Starting in 2017, I decided to increase my understanding of Native peoples by reading 100 books by indigenous authors.
I set no limits on time, genre, age level, or tribe.
However I would like to prioritize enrolled tribal member #ownvoices and Great Lakes Native stories. I also plan to buy 50 books by indigenous authors, and donate those we don’t keep to local schools and libraries that need better indigenous representation.
Since this is a massive undertaking, this page will help me track the books I purchase, read, and review.
- Books are listed by author in alphabetical order.
- If I read more than one book by an author, they are in order of purchase.
- If there is an illustrator, I’ve listed them next to the book.
- More information was available about some authors than others.
- The links by the author’s name are the sources of the information about their indigenous heritage or tribal enrollment.
- The notes below a title state the month(s) and year each book was bought, read, and reviewed. Some reviews are scheduled so they might be posted later.
- If I’ve reviewed a book, you can click the title to read my review.
Alexie, Sherman – Spokane and Coeur d’Alene
- Flight
Purchased 2/17 - Ten Little Indians
Purchased 4/17, reading 4/17, 5/17 - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, illustrated by Ellen Forney
Purchased 4/17, read 4/17, reviewed 4/17
Bruchac, Joseph – mixed heritage, of Abeneki descent
- The Warriors
Purchased 3/17, read 4/17, reviewed 5/17 - Codetalker
Purchased 3/17
Erdrich, Louise – mixed heritage, member of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa
- The Birchbark House
Purchased 3/17, read 5/17, reviewed 6/17
Gansworth, Eric – Haudenosaunee, enrolled member of the Onondaga Nation
- If I Ever Get Out of Here
Purchased 2/17, read 3/17
Gray Smith, Monique – mixed heritage Cree & Lakota descent
- My Heart Fills With Happiness, illustrated by Julie Flett
Purchased 2/17, read 3/17, review posted 10/17
Herrington, John B. – enrolled Chickasaw
- Mission to Space
Purchased 2/17, read 3/17, reviewed 4/17
LaBoucane-Benson, Patti – Métis woman, Native Counseling Services of Alberta Director
- The Outside Circle, illustrated by Kelly Mellings
Requested as prize 4/17, received and read 4/17, reviewed 4/17
Leitich-Smith, Cynthia – member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Jingle Dancer, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
Purchased 2/17, read (with kids) 3/17 - Indian Shoes, illustrated by Jim Madsen
Purchased 2/17, read 3/17 - Rain is Not My Indian Name
Purchased 3/17
Ortiz, Simon – Acoma Pueblo Indian
- The People Shall Continue, illustrated by Sharol Graves
Purchased 4/17, read 4/17
Swamp, Jake – Chief, Akwesasne Mohawk (another source)
- Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message, illustrated by Erwin Printup (Cayuga/Tuscarora)
Purchased 4/17, reread 4/17 (previously borrowed)
Tallchief, Maria – Osage
- Tallchief: America’s Prima Ballerina, with Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Gary Kelley
Purchased 5/17, read 5/17, reviewed 6/17
Van Camp, Richard – member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation
- We Sang You Home, illustrated by Julie Flett
Purchased 2/17, read 3/17, review posted 10/17
Various – different authors from different tribes
- Do All Indians Live in Tipis? Questions and Answers from the National Museum of the American Indian
Purchased 3/17, read part 4/17 and 5/17 - The Great Vanishing Act: Blood Quantum and the Future of Native Nations
Gifted 1/18, reading 1/18 - Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Anthology
Purchased 5/17, read some stories 8/17
Watt-Cloutier, Sheila – Inuit
- The Right to Be Cold
Purchased 6/17, reading 6/17, on hiatus 9/17
Purchased: 20/50
Read: 13/100
Reviewed: 7/25
If you have reading suggestions, would like to send me a book meeting the above criteria to read and review, or have further information about an author or book listed here, you can leave a comment here or contact me directly.
Last Updated: October 19th, 2017.