51 New Books to Read for Native American Heritage Month

Posted by Cybil on November 1, 2022


November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States. To join in the celebrations, we’ve sorted through our recent archives to highlight new books by Native American writers.
 
There is a lot to explore here: from historical fiction to YA fantasy, memoirs to mystery-thrillers, short story collections to National Book Award nominees. For those who enjoy the darker side of contemporary fiction, consider these books by Stephen Graham Jones (The Only Good Indians) or Erika T. Wurth (White Horse), which explore shadowy places between noir and horror. U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo gathers the work of more than 160 Indigenous poets with the acclaimed anthology When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through.
 
Scroll over the book cover images below for more details, and add anything interesting to your Want to Read shelf.




Do you have any reading recommendations for Native American Heritage Month? Tell us about your picks in the comments below! 

And be sure to check out more recent articles.

Comments Showing 101-150 of 168 (168 new)


message 101: by Liddy (new)

Liddy Five Little Indians by Michelle Good


message 102: by Jeff (new)

Jeff Vandegrift Another vote for Braiding Sweetgrass: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...


message 103: by Claire (new)

Claire Killers of the flower moon by david grann!


message 104: by Jim (new)

Jim Read books, for sure.
But also realize that isn't going to make the changes needed.
Readers need to use what they learn to take action. And I don't count liking, re-tweeting, or giving a positive review as taking action, even if you might.
Instead of just assuaging your guilt or performing self-congratulation by passively reading about another's pain, people need to DO SOMETHING.
And yes, this is aimed mainly at White People. After all, we have made the fucked up world everyone else is forced to navigate.


message 105: by Tascha (new)

Tascha Folsoi The Break Katherena Vermette
Indian Horse Richard Wagamese
Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience - A book on the art of Kent Monkman


message 106: by Jasmine (new)

Jasmine Tascha wrote: "The Break Katherena Vermette
Indian Horse Richard Wagamese
Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience - A book on the art of Kent Monkman"


Loved Indian Horse and The Break.


message 107: by Ron (new)

Ron Peters Anything by Richard Wagamese, The Orenda by Joseph Boyden, Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony, or Thomas King's Green Grass, Running Water.


message 108: by Nina (new)

Nina Zondag Seven Fallen Feathers 💔


message 109: by Jolene (new)

Jolene McDonald Bird Girl and the Man who Followed the Sun - Velma Wallis


message 110: by Jolene (new)

Jolene McDonald Two Old Women - Velma Wallis


message 111: by E (new)

E Braiding Sweetgrass


message 112: by Ree (new)

Ree Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O' Dell - both are iconic and emotional


message 113: by Katie (new)

Katie Betty by Tiffany Mcdaniel

This sprawling family saga is told by Betty Carpenter, sixth child out of eight (although two died early), born in 1954 to a Cherokee father and a white mother.
Betty’s coming of age is fraught with racism, bullying and poverty, but her father’s gentle lessons about the natural world and his stories and myths about his Cherokee heritage add a magical sweetness to her days. Surrounded by a damaged and unstable mother and an older sister who is hiding a terrible secret, Betty nonetheless thrives and develops a fierce passion for writing, which helps her through the worst of her days.


message 114: by Nikki (last edited Nov 07, 2022 10:06AM) (new)

Nikki Walton Standing Against The Windand Bloodlines are part of a series and the third book just released. Written by Marcus Abston who is a native author


message 115: by Signe (new)

Signe Mean Spirit by Linda Hogan

The book before "Killers of the Flower Moon: the Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI"

History:

Empire of the Summer Moon

Any poetry by Peter Blue Cloud or Joy Harjo


message 116: by Cynthia (new)

Cynthia Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese is a beautifully written story about an Indigenous hockey player dealing with the aftermath of life in a residential school.


message 117: by Elisha (new)

Elisha Armstrong race to the sun by rebecca roanhorse


message 118: by Eve (new)

Eve Kenny Tes wrote: "In my own moccasins by Helen knott!"

AGREE AGREE AGREE!!


message 119: by Sapphire (new)

Sapphire Heather wrote: "Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer"

Yes! I loved this one, it was so powerful.


message 121: by Kyla (new)

Kyla Stan Anything by Zitkala-Sa! Her work is beautiful :)


message 122: by AGC (new)

AGC Never Name The Dead, by DM Rowell


message 123: by Jack (new)

Jack O'Connor I would also recommend Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac. Brilliant novel.


message 124: by Sarina (new)

Sarina C Where White Men Fear To Tread by Russell Means


message 125: by Kwana (new)

Kwana Embers - Richard Wagamese


message 126: by Melissa (new)

Melissa Davis Stephen Graham Jones’ The Only Good Indians got me so excited to read horror again. I’ve been working through his backlist and reading all of his new releases as they come out. If you like horror, definitely check him out. I haven’t been disappointed yet.


message 127: by Sparrowgem (new)

Sparrowgem Whereas, Layli Long Soldier


message 128: by Emma (new)

Emma Thomas Fools Crow by James Welch and The Grass Dancer by Susan Power


message 129: by Ali (new)

Ali Sanders Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamesw


message 130: by Jackie (new)

Jackie Manz If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth is a fun mature YA read!


message 131: by Brady (new)

Brady Braiding Sweetgrass


message 132: by Amber (last edited Nov 09, 2022 05:01PM) (new)

Amber Martingale I tried reading Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse and was disappointed in it. I had previously read Trail of Lightning and Storm of Locusts and enjoyed them so I thought I was gonna enjoy Black Sun too. Pbbbbbbbbbbfffffffttttt!

Jenny: I'm looking forward to the final two books of her The Sixth World series. Are you?


message 133: by Amber (new)

Amber Martingale locvcat wrote: "Jeremy wrote: "I would like to make a few recommendations that are older, non-fiction books. They are deep reads I'd say - a lot of heavy stuff in these books.... but in my opinion, they are essent..."

NOTHING should ever be "required reading"! All "required reading" lists do is to TURN ADULTS AND CHILDREN AWAY FROM READING FOR PLEASURE!


message 134: by Amber (new)

Amber Martingale Claire wrote: "Killers of the flower moon by david grann!"

This book mentioned the FBI case about these murders that was profiled in the Jimmy Stewart movie The FBI Story.


message 135: by Amber (new)

Amber Martingale Kyla wrote: "Anything by Zitkala-Sa! Her work is beautiful :)"

I didn't know Red Bird was an author. I knew she was a musician... .


message 136: by Kathy (new)

Kathy Maresca Katie wrote: "Betty by Tiffany Mcdaniel

This sprawling family saga is told by Betty Carpenter, sixth child out of eight (although two died early), born in 1954 to a Cherokee father and a white mother.
Betty’s c..."


I read this recently and was very moved by it.


message 137: by Ernie (new)

Ernie Brill E.M. wrote: "Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice.
Perfect November/onset of winter reading.
And the sequel's coming out next year."
that is good to hear because Moon of The Crusted Snow is one of the best novels from any where that i have ever read, and so suspenseful it makes most mysteries look like grocery lists Cant wait for the sequel!!!!


message 138: by K.S.C. (new)

K.S.C. Ellen wrote: "The Break"

This book is SUCH a gut punch. A great book.


message 139: by Jasmine (new)

Jasmine K.S.C. wrote: "Ellen wrote: "The Break"

This book is SUCH a gut punch. A great book."


So good! And I enjoyed it even more after I read The Strangers.


message 140: by Mackenzi (new)

Mackenzi I have never seen a comments section with so many recommendations, thank you everyone who commented with even more books to check out.


message 142: by Spike (new)

Spike Lyne anything by Thomas King or Tomson Highway also Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson


message 143: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Olivia Think Indigenous by Doug Good Feather (direct ancestor of Chief Sitting Bull). Filled with wisdom from the Lakota Way & how to think in a way that is in harmony with our beautiful world.


message 144: by Christina (new)

Christina All the Quiet Places by Brian Thomas Isaac


message 145: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Kauthen Adding them all, ty ^_^


message 146: by Ashley (new)

Ashley Anything by Richard Wagamese.


message 147: by izzy (new)

izzy Firekeeper's Daughter! Miigwelch


message 148: by Kim (new)

Kim Tracy Killers of the Flower Moon!


message 149: by David (new)

David These incessant cultural "heritage months' on Goodreads are getting a bit tiresome. As they don't reflect ALL cultures, they are exclusive, divisive, and more than a bit racist. Is RACE all that's left to talk about on Goodreads?


message 150: by Patricia Rose (new)

Patricia Rose Braiding Sweetgrass and Crazy Brave


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