320 pages
English language
Published Aug. 7, 2021 by Holt & Company, Henry.
As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in—both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. When her family is struck by tragedy, Daunis puts her dreams on hold to care for her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother’s hockey team.
After Daunis witnesses a shocking murder that thrusts her into a criminal investigation, she agrees to go undercover. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home. How far will she go to protect her community if it means tearing apart the only world she’s ever known?
Fast-paced and high-stakes near-YA with a long list of honestly addressed CW themes (sexual violence, gun violence, drug use, indigenous justice and casino wealth and federal bureau myopia, family estrangement, i could go on). The protagonist is drawn so smartly and self-aware on the boundaries of tribe, adulthood, hockey, love, family.
I really enjoyed this book. I appreciated its representation of indigenous themes, characters, and settings. Readers should be aware though that there are scenes of murder/death and sexual violence in this book and one of the main themes is the destructive power of drug addiction. If you are able to handle that, then I think you will really enjoy this book.
It’s a page-turner, but it’s also COPAGANDA
