TBR -- Native American Heritage Month

Hello, friends! It's my weekly menacing of your TBR pile. Look at me, just adding to it with willful abandon! This week's focus is going to be something that doesn't get a lot of love--Indigenous authors in genre fiction. I'm just going to give you a handful of title suggestions, but if you want more (including some solid picture book recommendations) I suggest checking out Cynthia Leitich Smith's Instagram. She's been posting some amazing recommendations on her feed this week. 

This list will hardly be exhaustive. I would also love, love, LOVE any recommendations in the comments. Turnabout is fair play, and I expect you all to menace my TBR in return.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith--(Young Adult) I read this one years ago because urban fantasy/paranormal will always be a favorite genre of mine and doesn't pop up as often as I'd like in YA. Vampires and weird were-creatures? Yes. Tantalize is the first in a series. And it's not genre, but her Hearts Unbroken book has been calling to me for quite a bit. Smith is a solid writer and I loved her characters.

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger-- I've seen this one categorized as YA and MG. Elatsoe, and Little Badger in general, have been cleaning up in the awards. From Elatsoe alone, I can see why. A cool story smashing noir, mystery, supernatural, and horror elements together into something awesome. If you haven't picked this one up, do so.

Killer of Enemies by Joseph Bruchac--(YA) I will state that usually I steer clear of Post Apocalyptic/ Dystopian fiction because it depresses the shit out of me. Besides having an absolutely killer cover (puns.) this book was sort of dreamy and epic and amazing.

Moonshot Graphic Novel Collections--there are a few of these and they can sometimes be difficult to track down in local bookshops (they're coming from Canada) but if you're looking for comics created by Indigenous authors, here you go. The two that I've seen were gorgeous and I was always struggling to get them in when I worked at the bookstore.

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse--(Adult) this one starts of brutally, so I do warn people that if they have a hard time with child endangerment...maybe skip the first few pages? This was (I think) Roanhorse's debut, and I was very much here for it even though, again, a bit post apocalyptic.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones--(adult) Jones has made a huge name for himself in horror, and rightfully so. If you like coming of age/werewolf/horror, check out Mongrels. His writing is just really good and his grasp of horror really solid.

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice (Adult Thriller) So I haven't read this one yet, but it sounds really good and I keep seeing it pop up on lists. Has anyone read it?

Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson--(Adult? I think it's adult.) I just stumbled across this one while looking up Information on titles for this and I'm sorry, this blurb just sells it? “Everyday teen existence meets indigenous beliefs, crazy family dynamics, and a cannibalistic river otter.” Yes? Take my money?

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley--(Young Adult) okay, so this one meets the "genre" standard because it's basically a mystery book. If you haven't heard of this one, I would be surprised, because it was picked up for lots of awards and made some famous lists. (I think it was a Reese Witherspoon bookclub book?) I usually avoid bookclub books because I've attached that in my brain to the word "sad." As in, "this book will make you cry." I generally do not want that. I had to pick up this book and holy shit was it good. Like, I am very glad I did not debut at the same time as Boulley. We don't fall into the same categories, but still. Just impressive. I will warn that this book tackles some hard topics as part of the story (drug use, sexual assault, murder) but I think Boulley handles them as gently and yet unflinchingly as one can. This was a book where I could definitely see what all the fuss was about.

Okay, that's it for now. What books did I miss? Sound off in the comments.

-Lish