A good book is an immersive experience, an opportunity for the reader to get lost in imagination and explore a new world. A great book does that and more — it brings a community together to discuss, debate, and share in its wonder.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley is a great book — and even better than that, it is the WestportREADS 2023 book selection.
The Westport Library is thrilled to announce this year’s selection and even more excited to welcome Boulley to the Trefz Forum on Thursday, February 16, for a conversation about her remarkable debut novel.
Copies of the book are available for borrowing now. Firekeeper’s Daughter is also available as a digital copy (e-book) and as an audiobook!
Firekeeper's Daughter is a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community. Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug. Now, as the deceptions — and deaths — keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.
Thursday, February 16
Keynote Address: Firekeeper’s Daughter Author Angeline Boulley
7-8:30 pm
Westport Library (Trefz Forum)
And more to come!
Printz Medal Winner
Morris Award Winner
American Indian Youth Literature Award YA Honor Book
TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time Selection
Amazon’s Best YA Book of 2021 So Far (June 2021)
A 2021 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection
An Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Selection
A PopSugar Best March 2021 YA Book Selection
#1 New York Times Bestseller
Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club YA Pick
Soon-to-be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground.
“Hitting hard when it comes to issues such as citizenship, language revitalization, and the corrosive presence of drugs on Native communities, this novel will long stand in the hearts of both Native and non-Native audiences.” —Publishers Weekly
“One of this year's most buzzed about young adult novels.” —Good Morning America
“Immediately after reading Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, I knew that I needed to buy a copy to have on my shelves. To me, this story was a keeper. Boulley’s debut is a triumph and I am so excited for what is sure to be an amazing career.” —Good Books and Good Wine
“A contemplative exploration of existing between two cultural identities meets fake relationship romance meets backwoods thriller in this absolute powerhouse of a debut from Ojibwe author Angeline Boulley.” —NPR
“I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved Firekeeper’s Daughter. How in awe of it I was and, frankly, still am. Part thriller, part romance, part coming of age novel… It’s difficult to categorize this novel because it’s a perfect blend of so many genres and journeys.” —Hypable
Fry Bread by Kevin Maillard
Through illustrations and spare poetic text, this tells the story of a post-colonial food that is a shared tradition for Native American families all across the North American continent. Includes a recipe and an extensive author note that delves into the social ways, foodways, and politics of America's 573 recognized tribes.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people's water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource. Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, this bold and lyrical picture book issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption.
Jo Jo Makoons series by Dawn Quigley
Filled with the joy of a 7-year-old Ojibwe girl discovering her very own special shine from the inside out, follow Jo Jo Makoons as she explores her Objibwe community.
We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell (nonfiction)
Using a framework of students giving presentations for an Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration, Native American students from different tribes present twelve historical and contemporary time periods, struggles, and victories significant to Native people’s experience since the late 1800s.
She Holds Up the Stars by Sandra Laronde
A 12-year-old Ojibwe girl leaves Winnipeg, Canada, to spend time with her grandmother on the reservation.
Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids (short stories)
A series of short stories centered on a two-day intertribal Michigan pow-wow by multiple authors, some of whom are Ojibwe and who include Ojibwe culture in their stories. While each piece is tribally specific, they feature characters that make cameo appearances in other stories. The effect is an underscoring of the intersectional nature of the powwow itself.
Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection
Trickster is a crafty, mischief-making creature who appears in different forms (Coyote or Raven, among others) in Native American folklore throughout North America. More than 20 authors from different Indigenous nations, including Ojibwe, are paired with illustrators to put their spin on Trickster’s antics. A great and varied introduction to storytelling traditions.
WestportREADS is supported through a generous bequest by the estate of Jerry A. Tishman.
