Recommended Reading: Indigenous Voices

November is Native American Heritage Month, and we’re excited for the excuse to highlight some of our favorite Indigenous writers. From a genre-blending novellas to evocative poetry, these six books offer a little something for every reader, including two picks for young readers as well! Read on to check out these recent and longtime favorites of our booksellers!

Tread of Angels, Rebecca Roanhorse

Tread of Angels is everything I’ve come to expect from Rebecca Roanhorse: epic worldbuilding, intricate plotting, characters with deliciously gray morals, and an action-packed read that had me ravenously turning pages. Set in a world of angels and demons, this novella merges western, romance, and mystery to make an absolutely satisfying read. (Julia)

A Minor Chorus, Billy-Ray Belcourt

What an absolutely beautiful and emotional novel in a tiny package. Equal parts a novel about history, community, queerness, and being Indigenous, and a complete dissection of the novel-writing process and an interrogation of what a novel can be and do. The writing is incredible and the narrator is so wonderfully human. Read it in a day, think about it forever. (Jacs)

Nature Poem, Tommy Pico

My absolute favorite contemporary poet writes my absolute favorite book of poetry. 10/10, starred review, would recommend, positively wondrous, A+++, holy crap!!! (Bex)

There There, Tommy Orange

THIS SHOULD HAVE WON THE PULITZER! Orange was robbed! These interwoven perspectives are so diverse and rich that you’ll never want to part with these characters. Read it! (Anna C)

Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend, Dawn Quigly

I want to be best friends with Jo Jo, a young girl who lives on an Ojibwe reservation! I loved learning about reservation life and words, like Boozhoo (which means hello). This is a great pick for Junie B. Jones or Dory Fantasmagory readers. (Jacque)

Surviving the City, Tasha Spillett & Natasha Donovan

Indigenous women are five times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women. let that statistic stay with you as you witness two young girls navigate a world that does not keep them safe—but their community and sisterhood will always protect and help them through. The imagery of lost loved ones guiding the girls while the dark spirits of colonizers try to lead them astray is sure to leave a haunting impression of the injustices yet to be reconciled. (Kristina)