December Recommendations - Drug rings and coyotes

Adult Book Recommendation

​The Fire Keeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

This engrossing book, which I believe is marketed as YA but is definitely a crossover read, sucked me in from page one and didn’t let up until the very last page. Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in with her Ojibwe community or in her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. When she witnesses a horrific murder she is convinced to go undercover to help an FBI investigation into a lethal new drug. The thriller/mystery is only part of the story, though. Even more interesting was the exploration of the modern Indigenous experience and the celebration of community. I always think the sign of a good book is when you wonder about the characters long after the end of the book. I’m still pondering Daunis and her relationships and hoping they’ll work out.

Children's Book Recommendation

​A Coyote Solstice Tale by Thomas King

This is an older book—published in 2009—that I reread recently. With his signature humour and biting commentary, Thomas King uses Coyote as a warning against the dangers of over-consumerism. When a young girl arrives at Coyote’s house, the animals escort her home and discover a gigantic mall. Coyote is thrilled to buy anything he wants, until he learns he has to pay for the goods. Adults might appreciate the warning more than kids!