Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Here is a thread to discuss books you’re considering or suggesting for Task 10: Read a historical fiction book by an Indigenous author.

The Seed Keeper or Indian Horse

I found this list if it helps Native American Historical Fiction

(I don't know if every author on there is indigenous, however)

How I Became a Ghost is about a boy who didn't survive The Trail of Tears.

I'm excited for this one! This is an area I've really been wanting to read more of. I'm hoping to get to some Louise Erdrich for this one since she has so many that I haven't read and that look great (I'd probably lean towards The Birchbark House, The Night Watchman, or The Round House) but I'm open to seeing where the task takes me (I'm especially interested in seeing if there's some good pre-20th century suggestions or any recommendations for historical horror). I'm also considering Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis and Maud's Line by Margaret Verble. It's definitely one of those tasks that's a very appreciated push for me!

Anyone looking for comics selections should definitely check out 7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga by David Alexander Robertson, This Place: 150 Years Retold (anthology), or A Girl Called Echo Omnibus by Katherena Vermette. An interesting and lesser known YA pick is Skraelings by Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, which is a historical adventure novel about contact between Inuit and vikings (and it totally deserves a sequel I'm not sure we'll ever get, but it's still a solid read).

Liza wrote: "I found this list if it helps Native American Historical Fiction

(I don't know if every author on there is indigenous, however)"

The following authors on that list are not indigenous:
-Scott O'Dell
-Zoe Saadia
-W. Michael Gear and Kathleen Gear
-Lucia St. Clair Robinson
-James Alexander Thom
-Anna Lee Waldo
-Margaret Craven
-JM Barlog
-Jim Fergus
-KB Laugheed
-Terrie McClay
-Catherine Bell
-Amanda Skenandore
-Ruth Hull Chatlien
-Constance O'Banyon
-Pat Camalliere

Author on the list who is indigenous: Louise Erdrich

This Book Riot list is full of historical fiction from Native and Indigenous authors! https://bookriot.com/indigenous-histo...

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Jessica wrote: "This Book Riot list is full of historical fiction from Native and Indigenous authors! https://bookriot.com/indigenous-histo..."

I read Kiss of the Fur Queen (which is on this list) in my first year Uni english class, that was a few years ago now but I recall being pretty blown away by it.

Five Little Indians has been on my list for a minute, so that's probably what I'll read for this one!

A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power

I can recommend Murder on the Red River (which I found for a previous challenge) for this

Murder On The Red River and the other 2 books in the series are great!

I read The Lost Journals of Sacajewea. 5 stars. I realized everything I thought I knew about Sacajewea was false. The book was brutal & very sad.

I’m going to read Wandering Stars - great author!

When Two Feathers Fell From The Sky looks interesting.

I'm not using it for this task because I'm using it for a personal challenge and I'm trying not to double dip (at least not as early as January lol), but I'm listening to the audiobook of The White Girl by Tony Birch and it works for this task. The author is Aboriginal Australian and the story is set in the 1960s and it's really good so far. I've hardly read any Australian lit, and this felt like a good place to start. Anyone looking for something Australian for this task could definitely do well for this one, and the audiobook is narrated by Shareena Clanton, who is also Indigenous.

Here's another option that came out in 2023 and looks really compelling: Sivulliq: Ancestor by Lily H. Tuzroyluke

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm excited for this one! This is an area I've really been wanting to read more of. I'm hoping to get to some Louise Erdrich for this one since she has so many that I haven't read and that look gre..." Erdrich is a great choice. And thank you for recommending Skraelings. It was off the beaten path and I enjoyed it.

Elizabeth wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "I'm excited for this one! This is an area I've really been wanting to read more of. I'm hoping to get to some Louise Erdrich for this one since she has so many that I haven't read..."

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, name twin!

There's a few books for this prompt I'm excited to get to! I think I'll probably either end up using The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse (because Louise Erdrich is always a good choice), Woman of Light (which has been on my list for a while), or the upcoming Sheine Lende (I've loved all of Darcie Little Badger's contemporary books and I'm really excited to read this historical one)

Other great choices that I've already read include:
Tracks (my personal favorite Erdrich novel)
Sisters of the Lost Nation (a really good thriller set in the 90s)
Tread of Angels (if you want to count historical fantasy)

I just borrowed The Night Watchman for this task. My first Louise Erdrich novel and I am so excited to start reading!

Leslie Silko's Ceremony is a classic of this particular niche.

Amy J. wrote: "Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange"

I was just coming here to add this title, which comes out next week!

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good!

Also going to recommend Wandering Stars -- I went to a reading/author Q&A last week, and just the bits he shared were amazing.

I read Ledfeather and it was great! Not anything like what I usually read but I would highly recommend it.

I enjoyed Even As We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle. Set in WWII.
I tried to read There There by Tommy Orange (not terribly historical) but couldn’t get through it because there was such an intense feeling of hopelessness. I might try another of his books to see if it’s better.

I ended up reading The Berry Pickers.

I can't remember who recommended Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival, but that was wonderful.

I read Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray by Indigenous Australian author Anita Heiss. It's a really good book, and I definitely recommend it.

Currently reading Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange. Love this author from his previous book There There. This is a good read, very thought-provoking!

While Tommy Orange's first book There There is mostly contemporary, his new book Wandering Stars is a lot historical fiction, and it's sooo good!. I've also read and loved The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters.

I've borrowed from my library Five Little Indians by Michelle Good and A Girl Called Echo Omnibus by Katherena Vermette just came in to be picked up!

For anyone looking for an Australian book to fit this prompt, I would recommend:
Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
The White Girl by Tony Birch
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray by Anita Heiss
Carpentaria by Alexis Wright

I read There There by Tommy Orange. It does flash back to the 70's and based on the character ages appears to take place 20 years ago. That's historic enough for me and I wanted to read this one before I move on to Wandering Stars