Sisters in the Wind

by Angeline Boulley

Overview

From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.

Ever since Lucy Smith’s father died five years ago, “home” has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a “ward of the state”. But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe.

Five years in the foster system has taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his “friend-not-friend”, a tall and fierce-looking woman who say they want to look after her. They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has – had – a sister, and more siblings, a grandmother who’d look after her and a home where she would be loved.

But Lucy is being followed. The past has destroyed any chance at safety she had. Will the secrets she's hiding swallow her whole and take away any hope for the future she always dreamed of?

When the past comes for revenge, it’s fight or flight.

Angeline Boulley's award-winning canon of books puts compelling characters and fast-paced action at the center of narratives rich in historical context. Read Firekeeper's Daughter; Warrior Girl Unearthed; and the soon-to-be-released Sisters of the Wind in any order; but like the world itself, there are echoes within each for the other stories.

Pick this up if you love:
- quiet girls with dark pasts
- explosive opening scenes
- wolves in sheeps’ clothing

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781420529593
Publisher:	Youth Large Print
Publication date:	10/01/2025
Edition description:	Large Print
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Angeline Boulley, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is a storyteller who writes about her Ojibwe community in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She is a former Director of the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Her debut novel Firekeeper's Daughter was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and recipient of many international accolades including the ALA Printz and Morris Awards; the YA Goodreads Choice Award; the Walter Award for Outstanding Children's Literature; and is Carnegie Mellon nominated. Angeline lives in southwest Michigan, but her home will always be on Sugar Island.

Editorial Reviews

SIX STARRED REVIEWS FOR SISTERS IN THE WIND!

*“Complex and unpredictable…Boulley’s gift for building suspense is on full display…. With its intense depiction of issues present in the foster system, as well as its heartfelt exploration of Lucy’s Native identity, Sisters in the Wind will leave readers in contemplation long after they’ve finished reading.“―BookPage, starred review

*“A strong standalone story full of suspense and survival.”―School Library Journal, starred review

*"Shocking revelations keep pages turning. Boulley’s latest gripping thriller poignantly expands familiar characters’ stories and introduces a compelling new heroine​.​" ―The Horn Book, starred review

*"Weaving together the history of stolen Native children with the contemporary dangers to vulnerable teens, this unforgettable novel is impossible to put down…and races to an explosive conclusion." ―Booklist, starred review

*"Boulley delivers a propulsive mystery thriller...unflinching prose...[and] a devastating yet gripping tale of finding family, recontextualizing faith, and reclaiming ancestry that serves as a searing critique of the ways that systems can fail vulnerable youth."—Publisher's Weekly, starred review

*“A powerful story of family, belonging, and identity interlaced with thriller.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"“Heart-wrenching, adrenaline filled.” -BCCB

PRAISE FOR WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED

An Instant New York Times and Indies bestseller! An NPR Best YA Book of the Year! An AIYLA Honor Book!

"A riveting, culturally focused thriller. Boulley has become a must-read author." -NPR

"Despite the heaviness and heartache of the book's subject matter, Angeline once again did not neglect the importance, beauty and POWER of family, friends, community. . . The heart and the foundation of this book really feels like it is built on a sense of possibility and optimism for and faith in future generations. And that's really beautiful." - Courtney Summers, bestselling author of I'm the Girl, The Project, and Sadie

SIX STARRED REVIEWS FOR WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED!!!

*"This novel is many things at once: a coming-of-age story of twins who are each struggling to find their places, a murder mystery, a culturally driven exploration of home and belonging, and the same thoughtful, expansive, and careful examination of what it means to be Anishinaabe as Boulley offered in the previous novel." -BCCB, starred review

*"Heightened tension, dynamic action scenes, a complicated heist and plenty of revelations [make] Warrior Girl Unearthed an edifying and deeply moving read." -BookPage, starred review

*"A compelling narrative about one teen’s attempt to undo some of the injustices her community and people have faced." -School Library Journal, starred review

*"Another powerful, suspenseful page-turner from Boulley"-The Horn Book, starred review

* "A thrilling and empowering read" -Publisher's Weekly, starred review

*"A page-turning heist grounded in a nuanced exploration of critical issues of cultural integrity." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"[I]ncredibly engaging...This quick follow-up to Boulley's best-selling, award-winning Firekeeper’s Daughter carries over all the same intrigue, tension, and heartbreak." -BookList


PRAISE FOR FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER

A PRINTZ MEDAL WINNER! A MORRIS AWARD WINNER! AN AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD YA HONOR BOOK! AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK!

Soon to be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground.

“One of this year's most buzzed about young adult novels.” ―Good Morning America

A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time Selection
Amazon's Best YA Book of the Year So Far
A 2021 Kids' Indie Next List Selection
An Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Books of the Year
A PopSugar Best YA Book Selection


"This is one bold, uncompromising and elegantly crafted debut." ―Courtney Summers, New York Times-bestselling author of Sadie

"Intricate and moving. Boulley takes the reader on an incredible journey with the assurance of a veteran novelist." ―Tochi Onyebuchi, award-winning author of Beasts Made of Night and Riot Baby

“A rare and mesmerizing work that blends the power of a vibrant tradition with the aches and energy of today’s America. This book will leave you breathless!” ―Francisco X. Stork, acclaimed author of Marcelo in the Real Worldand Illegal

"A crime suspense fiction [with] a lot of layers, Indigenous culture, and it's really beautifully written." ―Georgia Hardstark, co-host of My Favorite Murder podcast

"[An] absolute powerhouse of a debut." ―NPR

“Another YA novel that’s absolutely page-turning required reading for adults...Our heroine is so smart, so thoughtful, and so good.” ―Glamour

"Raw and moving. . . Boulley has crafted a nuanced and refreshing protagonist." ―Cosmopolitan

"Sure to be on one of the year's best YA novels" ―POPSUGAR

"A gorgeous insight into Anishinaabe culture and a page-turning YA thriller with a healthy dose of romance thrown in,Firekeeper’s Daughter hits all of the right notes." ―Hypable

"Immersive and enthralling, Firekeeper’s Daughter plunges the reader into a community and a landscape enriched by a profound spiritual tradition. Full of huge characters and spellbinding scenes, it gives a fascinating insight into life on and off the reservation, with Daunis as a tough and resourceful heroine through every vicissitude." ―Financial Times

"Hitting hard when it comes to issues such as citizenship, language revitalization, and the corrosive presence of drugs on Native communities, this novel will long stand in the hearts of both Native and non-Native audiences." ―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Though Firekeeper’s Daughter contains gripping action sequences and gasp-inducing twists, it’s Daunis’ mission of self-discovery, which begins as a low and steady growl and grows to a fierce, proud roar, that has the most impact... Though it both shocks and thrills, in the end, what leaves you breathless is Firekeeper’s Daughter’s blazing heart." ―BookPage, Starred Review

"Boulley, herself an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, writes from a place of love for her community and shares some key teachings from her culture, even mixing languages within the context of the story. She doesn't shy away from or sugar-coat the very real circumstances that plague reservations across the country, and she tackles these through her biracial hero who gets involved in the criminal investigation into the corruption that led to this pain. An incredible thriller, not to be missed." ―Booklist, Starred Review

From the Publisher

★ 2025-05-30
A wary teen wonders if she should run when people come looking for her.

Lucy Smith was raised by her white father, who said little about her mother. Following his death and her stepmother’s abandonment, Lucy entered the foster care system at 14. Her stepmother revealed that Lucy’s birth mom was Native American, but her social worker urged her to keep that quiet. Battered by her time in the foster care system, it’s no wonder that 18-year-old Lucy is cautious when she’s approached by a man who says he’s an attorney who helps Native American foster kids connect with their families and communities. He introduces her to a friend who reveals to Lucy that she knows her Ojibwe maternal relatives—but a wary Lucy refuses her offer to learn more. Someone is stalking her, after all, and the FBI is investigating the bomb that went off in the diner where she worked—an event she’s sure targeted her. This stand-alone from bestseller Boulley, who’s an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, includes characters her fans will recognize from previous works. The action scenes are mediated by ruminations on the failings of the foster care system and strong portrayals of Lucy’s relationship with her father and her complicated identity. Ardent book lover Lucy is a sympathetic narrator whose strong sense of justice is coupled with a deep acceptance of others.

A powerful story of family, belonging, and identity interlaced with thriller elements. (content warning, author’s note)(Thriller. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews