Gain insight into the lives and accomplishments of the United States’ original inhabitants through their stories.
Adults
How to Be an Indian in the 21st Century
by Louis V. Clark, III
Based in Omro, Wisconsin, Louis V. Clark, III was born and raised on the Oneida Reservation in northeastern Wisconsin. This book is Clark’s take on a culture’s struggle to keep its heritage.
The Earth is Weeping: The epic story of the Indian wars for the American West
by Peter Cozzens
"[A]magnificent single-volume account of the post-Civil War conflicts that shaped our history and the mythology of the frontier… This is a beautifully written work of understanding and compassion that will be a treasure for both general readers and specialists." Jay Freeman, Booklist
Teens
The Marrow Thieves
by Cherie Dimaline
In this award-winning dystopian thriller, only indigenous people can dream, and recruiters force them to donate their blood marrow to those who can’t.
Code Talker: A novel about the Navajo Marines
by Joseph Bruchac
After being taught in a boarding school run by whites that Navajo is a useless language, Ned Begay and other Navajo men are recruited by the Marines to become Code Talkers, sending messages during World War II in their native tongue.
Ages 8 - 12
Native People of Wisconsin
by Patty Loew
Read the stories of the twelve Native Nations in Wisconsin, including the Native people's incredible resilience despite rapid change and the impact of European arrivals on Native culture. Young readers will become familiar with the unique cultural traditions, tribal history, and life today for each nation.
Talking Leaves
by Joseph Bruchac
Thirteen-year-old Uwohali has not seen his father, Sequoyah, for many years. When Sequoyah returns to the village, Uwohali is eager to reconnect. But Sequoyah's new obsession with making strange markings causes people in their tribe to wonder whether he is crazy, or witchcraft. What they don't know, and what Uwohali discovers, is that Sequoyah is a genius and his strange markings are an alphabet representing the sounds of the Cherokee language. The story of one of the most important figures in Native American history is brought to life for middle grade readers.
Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American voices
by Editors Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale
Whether addressing the effects of residential schools, calling out bullies through personal manifestos, or simply citing hopes for the future, Dreaming In Indian refuses to shy away from difficult topics. Insightful, thought-provoking, and beautifully honest, this book will to appeal to young adult readers.