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By Anne Hillerman. 2024
“Anne Hillerman is a star.”—J. A. Jance, New York Times bestselling authorFrom New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman, a thrilling and moving chapter…
in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series involving several emotionally complex cases that will test the detectives in different ways.Joe Leaphorn may be long retired from the Navajo Tribal Police, but his detective skills are still sharp, honed by his work as a private detective. His experience will be essential to solve a compelling new case: finding the birth parents of a woman who was raised by a bilagáana family but believes she is Diné based on one solid clue, an old photograph with a classic Navajo child’s blanket. Leaphorn discovers that his client’s adoption was questionable, and her adoptive family not what they seem. His quest for answers takes him to an old trading post and leads him to a deadly cache of long-buried family secrets.As that case grows more complicated, Leaphorn receives an unexpected call from a person he met decades earlier. Cecil Bowleg’s desperation is clear in his voice, but just as he begins to explain, the call is cut off by an explosion and Cecil disappears. True to his nature, Leaphorn is determined to find the truth even as the situation grows dangerous. Investigation of the explosion falls in part to Officer Bernadette Manuelito, who discovers an unexpected link to Cecil’s missing wife.Bernie also is involved in a troubling investigation of her own: an elderly weaver whose prize-winning sheep have been ruthlessly killed by feral dogs.Exploring the emotionally complex issues of adoption of Indigenous children by non-native parents, Anne Hillerman delivers another thought-provoking, gripping mystery that brings to life the vivid terrain of the American Southwest, its people, and the lore and traditions that make it distinct.By Carleigh Baker. 2024
From one of the country’s most celebrated new writers, a blistering collection of short fiction that is bracingly relevant, playfully…
irreverent, and absolutely unforgettable.There’s a hole in the ozone layer. Are teenage girls to blame? Floods and wildfires, toxic culture, billionaires in outer space, or a purse-related disaster while on mushrooms—in today’s hellscape world, there’s no shortage of things to worry about. Last Woman, the new collection of short fiction by award-winning author Carleigh Baker, wants you to know that you’re not alone. In these 13 brilliant new stories, Baker and her perfectly-drawn characters are here for you—in fact, they’re just as worried and weirded-out as everyone else.A woman’s dream of poetic solitude turns out to be a recipe for loneliness. A retiree is convinced that his silence is the only thing that will prevent a deadly sinkhole. An emerging academic wakes up and chooses institutional violence. A young woman finds sisterhood in a strange fertility ritual, and an enigmatic empath is on a cleanse. Baker’s characters are both wildly misguided and a product of the misguided times in which we live. Through them we see our world askew and skewered—and, perhaps, we can begin to see it anew.Carleigh Baker’s signature style is irreverent, but her heart is true—these stories delve into fear for the future, intergenerational misunderstandings, and the complexities of belonging with sharp wit and boundless empathy. With equal parts compassion and critique, she brings her clear-eyed attention to bear on our world, and the results are hilarious, heartbreaking, and startling in their freshness.By Conor Kerr. 2024
The Giller Prize-longlisted author of Avenue of Champions returns with a frenetic, propulsive crime thriller that doubles as a sharp…
critique of modern activism and challenges readers to consider what "Land Back" might really look like.Meet Isidore "Ezzy" Desjarlais and Grey Ginther: two distant Métis cousins making the most of Grey’s uncle’s old trailer, passing their days playing endless games of cribbage and cracking cans of cheap beer in between. Grey, once a passionate advocate for change, has been hardened and turned cynical by an activist culture she thinks has turned performative and lazy. One night, though, she has a revelation, and enlists Ezzy, who is hopelessly devoted to her but eager to avoid the authorities after a life in and out of the group home system and jail, for a bold yet dangerous political mission: capture a herd of bison from a national park and set them free in downtown Edmonton, disrupting the churn of settler routine. But as Grey becomes increasingly single-minded in her newfound calling, their act of protest puts the pair and those close to them in peril, with devastating and sometimes fatal consequences.For readers drawn to the electric storytelling of Morgan Talty and the taut register of Stephen Graham Jones, Conor Kerr’s Prairie Edge is at once a gripping, darkly funny caper and a raw reckoning with the wounds that persist across generations.By W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear. 2010
Discover the first in the epic trilogy by New York Times bestselling authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear…
(Sun Born, Morning River), which vividly recounts the devastating clash of cultures that occurs when Native Americans and Europeans make first contact.The pale, bearded newcomers who call themselves &“Kristianos&” fascinate Black Shell, an exiled Chickasaw trader, and not even the counsel of Pearl Hand, the beautiful, extraordinary woman who has consented to be his mate, can dissuade him from interacting with them. Only after a firsthand lesson in Kristiano brutality does Black Shell fully comprehend the dangers these invaders pose to his people&’s way of life.While his first instinct is to run far from the then, Black Shell has been called to a greater destiny by the Spirit Being known as Horned Serpent. With Pearl Hand by his side, Black Shell must find a way to unite the disparate tribes and settlements of his native land and overcome the merciless armies of the man called Hernando de Soto.Using archeological data, ethnographic records, and historical journals, the authors bring to vivid life the beliefs, technologies, and daily experiences of lost American civilizations.By Conor Kerr. 2024
The Giller Prize-longlisted author of Avenue of Champions returns with a frenetic, propulsive crime thriller that doubles as a sharp…
critique of modern activism and challenges readers to consider what &“Land Back&” might really look like.Meet Isidore &“Ezzy&” Desjarlais and Grey Ginther: two distant Métis cousins making the most of Grey&’s uncle&’s old trailer, passing their days playing endless games of cribbage and cracking cans of cheap beer in between. Grey, once a passionate advocate for change, has been hardened and turned cynical by an activist culture she thinks has turned performative and lazy. One night, though, she has a revelation, and enlists Ezzy, who is hopelessly devoted to her but eager to avoid the authorities after a life in and out of the group home system and jail, for a bold yet dangerous political mission: capture a herd of bison from a national park and set them free in downtown Edmonton, disrupting the churn of settler routine. But as Grey becomes increasingly single-minded in her newfound calling, their act of protest puts the pair and those close to them in peril, with devastating and sometimes fatal consequences.For readers drawn to the electric storytelling of Morgan Talty and the taut register of Stephen Graham Jones, Conor Kerr&’s Prairie Edge is at once a gripping, darkly funny caper and a raw reckoning with the wounds that persist across generations.By Greg Sarris. 2024
A tender, astonishing, and richly beautiful story cycle about remembering our shared histories and repairing the world."Each tale is a…
testament to never forgetting that the mountains, the sea, the rivers, animals and humans are all one. Osprey and abalone, wind and child, hummingbird and human—all unforgettable." —Susan Straight, author of MeccaPerched atop Gravity Hill, two crow sisters—Question Woman and Answer Woman—recall stories from dawn to dusk. Question Woman cannot remember a single story except by asking to hear it again, and Answer Woman can tell all the stories but cannot think of them unless she is asked. Together they recount the journeys of the Forgetters, so that we may all remember. Unforgettable characters pass through these pages: a boy who opens the clouds in the sky, a young woman who befriends three enigmatic people who might also be animals, two village leaders who hold a storytelling contest. All are in search of a crucial lesson from the past, one that will help them repair the rifts in their own lives.Told in the classic style of Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok creation stories, this book vaults from the sacred time before this time to the recent present and even the near future. Heralded as a "a fine storyteller" by Joy Harjo, Greg Sarris offers us these tales in a new genre of his own making. The Forgetters is an astonishment—comforting and startling, inspiring reveries and deepening our love of the world we share.By Nick Medina. 2024
A man lunges in front of a car. An elderly woman silently drowns herself. A corpse sits up in its…
coffin and speaks. On this reservation, not all is what it seems, in this new spine-chilling mythological horror from the author of Sisters of the Lost Nation.All Noemi Broussard wanted was a fresh start. With a new boyfriend who actually treats her right and a plan to move from the reservation she grew up on—just like her beloved Uncle Louie before her—things are finally looking up for Noemi. Until the news of her boyfriend&’s apparent suicide brings her world crumbling down.But the facts about Roddy&’s death just don&’t add up, and Noemi isn&’t the only one who suspects that something menacing might be lurking within their tribal lands.After over a decade away, Uncle Louie has returned to the reservation, bringing with him a past full of secrets, horror, and what might be the key to determining Roddy&’s true cause of death. Together, Noemi and Louie set out to find answers...but as they get closer to the truth, Noemi begins to wonder whether it might be best for some secrets to remain buried.By Darcie Little Badger. 2024
BOOKPAGE MOST ANTICIPATED YA OF 2024 Shane works with her mother and their ghost dogs, tracking down missing persons even…
when their families can’t afford to pay. Their own family was displaced from their traditional home years ago following a devastating flood – and the loss of Shane’s father and her grandparents. They don’t think they’ll ever get their home back. Then Shane’s mother and a local boy go missing, after a strange interaction with a fairy ring. Shane, her brother, her friends, and her lone, surviving grandparent – who isn’t to be trusted – set off on the road to find them. But they may not be anywhere in this world – or this place in time. Nevertheless, Shane is going to find them. Darcie Little Badger’s Elatsoe launched her career and in the years since has become a beloved favorite. This prequel to Elatsoe, centered on Ellie’s grandmother, deepens and expands Darcie’s one-of-a-kind world and introduces us to another cast of characters that will wend their way around readers’ hearts. P R A I S E ★ "A classic fantasy adventure and a balm for any soul weary of oppression." —Kirkus (starred) ★ "A wonderful addition to the Elatsoe universe with vital representation, worthy of any YA collection. Highly recommended." —School Library Journal (starred) ★ "Allows readers to absorb each inventive twist, unexpected encounter, jolt of creepy menace, and dreamy illustration." —Booklist (starred) ★ "With elements of Lipan Apache oral history, fantasy, and mysteries, the captivating novel Sheine Lende follows found and inherited family members as they persevere." —Foreword (starred) "Epic." —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books "Gritty, luminous… beguiling." —Shelf-Awareness "Darcie Little Badger is so good at what she does, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next." —Locus MagazineBy Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail, Fred Carmichael. 2023
A gorgeous picture book that pays homage to aviator Freddie Carmichael — the first Indigenous commercial pilot in the Arctic…
—with each month of the year highlighting moments from his life, the beauty of the North and the power of dreams.When Freddie was young, he saw a plane up close for the first time when it dropped off supplies at his family’s remote bush camp. He was instantly hooked.Freddie has flown for nearly seventy years, doing everything from supply runs to search and rescue to transporting dog teams to far-flung areas.This book celebrates Freddie’s early dreams of flying and his later achievements. Readers move with Freddie through the year, hearing about his journey as a pilot and leader, while learning the names of the months in Gwich’in and Inuvialuktun at the same time. Art from Inuvialuit painter Audrea Loreen-Wulf perfectly captures the incredible Western Arctic as well as Freddie’s love for aviation.By Stephen Graham Jones. 2024
The final installment in the most lauded trilogy in the history of horror novels picks up four years after Don&’t…
Fear the Reaper as Jade returns to Proofrock, Idaho, to build a life after the years of sacrifice—only to find the Lake Witch is waiting for her in New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones&’s finale.It&’s been four years in prison since Jade Daniels last saw her hometown of Proofrock, Idaho, the day she took the fall, protecting her friend Letha and her family from incrimination. Since then, her reputation, and the town, have changed dramatically. There&’s a lot of unfinished business in Proofrock, from serial killer cultists to the rich trying to buy Western authenticity. But there&’s one aspect of Proofrock no one wants to confront…until Jade comes back to town. The curse of the Lake Witch is waiting, and now is the time for the final stand. New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones has crafted an epic horror trilogy of generational trauma from the Indigenous to the townies rooted in the mountains of Idaho. It is a story of the American west written in blood.By Charlene Bearhead, Wilson Bearhead. 2020
Paul Wahasaypa knows that Ena Makoochay (Mother Earth) gives us many things. On this compelling nature journey with Ena (his…
mom), we learn how strength, generosity, kindness, and humility are all shown to us by grandfather rocks, towering trees, four-legged ones, and winged ones, reminding us of the part we have to play in this amazing creation. Join Paul and Ena as they experience the beautiful nature of life.The Siha Tooskin Knows series uses vivid narratives and dazzling illustrations in contemporary settings to share stories about an 11-year-old Nakota boy.By Tasha Hilderman. 2024
Whether or not you're Métis, there's so much to experience and learn about this amazing Indigenous culture — take a…
picture book journey into Métis crafts, music and cooking with friends who love to share.Are you Métis like me? A group of children of Métis descent share and explore all the ways they celebrate and experience their heritage — enjoying traditional foods like bannock bread and Saskatoon berries; crafting with beads; sharing stories, dance, music and songs. Each child shares a different way they enjoy honoring their backgrounds and weaving parts of the rich tapestry that makes up Métis culture. One child, though, has grown up disconnected from their history, and can't join in with the others in the same way. But they soon see it's never too late to learn, celebrate or become a part of a community in which Métis and non-Métis alike can discover the richness of an often-overlooked culture.This rhythmic, jubilant book will encourage young readers of all backgrounds to celebrate their own heritage and learn more about Métis history, and contains back matter including an author's note, recipe and dictionary to further inspire.By Melanie Florence, Richard Scrimger. 2022
Two kids from two different worlds form an unexpected friendship in this lens into the interworking of empathy. Told in…
alternating narratives, The Other Side of Perfect is infused with themes of identity, belonging, and compassion, reminding us that we are all more than our circumstances, and we are all more connected than we think.Cody’s home life is a messy, too-often terrifying story of neglect and abuse. Cody himself is a smart kid, a survivor with a great sense of humor that helps him see past his circumstances and begin to try to get himself out. Autumn is a wealthy girl from an indigenous family, who has found herself in with the popular crowd even though it’s hard for her to want to keep up.But one night, while returning home from a movie, Autumn comes across Cody, face down in the laneway behind her house. All Cody knows is that he can’t take another encounter with his father like the one he just narrowly escaped. He can’t go home. But he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. When Autumn agrees to let him hide out in her dad’s art studio, Cody’s story begins to come out, and so does hers.By Caitlin Dale Nicholson. 2024
The third book in the Nôhkom series, in Cree and English, tells a story about gathering leaves for Labrador tea,…
while listening in different ways. A child, her family and her friend have arrived at their favorite picnic spot by the lake, but before they eat lunch Nôhkom suggests they pick leaves for Labrador tea. Once among the trees, Nôhkom pauses for a moment to listen, and the others do too. Nôhkom prays, the girls take their turn, then Nôhkom shows them where to find the leaves. Nôhkom and Mom rest after harvesting, but the girls opt for a swim in the lake ... though they’re quite happy to warm up afterwards with freshly brewed Labrador tea. And when it’s time for the picnic, the girls take another turn at listening. Beautifully rendered paintings in acrylic on canvas show the family outing. Includes a recipe for Labrador tea as well as a salve made from Labrador Tea leaves. Key Text Features illustrations recipe informational note Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.By K. J. Parker. 2016
The greatest philosopher of all time is offering to sell his soul to the Devil. All he wants is twenty…
more years to complete his life’s work. After that, he really doesn’t care.But the assistant demon assigned to the case has his suspicions, because the philosopher is Saloninus–the greatest philosopher, yes, but also the greatest liar, trickster and cheat the world has yet known; the sort of man even the Father of Lies can’t trust.He’s almost certainly up to something; but what?"Parker generates a fair degree of suspense... an accomplished performance." -- Gary K. Wolfe (for Locus Magazine)At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.By Jenny Kay Dupuis. 2023
On a visit to her granny, Maggie is excited to begin her first-ever beading project: a pair of strawberry earrings.…
However, beading is much harder than she expected! As they work side by side, Granny shares how beading helped her persevere and stay connected to her Anishinaabe culture when she lost her Indian status, forcing her out of her home community—all because she married someone without status, something the men of her community could do freely.As she learns about patience and perseverance from her granny&’s teachings, Maggie discovers that beading is a journey, and like every journey, it&’s easier with a loved one at her side.In this beautifully illustrated book, children learn about the tradition of Anishinaabe beadwork, strawberry teachings, and gender discrimination in the Indian Act.By Katherena Vermette. 2015
Misaabe tells great stories—stories about saving a city from giant green trolls, reading supersonic books with x-ray glasses, and how…
his dad is a secret agent fighting bad guys, and that&’s why he can&’t come to visit. When Misaabe&’s stories go too far, he must learn how to be honest and authentic with his friends.An Anishinaabe child shares his talent for storytelling and learns to embrace his insecurities in this relatable story. A pronunciation guide for the Anishnaabemowin words can be found at the back of the book.Rich in culture and grounded in traditional knowledge, Katherena Vermette&’s The Seven Teachings Stories series features themes of love, wisdom, humility, courage, respect, honesty, and truth. Contemporary Indigenous children explore the Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe through stories of home and family that will look familiar to all young readers in these books for ages 3–5.By David A. Robertson. 2010
When Cole's teacher catches him drawing rather than listening in class, he gives Cole a special assignment: an oral presentation…
on an important Aboriginal figure. Cole will do almost anything to avoid speaking in public -- even feigning illness. But when he hear the story of the remarkable woman known as Thanadelthur—peacemaker between the Cree and the Dene and interpreter for the governor of Fort York -- he is so inspired by her bravery, he overcomes his own fears.The Peacemaker is one book in the Tales from Big Spirit series. Tales from Big Spirit is a unique seven-book graphic novel series that delves into the stories of seven great Indigenous heroes from Canadian history—some already well known and others who deserve to be. Designed to correspond to grades 4–6 social studies curriculums across Canada, these full colour graphic novels could be used in literature circles, novel studies, and book clubs to facilitate discussion of social studies topics. These books will help students make historical connections while promoting important literacy skills.By Richard Van Camp. 2023
Newly sober, Curtis searches for healing in the ancient cultural practices of his Tłıcho Dene grandfather. But will the Little…
People answer his call?Curtis has returned to Fort Smith, six weeks sober. He doesn&’t have any sober friends, his mom&’s still drinking, and his best friend (and secret crush) Lacey probably is too. Still, he&’s determined to abstain from alcohol and help his people. Along the way, he might just be able to help himself.Louis, Curtis&’s late grandfather, was a healer. Legend has it, Louis made a deal with the Little People that gave him the power to heal. No one has heard from the Little People since Louis&’s death, but his cabin may hold the key for them to return. There&’s only one problem: Benny the Bank stands in the way.An infamous bootlegger, Benny has profited off Fort Smith&’s pain for decades. After being critically wounded in an attempt on his life, Benny knows he doesn&’t have much time before the poison in his blood takes him. He also happens to own Louis&’s cabin.Can Curtis convince Benny to return the home that once belonged to Louis? Will the Little People answer Curtis&’s call? And can Benny find a way to make amends and leave a legacy he can be proud of?A stunning, fast-paced graphic novel, As I Enfold You in Petals will keep readers riveted until the last page.By Bernelda Wheeler. 2016
This beloved Indigenous classic begins when a little boy asks, &“Mom, can I have some bannock?&” Despite having all the…
ingredients, Mom can&’t make bannock.As the little boy asks &“why,&” beginning readers learn about the connections between living things in an ecosystem through the ripple effects of a beaver building a dam.Children will be eager to chime in as Mom answers the little boy&’s questions about the power outage in their community and how it impacts his family. Enjoy Mom&’s bannock with your young reader using the recipe in the back of the book.