a toll on her mother.  She defers her admission to university for a year, knowing that staying home is the right thing to do even as she yearns to go. Her best friend is attending the local college and Daunis signs up for classes there.  Lily is thrilled they’ll be classmates, even if it’s only for one year.  After discovering her boyfriend Travis got involved in drugs, they’ve been going through a rough break-up and Lily relies on Daunis support.  Both young women are saddened by his choices and wish he’d quit bothering Lily. Although Daunis has a strict rule about not dating team members, she considers ignoring it after meeting Jamie, the new recruit on her brother’s hockey team.  He’s smart, charming and attractive, but instincts warn her he’s not what he appears.  That suspicion is confirmed following a brutal act that shocks the community and throws her world into turmoil. Although that’s bad enough, more trouble follows and Daunis is anxious to get at the root.  When an unusual opportunity to help is presented, she accepts without knowing how much danger lies ahead.  Intelligence and quick thinking are needed, but so is deception, and it isn’t certain she can fool everyone.  Conflicts emerge as she tries to remain true to herself and adhere to her family’s values.  As events escalate and many are drawn into a dark world, it isn’t certain who will survive. Although this is her first novel, Boulley’s work resembles that of a veteran writer as she offers a detail-rich page-turner that keeps readers engaged.  Clues are well-placed and obvious enough to provide direction without giving away answers.  Mystery lovers who like attention to detail won’t be disappointed and thriller fans will appreciate the pacing and action. The powerful plot is bold and believable, pulling readers in quickly.  Descriptions make it easy to picture the ample action, which is nicely equalized with more reflective and interpersonal scenes.  The book contains adult situations and language without glamorizing destructive activities.  Instead, there’s a robust message about the importance of family and integrity. Boulley addresses subjects such as the meth epidemic, race and trauma in an enlightening way while providing insight into the Ojibwe world via Daunis’ poignant journey.  These dark and complex topics are nicely balanced with hope. Characters are fleshed out enough to feel real and given individual personalities.  Daunis is a likeable protagonist, a good friend, and an admirable person.  Her character resonated with many readers, who found it easy to root for her.  Daunis’ respect for others while maintaining her own sense of self struck a chord with many, and she provides a positive role model. The author is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians from Sugar Island, which lies between Canada and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.   She apparently was incubating ideas for this book for a long time and took ten years to write it.  That’s reflected by writing with an authentic feel and confident prose.  She quickly found an agent and after the book was submitted, there was interest by a dozen publishers. Following publication, the book quickly found a wide online presence and was on several “Top Pick” lists there and in bookstores and libraries.  It made the New York Times bestseller list and resulted in the author’s appearance on Good Morning America last November.  It’s also the basis for a Netflix series that I heard will air this spring. Those who enjoy a good story, clear writing and a debut novel that feels it’s penned by a pro will definitely enjoy this.  Three-dimensional characters, intelligent handling of tough current topics combined with a well-planned mystery make this a worthwhile read.