MG & YA Books by Indigenous Authors
November is Native American Heritage Month, but we love Indigenous Authors all year long.
As a librarian in a rural community I wanted to make sure my students had access to diverse points of view which is why I sought out a variety of voices in the literature I chose for my middle school library.
The more you read of people’s experiences that are different than your own, the more empathy you have. You begin to see beyond the stereotypes to the stories that make up individual people. And when you do that you gain a greater understanding of the world we live in.
Okay, I’ll step down off my soap box now and talk about some great books by great authors who happen to be indigenous.
The Brave by James Bird
The Brave by James Bird is a beautiful middle-grade book about Collin, a young man who has to count every letter in every word that is spoken to him.
This compulsion causes him to be asked to leave another school. His dad is at a loss as to what to do with him, so he sends him to live with his mother who he’s never met.
As Collin adjusts to life in Minnesota and the Ojibwe culture which accepts his condition, he meets the girl next door who has her own challenges.
Touches of magical realism add to the heartfelt story.
The Barren Grounds by David Robertson
David Roberston has created a Narnia book for a new generation, one that explores indigenous culture.
Give me a portal story any day. I love a book that takes me out of the real world into a fantasy world filled with fabulous creatures. Robertson has achieved that in this great series.
Share this with a middle-grade reader you love. And for more Middle Grade recommendations check out our Top 75 Middle Grade Books List.
Fire Keepers Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Daunis dreams of going to college to escape her small town near the Ojibwe reservation.
When she witnesses a murder, she is recruited by the FBI to go undercover to help find the source of a new lethal drug.
This book is part thriller and part social commentary on past and current injustices in and against the Native American community.
I recommend this book if you loved The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas. Fire Keeper’s Daughter will break your heart in the same way.
Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan
This is a short middle-grade book about Summer, a girl visiting her family on a reservation in Canada.
While she is visiting she learns more about the history of how indigenous children were taken away from their families and forced into residential schools.
The main theme of this book is family. Life on the reservation is slow and filled with love.
Highly recommend as an alternative to Little House on the Prairie or fans of Anne of Green Gables.
We have so many books on our TBR that we can’t wait to read. Here are some of our MG and YA books by Indigenous authors on our list.
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Cozy up with a good read and hope to see you in the middle of a book,
Tracy and Amy
