Fire Keeper’s Daughter
In my search for more BIPOC lead and written stories I’ve really expanded my literary genres. Fire Keeper’s Daughter is the break out novel of author Angeline Boulley, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. This book has been one of my more enjoyable reads of 2021.
This Young Adult novel covers the issues facing Native people in a modern day America, and the lasting effects of colonialism. Boulley’s story is centered on a young Anishinaabe woman who is recently out of high school, and looking for direction in where to take her future. This is a pivotal time for any person but then the author throws in family loss, the idea of broken homes, MMIW, the issues facing mixed race Natives, tribal enrollment, systemic racism, residential/ boarding schools, and the drug epidemic. This whole thing is wrapped in the nice tidy package of a crime thriller!
Honestly this book has it all, cutting social commentary, plot twists, mushrooms, JINGLE DRESS! Ten out of Ten I highly recommend everyone read this book, and if you can go order it from an independent book seller to show your support for BIPOC authors and stories.