At Book Ritual, we believe in the power of stories to transform, educate, and connect us to diverse cultures and histories. In this post, we’re thrilled to delve into the rich literary world crafted by Indigenous authors. We aim to highlight Indigenous voices that offer unique perspectives and invaluable contributions to literature.
Here, we’ve gathered nine books that not only tell compelling stories but also resonate with the enduring spirit and creativity of Indigenous voices. These narratives, published within the last two decades, are available on Amazon and are perfect additions to your reading ritual. Content may include affiliate links.
9 Must-Read Indigenous Books for Your Reading Ritual
“The Night Watchman” by Louise Erdrich
Louise Erdrich’s heart-wrenching tale, inspired by her own family, captures the essence of Native American resilience against cultural and land dispossession. This Pulitzer Prize winner is an essential read for understanding the historical struggles and triumphs of Indigenous communities.
Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. As a Chippewa Council member, he is grappling with the implications of a “termination” bill heading to Congress in 1953, which threatens Native Americans’ rights to their land and identity, revealing Congress’s disregard for treaties made in good faith. How can the government abandon commitments made “for as long as the grasses shall grow, and the rivers run”?
Since graduating high school, Pixie Paranteau insists on being called Patrice. Unlike most girls on the reservation, Patrice, the class valedictorian, does not want a husband and kids. She makes jewel bearings at the plant, barely earning enough to support her mother and brother. Her alcoholic father sporadically returns to terrorize the family for money. Patrice needs every penny to find her older sister, Vera, who moved to Minneapolis and hasn’t been in touch for months, rumored to have had a baby. Determined to locate them, Patrice makes a trip to Minnesota that exposes her to exploitation and violence, endangering her life.
“There There” by Tommy Orange
Tommy Orange’s debut novel paints a vivid picture of Native American life in urban settings, focusing on Oakland, California. The book bring Indigenous voices together, with multiple stories creating a poignant tapestry of modern Indigenous identity.
“The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline – Celebrating Indigenous Voices.
Set in a dystopian world where Indigenous people are hunted for their bone marrow, this novel by Cherie Dimaline is a stark reminder of resilience. It’s a story about survival, identity, and the strength of Indigenous communities in the face of adversity.
Humanity has almost destroyed its world due to global warming, but an even greater threat exists. The Indigenous people of North America are being hunted for their bone marrow, which holds the secret to recovering the ability to dream. In this grim landscape, Frenchie and his friends fight to survive as they travel north to the old lands. For now, survival means staying hidden—but one of them carries the key to stopping the marrow thieves.
“Heart Berries” by Terese Marie Mailhot
Mailhot’s memoir is a raw and poetic look at her life on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation. “Heart Berries” explores themes of trauma, healing, and love, offering readers an intimate look at personal and cultural reclamation.
Terese Marie Mailhot, after enduring a troubled childhood and facing a dual diagnosis of PTSD and bipolar II disorder, uses writing to navigate her trauma, culminating in Heart Berries. This work serves as a tribute to her mother, an activist, and explores her complex relationship with her father, an abusive alcoholic artist murdered under unclear circumstances, while reflecting on the challenges of love intertwined with shame.
Mailhot conveys that memory intertwines with imagination and pain, revealing her mental state through a unique voice. In her writing, she finds her authentic voice, takes ownership of her narrative, and reconnects with her family, community, and identity. A must read if you are wanting to read more about indigenous voices in literature.
“Postcolonial Love Poem” by Natalie Diaz
Natalie Diaz’s poetry collection is a lyrical exploration of love, history, and the impact of colonialism. Her Mojave heritage infuses each poem with a unique perspective, making this book a must-read for poetry lovers and those interested in Indigenous voices.
Diaz defies the conditions from which she writes, a nation whose creation predicated the diminishment and ultimate erasure of bodies like hers and the people she loves: “I am doing my best to not become a museum / of myself. I am doing my best to breathe in and out. // I am begging: Let me be lonely but not invisible.” Postcolonial Love Poem unravels notions of American goodness and creates something more powerful than hope―in it, a future is built, future being a matrix of the choices we make now, and in these poems, Diaz chooses love.
Our Featured and FREE eBooks
“Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice – Celebrating Indigenous Voices.
This gripping narrative follows an Anishinaabe community as they navigate a sudden collapse of modern society. Waubgeshig Rice crafts a story that’s both a survival tale and a deep dive into cultural preservation.
The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision.
Blending action and allegory, Moon of the Crusted Snow upends our expectations. Out of catastrophe comes resilience. And as one society collapses, another is reborn.
“The Only Good Indians” by Stephen Graham Jones
Horror meets social commentary in this novel by Stephen Graham Jones. It cleverly uses the slasher genre to address the consequences of cultural erasure and the haunting pasts that Indigenous people navigate.
From New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones comes a novel that intertwines psychological horror with social commentary on identity politics and the American Indian experience. Following four American Indian men haunted by a deadly event from their youth, they find themselves tracked by an entity seeking revenge, as the culture they abandoned catches up with them. In this “thrilling, literate, scary, [and] immersive” (Stephen King) tale, Jones blends his signature storytelling with a haunting narrative of revenge and cultural identity.
“Jonny Appleseed” by Joshua Whitehead
“You’re gonna need a rock and a whole lotta medicine” is a mantra that Jonny Appleseed, a young Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer, repeats to himself in this vivid and utterly compelling novel.
Joshua Whitehead introduces us to Jonny, a Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer individual from the Nêhiyaw Nation. This novel is groundbreaking for its honest portrayal of queer Indigenous life, blending humor with heartache.
Off the reserve and searching for ways to live and love in the big city, Jonny becomes a cybersex worker who fetishizes himself to survive. As an NDN glitter princess, he has one week before returning to the “rez” for his stepfather’s funeral. These seven days unfold like a fevered dream, filled with love, trauma, sex, kinship, ambition, and memories of his kokum (grandmother). Jonny’s world is a series of breakages, and through the motions of preparing to go home, he learns to piece his life together. Another great read to lock in to the indigenous voices in literature today.
“Empire of Wild” by Cherie Dimaline
Returning to Dimaline’s work, “Empire of Wild” merges contemporary life with Métis folklore. It follows a woman’s desperate search for her missing husband, leading to a journey filled with mystery, magic, and cultural depth.
One morning, hungover and grieving, Joan hears Victor’s voice from a revival tent in a Walmart parking lot. Inside, she sees him looking different but with familiar features, calling himself Eugene Wolff, a reverend on a mission. While he claims to be a man of God, Joan senses a dark and dangerous secret within him.
Joan seeks the help of Ajean, a knowledgeable elderly card shark, and her 12-year-old nephew Zeus to uncover the truth about Reverend Wolff, as her life and the lives of her loved ones depend on it.
These nine books are not just stories; they are windows into the soul of Indigenous cultures, past and present. They challenge us to learn, empathize, and celebrate the diversity of human experience. By adding these to your Book Ritual, you’re not only enriching your bookshelf but also participating in a broader conversation about identity, history, and literature that prioritizes Indigenous voices.
Have you read any of these books? What impact did they have on your understanding of Indigenous narratives? Share your thoughts or recommend other Indigenous authors in the comments below.
Thank you for visiting with us and learning about Indigenous Voices. For more Literature related content, visit our blog at The Ritual. Copyright © Mind on Fire Books
Leave a Reply