National Native American Heritage Month takes place every November and celebrates the history, lived experiences and contributions of Native American people in the United States. We have lots of Teen books by Native American authors in our collection with a range of genres like non-fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror, graphic novels, and more! Commemorate National Native American Heritage Month this November with these or other Indigenous stories in DKPL’s Teen collection.
Looking for Smoke by K. A. Cobell This Lincoln Award Finalist is a thriller that focuses on four teens living on the Blackfeet reservation who are the last to see their classmate, Samantha, before she is murdered. The teens, Mara, Loren, Brody, and Eli, investigate to find the truth and clear their names while battling their own individual struggles.
Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jenny Ferguson Berlin is a Métis teen working at Pink Mountain Pizza. One night after her shift, she spots Kiki, her co-worker Cam’s missing cousin. With the help of their other co-worker, Jessie, can Berlin and Cam find Kiki and save their beloved pizza parlor from being sold to developers?
Give Me Some Truth by Eric L. Gansworth Carson is a teen guitarist living on the Tuscarora Reservation in New York in 1980. Maggi longs to push the boundaries of her art and move away from traditional beadwork. Follow along as Carson and Maggi break free and navigate life on their own while deciding if leaving their past behind is what they really want.
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer In this non-fiction book, Cree and Lakota botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer teaches teens about the importance of understanding, caring for, and learning from the natural world through the narrative of science and traditional wisdom.
Walking in Two Worlds by Wab Kinew This sci-fi novel follows an Indigenous teen, Bugz, and her new crush, Feng, a teen who had to flee his home in China. Bugz and Feng connect in an online game and must battle many enemies, both real and virtual, as they grow closer.
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith This anthology is full of short stories and poems about the lives, loves, struggles and connections of Indigenous people in the US and Canada. Most of them center around Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-in whose story has spread to reservations across North America.
You can use your DKPL library card to check out physical copies of the books found on the National Native American Heritage Month book display and on the bookshelves in the Teen Lounge area. Many of the books can also be downloaded to your phone, tablet, or computer as e-books or audiobooks. Stop by the Teen Room with any questions or contact the Teen Services Staff at 815-756-9568 (ext. 2450) or by email at [email protected].