Culture 4 Review - Warrior Girl Unearthed
Bibliographic Information
Boulley, A. 2023. WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co. ISBN 9781250766588
Plot Summary
Perry Firekeeper-Birch has always known who she is - the laidback twin, the troublemaker, the best fisher on Sugar Island. Her aspirations won't ever take her far from home, and she wouldn't have it any other way. But as the rising number of missing Indigenous women starts circling closer to home, as her family becomes embroiled in a high-profile murder investigation, and as greedy grave robbers seek to profit off of what belongs to her Anishinaabe tribe, Perry begins to question everything.
In order to reclaim this inheritance for her people, Perry has no choice but to take matters into her own hands. She can only count on her friends and allies, including her overachieving twin and a charming new boy in town with unwavering morals. Old rivalries, sister secrets, and botched heists cannot - will not - stop her from uncovering the mystery before the ancestors and missing women are lost forever.
Sometimes, the truth shouldn't stay buried.
Critical Analysis
Warrior Girl Unearthed is a fierce, heartfelt story rooted deeply in Ojibwe identity, community, and the fight for justice. Angeline Boulley blends mystery and activism in this companion novel to Firekeeper’s Daughter, giving readers another unforgettable glimpse into the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The story this time is through the eyes of Perry Firekeeper-Birch. Perry is sharp, bold, and unapologetically herself. She’s not the “good twin”, that’s her sister Pauline, but she is loyal, curious, and deeply connected to her people. When a summer internship opens her eyes to the devastating reality of stolen Indigenous remains and artifacts locked away in museums, Perry feels the need to act. What begins as research quickly becomes a mission: to return her ancestors to their rightful home.
In this book, Boulley doesn’t shy away from complex themes like trauma, racism, and missing or murdered women. These themes never feel preachy or heavy-handed thought and instead, they are woven into the plot with care and respect. Perry’s journey throughout the novel is both a coming-of-age story and a call to action. Her personal growth mirrors her cultural awakening as she learns the value of both resistance and responsibility. One of the things that makes this book so impactful is how authentically it portrays Ojibwe culture. From Native language to family dynamics to traditional values and beliefs, the story is saturated with rich, meaningful detail. These are not just background elements. They are the story. This book made me think about how often history is told by those in power, which made me feel quite infuriated. It also made me think how often that history needs to be questioned, challenged, and rewritten. It’s a powerful reminder that stories matter, no matter who is telling them.
Awards Won & Review Excerpt(s)
*An Instant New York Times bestseller
*#1 Indies Bestseller
*An NPR Best YA Book of the Year
*A BookPage Best YA Book of the Year
*An Indigo Teen Staff Pick of the Month
*"A riveting, culturally focused thriller. Boulley has become a must-read author." -NPR
*"This novel is many things at once: a coming-of-age story of twins who are each struggling to find their places, a murder mystery, a culturally driven exploration of home and belonging, and the same thoughtful, expansive, and careful examination of what it means to be Anishinaabe as Boulley offered in the previous novel." -BCCB, starred review
*"Heightened tension, dynamic action scenes, a complicated heist and plenty of revelations [make] Warrior Girl Unearthed an edifying and deeply moving read." -BookPage, starred review
*"A compelling narrative about one teen’s attempt to undo some of the injustices her community and people have faced." -School Library Journal, starred review
*"Another powerful, suspenseful page-turner from Boulley"-The Horn Book, starred review
* "A thrilling and empowering read" -Publisher's Weekly, starred review
*"A page-turning heist grounded in a nuanced exploration of critical issues of cultural integrity." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Connections
*This novel provides an extended counter-story of history of and injustices waged agains Indigenous communities and cultures. Discuss the notion of healing through bringing and coming home and the legacies of ancestors.
*A central topic of this novel concerns the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW,
a.k.a. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives) movement. While this movement is in response to an incredibly exigent issue, it is woefully under-discussed. Have students research the MMIW movement. Facilitate exploration into specific subjects such as the extent and reach of this issue throughout the nation’s indigenous communities and the consequences of the various social and legal responses.
*If you liked this book, here are some more you might like!
-Obviously, I’m going to point you towards Angeline Boulley’s debut, Firekeeper’s Daughter, if you haven’t read that yet.
-Stolen by Lucy Christopher isn’t an easy read, but sometimes you’re looking for something intense and dangerous.
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