Book: Firekeeper's Daughter

The other Native American novel my sister gave me is by Angeline Boulley, published 2021.  It's a mystery I guess, involving the drug trade on an Indian reservation in the upper peninsula of Michigan. I'm only about 1/4 way into it, but I'm already impressed. The writing is, what would you call it?  Transparent?  You very quickly forget you're reading a novel and instead concentrate on the characters in the story.  They feel real, the story feels real.

That's good writing.

Mmm halfway through and the story keeps being put on the back burner for page-upon-page of way too many irrelevant details about their hockey games that I don't care about.  Losing interest.

A lot of talk about community and family and making decisions for the 7th generation to follow.  In contrast to Tommy Orange's book this one respects Native culture, reveres feelings of belonging to something larger than yourself, and elucidates the responsibilities that engenders.

Not always a straight line narrative, but at least it's a respectful one.

The book has explained more than I ever knew before about the "per cap" payments from the casino, the politics of enrollment (in the tribe), the stratification of Native membership, the admixture of ancient traditions with White culture, the central role of respected elder women in maintaining tribal unity.

Well, the denouement was a bit rushed and incoherent, like it came as much as a surprise to the author as it did to the reader.

The author's heart was in the right place, but the story was maybe a little out of her depth.