Press enter after choosing selection

Staff Picks: New Fiction by Indigenous Authors

by eapearce

Check out these new fiction titles by Indigenous authors that span a range of fictional genres!

Wandering Stars, by Tommy Orange | Request Now
The cover of Wandering Stars, by Tommy OrangeThis buzzed-about title is the sequel to Orange’s 2018 book, There, There. In this follow-up, Orange brings back some of the familiar characters from the first in the series, and also takes readers back in time to the legacy of the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 and the Carlisle Industrial School for Indians. The stories of three generations of a family are traced, and Orange deftly demonstrates the pain of generational trauma along with the stunning measures that his characters have taken to heal themselves and their loved ones. If you missed There, There back in 2018, pick that one up first—you won’t be able to put it down once you’ve cracked it open!—and then move on to Wandering Stars. They are a pair of novels not to be missed.

 

 

Indian Burial Ground, by Nick Medina | Request Now
The cover of Indian Burial Ground, by Nick MedinaIf horror is a genre you like to dip your toes into, you may want to put this new novel from Nick Medina on your “to read” list Things are finally looking up for Noemi Broussard. After a tough childhood and rough teenage years, she’s finally found herself Roddy, a boyfriend who treats her right, and she’s made a plan to move with him away from the reservation that she grew up on. Inspired by her Uncle Louie, who did the same thing and forged a new life for himself, she has hope for the first time in a long time. But when Roddy commits suicide, Noemi cannot believe it. As she learns more about the circumstances surrounding his death, the facts just don’t add up and Noemi begins to wonder if their tribal lands contain a menacing secret. When Uncle Louie returns to the reservation after over a decade away, he teams up with Noemi to try and determine what really happened to Roddy. But as they learn more about a past of secrets, horror and death on the reservation, Noemi begins to think that it might be best for some secrets to remain buried….

The Truth According to Ember, by Danica Nava | Request Now
The cover of The Truth According to Ember, by Danica NavaIf you’re looking for a lighter read, you might enjoy this contemporary romance about a Native American woman who tells a little white lie… that snowballs into something much bigger. When Ember Cardinal’s resume is rejected for the thirty-seventh time, she finds herself becoming desperate. Though she’s never thought of herself as a liar, she can’t help but wonder if her heritage has something to do with it. So, instead of listing herself as Indigenous on job applications, she starts listing herself as white… and immediately lands her dream job in a corporate accounting firm. She thrives in the fast-paced environment, and even starts secretly dating the IT guy and fellow Native American, Danuwoa. But when they’re caught by a mid-level executive on a work trip, he threatens to expose them both unless Ember manipulates the books for him. Desperate to save both her and Danuwoa’s jobs, she follows his orders, and the lies continue to grow. Ultimately, Ember must make the difficult choice to tell the truth—and potentially lose everything, or lead a life as someone she isn’t.

A Constellation of Minor Bears, by Jen Ferguson | Request Now
The cover of A Constellation of Minor Bears, by Jen FergusonTeens—or fans of YA literature in general—may want to checkout the latest from Jen Ferguson, author of The Summer of Bitter and Sweet. In this new novel, three friends: brother and sister Hank and Molly, and their friend Tray are planning a post-graduation hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. But when Hank suffers a traumatic brain injury after an indoor climbing incident, Molly and Hank are devastated and Molly is filled with anger. Even though she knows the accident wasn’t Tray’s fault, she’s furious at him for being there and not being able to stop Hank from falling. Determined to go on the hike, even without Hank, Molly packs her bags, prepared to hike solo and grieve the loss of her brother as she knew him. But her parents force Tray to go along, too, so that Molly has a buddy. Tray is the last person she wants to be around, but if she wants to complete the hike, she has no choice. Readers will root for the two teens, both struggling with their own grief and anger, but both with very big hearts.

Graphic for blog posts

Blog Post

Subjects
Reviews