Warrior Girl Unearthed

This novel continues 10 years after The Firekeepers Daughter. This time, we are introduced to Perry, the protagonist, her twin sister, The Misfit Toys, and yes, even Daunis Fontaine is back. I should also add, so is Grant Edwards.

Whole new cast of characters dealing with rising number of missing and murdered people, betrayal, and how sacred and important cultural objects were stolen over the previous centuries and ended up in institutions and even in private auctions.

Very layered and while it ebbs and flows in terms of pace, miss nothing! Everything somehow comes into relevance and I personally had to go back and re-read certain passages just to ensure what I read...the answers were all there.

My only complaint which is the romance between "Y" and "X" as they kept breaking up and getting back together. If just felt that romance didn't add anything to the story. They could have just been friends and it still would have worked. Did you really think I was going to give away that much? ;)

It should be noted, I also listened to the audiobook. I loved both!

Writing Style: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Pace: 3.75/5
Characters: 4/5
Intrigue: 4/5
Enjoyment: 5/5

This is such a delightful way to learn about intense topics like NAGPRA and MMIW. At moments it felt a bit heavy handed and I could see the strings showing (of course she's going to rotate internships so she can learn about something else) BUT the writing style is so refreshing that I really didn't mind. No one in our bookclub really liked the resolution of the heist, however... it needed more urgency and felt a bit "Scooby Doo", like someone said. But otherwise, Perry is.a wonderful character to follow.

wow to this book. I kept thinking "oh ok this is what the book is about" and then whoa left turn and something else would happen. I learned a ton and want to learn more about the culture. amazing book.

“I’ve seen and heard the term human remains at least a hundred times today. But it registers differently now. The remains of a human being who lived and breathed…it’s my honor to introduce you to Warrior Girl.’” “I admire warriors…Those who are willing to do what others can’t or won’t do for the community…Warriors might lose a battle, but they keep their eyes on what truly matters–the final result…The Warrior Girl was willing to sacrifice herself for her community. So that others could live full lives…Sugar Island is always ready to welcome our warrior girls home, where they are loved.” Perry Firekeeper-Birch is the reluctant intern at the tribal museum, supervised by “kooky Cooper.” He teaches her that “Everything is connected…The past. The future. The beginning and ending. Answers are there even before the question. You’re supposed to go back to where you started. And if you step off the path, you better keep your eyes wide open.” “When she learns about stolen ancestral remains in other museums and private collections, Perry decides to return the ancestors to Sugar Island, like a reverse Indiana Jones…or an Indigenous Lara Croft” and embark on Project Bigiiwen Enji Zaagigooyin, “Come Home Where You Are Loved.” She is determined to do everything to “help which memories get preserved. Like storing seeds in a cool, dark, and dry place to keep them alive.” However, she learns that “working within the process, following the laws…matters…It’s not just about winning; it’s about how you conduct yourself and represent your community…the means justify the end. Doing the right thing for the right reason, with a good heart and clear intentions, matters.” “Ultimately, Warrior Girl Unearthed is about the need to control Indigenous bodies–both in the past and today.” A cultural and literary tour de force.