Audiobook Review: Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley

Angeline Boulley has completely wrecked me, in the best way possible. Sisters in the Wind is raw, emotional, and unputdownable, and listening to it on audio made the whole experience even more powerful. Sisters in the Wind is gut-wrenching, beautiful, and unforgettable. Definitely one to add to your TBR; just make sure you have tissues handy. Check out my thoughts below!

 

Sisters in the Wind

by Angeline Boulley
Published by: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
on September 2, 2025
Genres: Young Adult
Bookshop, Amazon
Goodreads

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 of normal she has had, and now the secrets she’s hiding will swallow her whole and take away the future she always dreamed of.

Review

We meet Lucy Smith, a foster teen who has been drifting from place to place since her father’s death. Life in the system has made her guarded and resourceful, but it’s also left her deeply alone. When she discovers she’s Ojibwe (and that she has a family and heritage she’s never known) her entire world shifts. What follows is a story of mystery, identity, and survival that had me holding my breath through every twist and reveal.

The dual timelines were such a brilliant choice. We see Lucy as a child, building up layers of armor as people and systems fail her, and then as a teen, starting to break those walls down as she connects with her heritage and community. It’s heartbreaking, yes, but it’s also hopeful in a way that sticks with you long after the last chapter.

One of my favorite things about Angeline’s writing is how she blends deeply personal stories with broader cultural truths. Through Lucy, we see the devastating impact of the foster care system on Indigenous children (and the importance of the Indian Child Welfare Act), but we also experience the beauty of Ojibwe traditions and the importance of community. It’s equal parts educational and emotional, and it left me feeling like I had learned something while also being completely swept up in the story.

As for the audiobook, I really enjoyed the narrator’s voice and emotional delivery; it captured Lucy’s vulnerability so well. The performance brought an intimacy to Lucy’s story that made the heartbreak hit even harder.

By the end, I was crying, cheering, and already thinking about when I could revisit this world. If you loved Firekeeper’s Daughter or Warrior Girl Unearthed, you’ll love how this one ties in, but Lucy’s story absolutely stands on its own.