These seven stunning books feature American Indians and are rich cultural pieces. Several of the books are also written by American Indians lending authentic voices to the American Indian story. The list is as diverse as the American Indian people with books for adults and children, fiction and non-fiction, historical and contemporary.
1. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech is the story of a 13-year-old American Indian girl who goes on a road trip with her grandparents. This children’s novel won the Newbery Award in 1995. This one’s a tear-jerker. Perfect for kids grades 4-8.
2. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann is the horrifying true tale of a conspiracy to kill off a tribe of wealthy American Indians in the 1920’s. This one’s the ideal pick for history buffs and true crime fans.
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey is a classic. Maybe you’ve seen the movie with Jack Nicholson? The book is a bit different from the movie in that Chief Bromden is the narrator. Don’t miss this chilling tale set in a mental institution in the 1960s.
4. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell is another Newbery Award winner which features an American Indian girl. This is the tale of Karana who lives alone off the coast of California for eighteen years. It is a haunting tale of courage and survival set in the 1800s. For kids grades 4-8 who like stories of adventure and nature.
5. The Round House by Louise Erdich is set on a reservation in 1988. Though the main character is 13-year-old Joe, this is not a children’s book as Joe spends the novel looking for the man who brutally raped Joe’s mother. It’s a powerful novel that portrays some of the difficulties still faced by American Indians in our justice system.
6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a young adult novel. The main character is Junior who is caught between two worlds when he leaves the reservation to attend an otherwise all-white school. Junior’s cartoons are sprinkled throughout the book are especially endearing.
7. There There by Tommy Orange is told from the alternating viewpoints of the members of a community of American Indians in Oakland, California as they prepare for and attend a powwow where a tragedy changes everything. Orange’s beautiful writing makes this debut novel stand out.
Please share other favorite books about American Indians in the comments below.
Looking for more diverse books? Check out these 5 Great Reads by Black Authors.