100 Indigenous Books

[2022 Note: I update this page very infrequently, but my 100indigenousbooks project tag will be used on any books I review that fit this project, so go there for the latest reviews.]

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 area 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’re 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. (Roughly, there have been some books I’ve forgotten to record.)
  • If I’ve reviewed a book, you can click the title to read my review.

Alexie, Sherman – Spokane and Coeur d’Alene
Please see this post regarding Sherman Alexie

Bruchac, Joseph – mixed heritage, of Abeneki descent
Note that Bruchac does not only write Abeneki stories.  On this list, an * denotes a book where the main topic or character is Abenaki.

  • The Warriors 
    Purchased 3/17, read 4/17, reviewed 5/17
  • Code Talker
    Purchased 3/17, read and reviewed by 11/18
  • The First Strawberries
    Purchased and read 12/18
  • The Trail of Tears
    Purchased and read 12/18
  • Talking Leaves
    Purchased 12/18
  • Two Roads
    Purchased 12/18
    [Please note that this book is NOT recommended per AICL.]
  • Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back
    Purchased and read 12/18
  • Arrow Over the Door *
    Purchased and read 12/18, reread and reviewed 1/22
  • Children of the Longhouse
    Purchased 12/18, read in 19, reread and reviewed 11/20
  • Lasting Echoes: An Oral History of Native American People
    Purchased 3/22

Crow Dog, Mary –
(Note that her name changed to Mary Brave Bird – however I have listed her under this name as she’s best known for this book.)

  • Lakota Woman, with Richard Erdoes
    Gifted 2/20, read 4/20, review posted 6/20

Custalow, Linwood “Little Bear” – Mattaponi

  • The True Story of Pocahontas, with Angela L. Daniel “Silver Star” (Mattaponi)
    Purchased and read 3/22

Daniel, Angela L. “Silver Star” –
See Custalow.

Erdrich, Louise – mixed heritage, member of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa

  • The Birchbark House
    Purchased 3/17, read 5/17, reviewed 6/17
  • The Game of Silence
    Purchased and read some time in 17, reread and reviewed 3/22
  • The Porcupine Year
    Purchased in 19 and likely read that year.
  • Chickadee
    Purchased in 18, read in 20
  • Makoons
    Purchased in 18, read in 20

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

Herrington, John B. – enrolled Chickasaw

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, family read aloud in 18
  • 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

Qitsualik-Tinsley, Rachel – Inuit

  • Skraelings (Arctic Moon Magick #1), with Sean Quitsualik-Tinsley, illustrated by Andrew Trabbold
    Purchased and read 3/22

Swamp, Jake – Chief, Akwesasne Mohawk (another source)

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
  • #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women
    Purchased and read 5/18
  • Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today
    Purchased ?, read 19

Watt-Cloutier, Sheila – Inuit

  • The Right to Be Cold
    Purchased 6/17, reading 6/17, on hiatus 9/17

Windsor, Paul –

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.

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