According to the Authors Guild, Indigenous writers make up only 2% of all authors in the publishing industry. That lack of inclusion impacts more than just the Indigenous writer’s ability to sustain a career as a full-time author; it also affects how effectively they can share their works with wider audiences.
Native American culture relies on storytelling: in fact, it’s arguably the main way its history has been passed on through generations. That’s why you might want to upgrade your library this November—so you can enjoy and support all the stories they have to tell. The best part? There’s something for everyone. You’ll find Indigenous authors in various genres, from academic works and memoirs to fictional titles like UNSUB, a crime thriller by Chickasaw author Meg Gardiner that’s not directly tied to Native American themes. Ultimately, there’s so much to read during Native American Heritage Month.
If you are wondering where to get started, try building a digital bookshelf with ebooks. Easily accessible,
affordable, and convenient to read, they’re a great starting point for anyone who wants to explore the works of Native American authors. Here’s a quick list of the most popular ones to get you started—and where you can find them.
The most popular ebook written by Indigenous authors
There There by Tommy Orange
If you’re looking for a fiction title, There There should be at the top of the list. Here, author Tommy
Orange—a member of the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes—masterfully combines twelve distinct yet
authentically Native American perspectives. The story weaves in themes of identity and navigates both the historic and modern challenges the community faces as Orange’s unique characters converge at one central event: the Big Oakland Powwow. With this momentous work, Orange aims to boost the recognition of Native Americans “as a present-tense people,” and he pulled that off here—making There There one of the best ebooks championing contemporary Indigenous representation in literature. If you like this one, you can pick up the sequel Wandering Stars, which was just published this year, right after.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Want something more educational? Try Braiding Sweetgrass, a particularly popular title with a 4.53 average rating on Goodreads. Coming from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, it takes on Native American teachings to highlight how we can better live in harmony with the earth. Kimmerer’s wide-ranging experience in botany allows her to combine science and tradition—and, in the process, redefine our relationship with nature and each other. Ultimately, her discussion of the various values, beliefs, and practices prevalent in Indigenous culture helps highlight the interdependence of all living things. Give this ebook a go if you want to hone a more eco-conscious mindset that emphasizes building a more harmonious and reciprocal relationship with the environment.
Crazy Brave by Joy Harjo
No discussion on the most popular Native American memoirs can be complete without Crazy Brave. Written by Joy Harjo—who recently became the first Native American and Mvskoke citizen to serve as a U.S. Poet Laureate—this particular memoir will take you with Harjo through the decades. From her tumultuous home life in Creek Territory and struggles as a single mother to how she ultimately found her poetic voice, Crazy Brave details the harrowing journey of one of the biggest Native American voices in the industry. This ebook is the perfect read if you want further insights into what it takes to truly represent the Indigenous experience in a predominantly White publishing industry—including, according to Harjo, breaking yourself apart, finding your identity, and building yourself back up.
Where to get your ebooks
Wondering how to benefit from the accessibility of the ebook so you can better support Indigenous authors during Native American Heritage Month? Try a subscription plan or your local library. If you want a faster way to access a wider range of ebook options, subscription plans are your best bet. Everand offers one of the most comprehensive plans for bookworms, as it has a collection of identity and culture fiction ebooks you can freely peruse for a flat monthly fee. On Everand, you’ll find titles like White Horse and Jonny Appleseed, which are among the most trending works in its dedicated section for Native American ebooks, making it a great way to discover Indigenous authors throughout November. If you’re willing to get in line to borrow the most popular Native American-written ebooks or want to read titles for free, you can also rely on your library card. Plenty of libraries across the country are likely to have the works you’re looking for—and some, like the National University Library in San Diego, even offer curated ebook displays for Native American Heritage Month that showcase the most popular titles for every genre ranging from fiction and non-fiction to memoirs and biographies.
