Book of The Month discussion

Perry Firekeeper-Birch was ready for her Summer of Slack but instead, after a fender bender that was entirely not her fault, she’s stuck working to pay back her Auntie Daunis for repairs to the Jeep.

Thankfully she has the other outcasts of the summer program, Team Misfit Toys, and even her twin sister Pauline. Together they ace obstacle courses, plan vigils for missing women in the community, and make sure summer doesn’t feel so lost after all.

But when she attends a meeting at a local university, Perry learns about the “Warrior Girl”, an ancestor whose bones and knife are stored in the museum archives, and everything changes. Perry has to return Warrior Girl to her tribe. Determined to help, she learns all she can about NAGPRA, the federal law that allows tribes to request the return of ancestral remains and sacred items. The university has been using legal loopholes to hold onto Warrior Girl and twelve other Anishinaabe ancestors’ remains, and Perry and the Misfits won’t let it go on any longer.

Using all of their skills and resources, the Misfits realize a heist is the only way to bring back the stolen artifacts and remains for good. But there is more to this repatriation than meets the eye as more women disappear and Pauline’s perfectionism takes a turn for the worse. As secrets and mysteries unfurl, Perry and the Misfits must fight to find a way to make things right – for the ancestors and for their community.

Through Week 2

(view spoiler)[I loved book 1 but the focus was way different. I know how different cultures are so I understand how the stealing of their ancestors and belongings would cause a stir. I think they should be returned to the rightful "owners" and they should get Warrior Girl.

I think the decision of the artifacts should also be left up to the tribes because they might be able to use them in museums and the universities for more people to see; on the other hand the tribes might want authentic items to teach their own people. But I don't think the museums and universities have any rights to them, especially how they got them. (hide spoiler)]

Through Week 5

(view spoiler)[WHY? Another woman raped, in a different culture, and he's STILL out there living life! Ugh...Grant Edwards! I hope he didn't rape again, but most likely he wasn't a one-night-rapist! He got what he deserved! I have a feeling Daunis killed him and I don't blame her if she did!

It's just awful how women keep being taken/going MIA! And I wonder why Lockhart changed his mind. That was crappy! (hide spoiler)]

Through Week 8

(view spoiler)[I knew they'd arrest Daunis, but I wonder if she really killed him. I don't think she did.
I loved the courtroom where everyone kept standing up saying they killed Grant. lol

More women are missing. It must be just awful and terrifying for those tribes that are affected. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[Wow! I'm so glad that Shanse and Perry are all right! I was worried for a while there. What an awful thing to collect bodies and all that and use a silo to hide items. That ending held more people responsible than I thought would be, so that is just awful! I hate that so many indigenous women go MIA and that it still happens! It's bad too that if something like rape is committed there seems to be no real court/justice for the women. Disgusting! I like this one a lot, but I like the other book a little more. (hide spoiler)]

Through Week 5

(view spoiler)[ wasn't Daunis our Mc in our last book? did we know about the rape? I know there was a blanket party at the end of the last book but I think it was someone local and not this horrible guy.
I don't think she had anything to do with it - Daunis - but I think she might have seen something or know something. Or maybe it was all just too much.

I just do not understand why this woman wants all these artifacts when she just has them in boxes. What does she plan to do with it all? just hoard it, like our mc said?
I assume he changed his mind because of the girl hoarding all these boxes. just awful (hide spoiler)]

Through Week 8

(view spoiler)[ I'm worried about Web. Why is he encouraging her to steal these things? to break laws and take them? I know that they are taking back what should be theirs - don't get me wrong - but I'm a little worried about an adult pushing these 16 year olds to make these drastic decisions. Makes me worried. I didn't love Cooper, and he certainly isn't making any progress quickly, but it made sense he was pushing her to make better decisions.

I loved the court scene too - when so many women came forward. But right now, I have no good guesses as to who did it. It really could have been the women, because he hurt so so many. The realization he was trying to make his pool of victims bigger is just so awful. But who had access to him other than her auntie? and those that were at the meeting? (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

(view spoiler)[ wow, that was such a large group of people involved. I had no idea it was so many of them. and to get away with the truck and to set them up like that. I had a bad feeling about web but had no idea of everyone else. Ugh

but I did like learning about the traditions, the eye-opening parts that enraged both me and the mc.

I agree, I liked the first one just a little more but this one was just as eye-opening and interesting (hide spoiler)]

I flipped this one to an audiobook and it was so good!