WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED

Isabella Star LaBlanc, a Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota narrator, accurately delivers Native intonations and rhythms while narrating a second book about an Indigenous heroine from Sugar Island, Michigan. Sixteen-year-old Perry Firekeeper-Birch is often compared unfavorably to her anxious, academically driven, compliant twin. LaBlanc portrays Perry’s growth after she's forced into a summer internship. She captures Perry's development from a reticent and resentful teen to a warrior girl who is dedicated to defending her Ojibwe ancestors by repatriating their artifacts and remains. She also vows to stand up to racial prejudice, tribal politics, and the victimization of young women. Then she becomes caught up in a murder investigation, a heist, and a kidnapping. LaBlanc excels at weaving a gripping plot, Perry’s snarky wisdom, and a lyrical blending of languages. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2023 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2023]