Daunis has finally finished high school but in her new normal, her plans for the fall have changed. While not a registered member of her father’s Ojibwa tribe, she feels deeply rooted in its culture and beliefs - some of which collide with her mom’s family. Her own birth was a scandal - something that hangs over her all the time but that she doesn’t let stop her from making her father's family the community of her heart.
Something is happening on the reservation, though, and even kids that Daunis is close to are being affected by it. When a cute new boy shows up and a traumatic event triggers a cascade of questions - Daunis has to decide how far she’s willing to go and what she’s willing to do to protect her Ojibwa family.
I don’t even know how to describe this book. It’s such a beautiful portrait of a modern teen choosing to live a life deeply invested in their indigenous culture. I absolutely loved this part of it, this glimpse of a truly intentional way of living. It’s also a coming of age story, a look at trauma - both generational and in real time. It’s about love and trust and sacrifice. It’s about the power of science AND the power of the knowledge that’s passed down from our elders It’s also a thriller that sucks you in and while I guessed some of it, the plot still surprised me and even the sometimes repetitive nature of Daunis’s inner monologue didn’t spoil this incredible listen. Daunis is smart, intuitive, a strong protagonist in a strong story. Some questions that never really got answered are forcing me to take 1/2 a star off because it's still bothering me but overwall, there is so so much in this book to appreciate and I loved it.
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