November is National Native America Heritage Month, and we celebrate the rich cultures and histories of our indigenous peoples. In honor of this month, we are highlighting some titles new to our collection in 2024. All are available in print, as well as in cloudLibrary.
Adult
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich is the October 2024 Read with Jenna book club pick. Louise Erdrich is a bestselling and award-winning author who has written many novels based upon contemporary Native American life. This is her latest novel, which is a coming of age/love triangle, set in North Dakota.
I was a Teenage Slasher by bestselling author, Stephen Graham Jones. This book spent time on the USA Today Bestsellers list when it was released in July. If teen horror movies are your thing, this is the book for you. Set in a small Texas town in the late 1980s, Jones has constructed what has been dubbed “a classic slasher story with a twist.”
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava is a modern-day romantic comedy. In order to land her dream job, Ember stretches the truth on her resume. She falls for a fellow Native co-worker, Danuwoa, and begins a secret relationship with him. When their relationship is discovered by a colleague, will all of Ember’s lies, as well as her relationship with Danuwoa, be exposed?
Native Nations: A Millennium in North America by Kathleen DuVal. From the publisher: “In this magisterial history, Kathleen DuVal tells the story of Native nations, from the rise of ancient cities more than a thousand years ago to the present, reframing North American history with Indigenous power and sovereignty at its center. Before and during European colonization, Indigenous North Americans built diverse civilizations and lived in history, adapting to a changing world in ways that reverberated globally.”
Kids/Teens
On a Wing and a Tear by Cynthia Leitich Smith. This middle grade novel combines magical realism, mystery, and a road trip with lots of danger and adventure. “With loving care and boisterous humor, acclaimed author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) tells a modern folklore story about friendship, embracing the unexpected, and all the overlapping circles that connect us throughout Creation. Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Brian Young, and Elana K. Arnold!”
Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell is the Reese’s Book Club Fall YA ’24 pick. This complex and powerful debut mystery/thriller starts with the tribute to a missing girl from the Blackfeet community, but turns into the murder of another. Will the four main characters be able to prove their innocence?
Red Bird Danced by Dawn Quigley is another middle grade novel. “With lyrical verse and powerful emotion, Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe) tells the story of urban Native kids who find strength in connection with those who came before and in the hope that lets them take flight.”
For more titles, please check out National Native American Heritage Month: Adults and Kids/Teens found in cloudLibrary.
