Comments by James Weiler

Yup, and this role has significance in that it's Daunis' Native family! SHE is a firekeeper, maybe symbolically responsible for cleansing the tribe of drugs?

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 11:49:51 -0400

Guy Lies!!!

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 11:48:33 -0400

Yup, and it introduces the Guy Lies motif with male manipulation.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 11:48:09 -0400

Yup, and religion continues to show the theme of identity! Daunis' Fontaine side is Catholic, while her Firekeeper side is Native Ojibwe! So, she's stuck between two beliefs!

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 11:47:25 -0400

Yup, and this plays into that theme of Guy Lies! Maybe Jamie NEVER liked Daunis at all and is just setting her up into a false sense of security so he can extract as much info from her as possible?

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:57:49 -0400

Remember that Travis HAD the opportunity. He initially pulled the gun on Daunis; it was only Lily's intervention that led to her death and Daunis' safety. But even after Lily's death, Travis could have killed Daunis uninterruptedly, yet he chose not to.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:55:58 -0400

He certainly was trying!

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:54:50 -0400

This book does that a lot! We actually find out a bit more about this tragedy in the next few chapters - Daunis' dad in a car accident and breaking his legs.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:54:24 -0400

Yup, all representing the theme of identity! French/English - Fontaine side. Anishinabemowin - Firekeeper side.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:53:25 -0400

We don't know what Travis said while pointing the gun and before shooting; Daunis doesn't remember. Perhaps if Daunis remembers, we'll have some context?

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:52:38 -0400

Great observation! What is interesting is that Daunis remembers the smell through a flashback of sorts (represented in italics). We'll see more of this flashback throughout the book!

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:39:08 -0400

It goes beyond this, too, in that she respects his chattiness as a tribal elder. So, not only does Jonsy forward the plot, but he also contributes to the theme of Daunis respecting her Native identity!

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:38:06 -0400

Excellent observation! Remember this! Daunis mentions something preventing her from playing college hockey, and perhaps this injury plays into it? Like you noted though, anything that repeats will eventually become important.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:37:14 -0400

If we view this from the Guy Lies theme too, we could even (maybe?) see that Uncle David is manipulating Daunis into joining the investigation. Sure, he's not here, but his classroom acts as him, influencing Daunis' decision.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:36:09 -0400

Theme - Identity. To continue the irony of Daunis showing Native knowledge while being rejected by the tribe, Jamie confirms Daunis' knowledge here.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:35:01 -0400

Theme - Identity. The Indian boarding schools, as we discussed, were created to erase Native culture, which may explain why the tribe hates Daunis' white Fontaine side. Here, though, it's like Daunis' family is trying to protect her from half of herself.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:33:29 -0400

Theme - Guy Lies (kind of). Here is an interesting shift in the theme of male manipulation, as DAUNIS joins in on the manipulation with her own fake identity. Interestingly, she is still controlled in the investigation by men, though...

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:31:47 -0400

Great point! This also continues the theme of Guy Lies! Jamie has been manipulating Daunis like her father did to her, Levi does to the 'anglerfish' hockey girls, and Travis did to Lily!

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:29:21 -0400

Theme - Guy Lies. The existence of a blanket party communicates the struggle for justice in the Native community. Women have to go OUTSIDE the police for justice against male crimes.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:26:55 -0400

Theme - Identity. This comedic section on a poorly designed t-shirt highlights the irony of Daunis' Native rejection; the accepted tribal members aren't exactly knowledgable about their culture, yet Daunis the outsider is!

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:25:28 -0400

Theme - Identity. Here, Daunis and Lily are both shown to be outsiders in the Ojibwe community. We see this conflict throughout the novel, as Daunis strives for acceptance.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:23:43 -0400

Symbolism - Jade Green Eyes/Scarf. Throughout the novel, mother's jade green eyes and father's jade green scarf reappear, possibly symbolizing the family togetherness Daunis once experienced.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:22:21 -0400

The book begins by introducing Daunis' conflict in identity. She subscribes to her Native traditions, yet she doubts in her acceptance. We see these doubts validated in the tribe's rejection of her status.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:20:33 -0400

Theme - Guy Lies. Like we've seen with other male characters, Levi here exemplifies the disrespect toward women common throughout the novel.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:08:29 -0400

Theme - Identity. Levi, who is recognized as Native, is ok with derogatory language while Daunis, who is not recognized as Native, is more respectful of her culture. This shows that Daunis deserves to be Native more than a person who actually is.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:07:48 -0400

Theme - Guy Lies. As we've discussed throughout the novel, many of the men in this book are duplicitous, especially towards women. Daunis summarizes this theme most directly here.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:04:50 -0400

Symbolism

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 09:10:19 -0400

This image symbolizes the potential harm Jamie will inflict on Daunis. Represented in this description, her blood is on him, similar to the common expression of blood on someone's hands.

Foreshadowing

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 09:08:35 -0400

Knowing what happens to Lily, this comment is rather haunting.

Theme

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 08:53:04 -0400

Daunis essentially shares the main theme of the novel here. We see her struggle for Native acceptance throughout the book, as she defines herself as Native but the tribal elders do not.

Foreshadowing

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 08:53:25 -0400

Another hint that the audience (us!) will witness a lot of duplicity in the characters, like Jamie, who she's talking to during this moment!

Foreshadowing

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 08:48:55 -0400

Now that we know what happens to Lily, small comments like these from Daunis offer hints at the danger Lily is in!

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