contemporary Short Stories
CLOUDWALKER: CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN STORIES is a collection of short stories by Joel Monture (Mohawk), illustrated by Carsen Waterman (Seneca)(Fulcrum, 1996). This collection features characters from a variety of Native nations. Ages 9-up.
GROWING UP NATIVE AMERICAN: STORIES OF OPPRESSION AND SURVIVAL, OF HERITAGE DENIED AND RECLAIMED ' 22 AMERICAN WRITERS RECALL CHILDHOOD IN THEIR NATIVE LAND edited and with an introduction by Patricia Riley (Cherokee), foreword by Ines Hernandez (Nimipu/Mexican Indian)(Avon, 1993). An amazing array of stories by some of the most talented voices in Native American literature, including Louise Erdrich (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewas), N. Scott Momaday (Kiowa), and Linda Hogan (Chickasaw). Ages 12-up.
INDIAN
SHOES by Cynthia
Leitich Smith (HarperCollins, 2002). Ray and Grampa Halfmoon face
the challenges of daily life with love and humor in this collection of
short stories set in Chicago and rural Oklahoma. Together, they encounter
homesickness, bad hair cuts, mystery, artistic competition, and a wedding
without proper pants for the ring bearer. Ages 7-up.
MOCCASIN THUNDER: AMERICAN INDIAN STORIES FOR
TODAY edited by Lori Marie Carlson (HarperCollins, 2005). An anthology
collection of short stories about contemporary Native American teenagers.
Contributing authors: Joy Harjo; Sherman Alexie; Cynthia
Leitich Smith; Richard Van Camp; Linda Hogan; Joseph Bruchac; Louise
Erdrich; Susan Power; Greg Sarris; and Lee Francis. Ages 12-up. More on
this title from Cynsations. Read The Story Behind The Story from Lori Marie Carlson.
RISING VOICES: WRITINGS OF YOUNG NATIVE AMERICANS selected by Arlene Hirschfelder and Beverly R. Singer (Santa Clara Pueblo)(Ivy, 1993). Real words from real kids. Ages 8-up.
- What's Here
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- Abbott to Aston
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- Na to Ostow
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Of Note
GIRL MEETS BOY: BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, edited by Kelly Milner Halls (Chronicle, 2012) features "Mooning Over Broken Stars" by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Creek) and its companion, "Falling Down to See the Moon" by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki).
Contemporary Native-Themed
- Novels
- Picture Books
- Short Stories
Quotables
"Having started out as a writer for adults, I find it annoying how little respect is given to people who write for children and young adults. As though this art is a simple one. And the people who seem to respect it the least are those who write for adults, who should understand the difficulties of writing in any form. It's just frustrating."
—Ellen Wittlinger, author of HARD LOVE
Book Sources
Featured books were sent by authors, publicists and/or publishers or purchased by the site owner.
Support
"If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything" promotes reading at schools on or near Native American Indian reservations through building library collections and organizing reading promotion events.
