Medicine Wheels by Byron Groves - OPTIONAL

Medicine Wheels by Byron Groves, 352 pages. HarperCollins, 2026. $20

Language: R (200+ swears, 90 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing, teen drinking); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

After 15yo Bryce’s mom walks out on her abusive boyfriend and she then gets arrested for breaking probation, Bryce finds himself back on the Ojibwe Wolf Creek Reservation living with his grandmother. It's been a few years since he was back to a place he considers home. He picks up his dad’s old skateboard and reconnects with old friends. As he struggles to find his own path, he finds solace in riding the board and learning new tricks as he works towards a skate competition with a prize purse that could really help his family and his self esteem.

Groves packs a lot of storylines and problems into Bryce’s summer. I appreciated a modern look into rez life - it felt real in a way most Native stories haven’t felt for me before.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Dreams: Visions From the Fire by Wanda John-Kehewin - ADVISABLE

Dreams: Visions From the Fire by Wanda John-Kehewin, (Dream Series 2) 78 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL,  Highwater Press 2026 $20.

Language: PG (9 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: PG (alcoholism, grief); Violence: PG-13 (self harm, attempted suicide) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Damon Quinn has graduated from high school. He and his friend, Journey, have grown closer and are going with Damon's mom to Kehewin Cree Nation to attend a Seat Ceremony and Powwow and reconnect with family. Damion also wants to find his birth father. He also begins to have visions of his history and the history of his mother that she has kept hidden. 

This is a great representation of Cree culture, and I like how Damian is discovering his cultural history through his vision quest. The author, who is Cree, feels it is important to show our connection to our ancestors. Authentic and raw, the writing is ultimately filled with healing. My only complaint is that it is too short. The characters are Cree. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Red Bird Danced by Dawn Quigley - OPTIONAL

Red Bird Danced by Dawn Quigley, 166 pages. NOVEL IN VERSEHarperCollins, 2024. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mention of #MMIW - missing and murdered indigenous women) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Ariel and her 13yo neighbor Tomah are Ojibwah children living in an inner-city tribal housing project. Tomah is in Ariel's class - he struggles with reading and has been held back. Ariel loves ballet - she was inspired to dance by a beloved aunt. Ariel's Aunt has recently disappeared, so, Ariel chooses as her school project to learn more about #MMIW. 

What a heavy topic for an elementary read! The content is perfectly age-appropriate, and the author's notes indicate that there are currently over 500 missing and murdered indigenous women, so, many indigenous children must be experiencing this crisis. Written in verse, the text isn't sad, it's hopeful. I liked this tender book, especially the author's notes, which tell children that they are strong and to have hope. The community is Ojibwa 

Lisa Librarian 

The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu - OPTIONAL

The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu. Carolrhoda Lab, 2025. $20.

Language: R (6 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (underaged drinking and smoking); Violence: PG-13 (attempted sexual assault, racist abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS-OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

16-year-old Ruby Chan is making her way in Los Angeles, 1924. She is a modern American girl with modern ideals. However, everything changes when her secret relationship with a white boy is revealed, threatening her future as her traditional Chinese parents decide her modern behavior needs to be tamed with traditional restrictions. 

The story of Ruby is overly ambitious as it tries to do too much in too few pages. Racism, feminism, and modern vs. traditional ideals all battle for space in the story without any of them making a lasting impression. Serious problems are presented throughout the book, however, the final resolution is rushed and much too convenient.

Reviewer: AEB

The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa - OPTIONAL

The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa, 192 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Scholastic, 2024. $13. (paperback) 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

10yo Anang would like to wear a ribbon skirt at the next powwow. Their grandma will help them, but asks Anang to ask the spirits about it. Anang is two-spirit and non-binary, and is concerned if people will treat them differently if they do this. After an incident at school - where they were told they used the "wrong bathroom" Anang needs confidence. At the water, the spirits (talking turtles) speak to Anang and tell them to be themself, and that the spirits will help them. 

Anang has two friends, one who "broke off" with them after the bathroom incident and another who is supportive and kind. I liked that there were both of these perspectives, with the goal to both make the ribbon skirt and to enlighten Sherry (with the help of the spirits). The Ribbon Skirt is certainly written for an indigenous child who will relate to the powwow and all its associated activities. Includes an author's note on ribbon skirts, powwows, and two-spirits, and a recipe for berry salad, along with a bibliography. Anang is Anishinaabe. 

Lisa Librarian 

Pilgrim Codex by Vivian Mansour, Emmanuel Valtierra, and Carlos Rodrigues Cortez - OPTIONAL

Pilgrim Codex by Vivian Mansour, Emmanuel Valtierra, and Carlos Rodrigues Cortez. Levine Querido, 2025. $19. 9781646145157 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The Vargas family embarks on a dangerous journey from their home across a desert. Aided by their own wits and bravery, and Coyotes to get them past the hardest part - the family is desperate to leave their situation and come to a land where they can dream. 

Told from the perspective of a young boy and written as a nod to the ancient Mesoamerican codex - the illustrations are reminiscent of the art of the Aztec and Mayan people. The initial pages read as though partially in code, like a poetic beginning of an odyssey. I was afraid I wouldn't connect, but soon the story made itself clear, and I joined the family on their journey. Although the size of a child's picture book, the intended audience is more appropriately set at upper elementary. The characters are from Central America or Mexico 

Lisa Librarian 

A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores Aguila - ESSENTIAL

A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores Aguila, 294 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2025. $18.

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Roberto Alvarez loves school. He is a good student and loves his grammar school. However, this is 1931, and work is hard to find. Many American-born Mexicans are being repatriated to Mexico, and Roberto's school has decided to send all the Mexican children to a separate school, a retrofitted old barn. The Mexican community bands together to enlist the help of the Mexican Consulate, and Roberto becomes the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the school board.  

Told in free verse, this story is based on an actual event. There is a lot of Spanish thrown in, and even though it is not translated, it adds to the story. This is a fast read, and young readers will be able to identify with Roberto and his courage to represent his people in a foreign environment. Roberto is Mexican American. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Summer of the Bone Horses by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve and Steph Littlebird - ADVISABLE

Summer of the Bone Horses by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, illustrated by Steph Littlebird, 60 pages. CHAPTER BOOK Abrams Amulet, 2025. $15.

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Eddie's grandparents live on the Rosebud Reservation, and he and his parents often visit. But, this summer, Eddie's dad must have some surgery, so he will be staying with his grandparents. At first things are so different, they don't have electricity or running water, their hymnbooks at church are in Dakota rather than English. But soon, Grandpa brings Eddie some toys called bone horses and teaches him to ride Grandpa's horse Buck. Eddie is missing home less and less. 

What a nice story about learning the old ways of your culture. The illustrations were timeless, it was not until the author's note that I became aware that Eddie's story happened over 70 years ago. I think there's a little nostalgia in all of us that would like to take us back to simpler times. There is a lot of text, but it is simply written and at just 60 pages would be appropriate for 3rd-4th grader. The characters are Sioux. 

Lisa Librarian 

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan - ADVISABLE

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan, 110 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2024. $18.

Language:  G (0 swears) Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Summer and her family are spending the summer on the Cree reservation in Canada with extended family. While there, she begins to have troubling dreams about a runaway girl from the old residential school near their reservation. The Indian residential schools cover are a dark time, where Indian children were often forcibly taken or kidnapped from families so that their heritage could be erased and they could be better assimilated into society. Summer and her cousin, Autumn, learn from their tribal community and survivors about their past and how to move on. 

Violet Duncan is Cree and has based her story on family history. The story covers a dark chapter in Native American history, but one that is important to understand. Culture and heritage come through in the writing, helping the reader better understand what Summer's family and others have gone through. This is a fast and engaging read that mostly focuses on discovery and healing. A great read for anyone who wants to learn more about history or Indian culture. 

Michelle in the Middle

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay - OPTIONAL

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay, 288 pages. Penguin, 2024. $19. 

Language: R (32 swears 13 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13 (beatings, racist attacks, death) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Four generations of Filipino men examine their relationship with their fathers. Francisco (1929) immigrated at 14 to California for a better life and to help his family back home. Emil (1965) is Francisco's son. Living in Stockton California, he rarely sees his father who is a labor organizer. Chris (1983) lives in Denver, and his father - Emil - is strict, making him quit the football team because of one missed assignment. Making up that assignment, an essay about his ancestry, changes his perspective about the Philippines. Enzo (2020) is living in Philadelphia when COVID fears bring his grandfather Emil to live with them. Chris and Emil still have a rocky relationship, but Enzo tries to connect with the grandfather he never knew. 

A fascinating story, I loved learning along with Chris about the history of the Philippines, particularly the Marcos years. Although all the boys are teenagers, I wonder if Everything We Never Had would be a better read for adults, reflecting on their own father/son relationships. The characters are Filipino American 

Lisa Librarian  

Rules to Follow by Kim Spencer - OPTIONAL

Rules to Follow by Kim Spencer, 176 pages. Orca Book Publishers, 2022. $13

Content: G
 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL AVERAGE 

Mia and Lara are two 10yo girls growing up in the 1980s who are best friends. They live in Prince Rupert, Canada. Mia often compares her life with her friend Lara's. Mia's family is indigenous to Canada, Lara is Mexican Hungarian. 

Mia feels that she is treated differently because of her Indigenous background. There is no real plot in this book. It is more of a glimpse of the life of these two girls told in vignettes. I enjoyed this book but I think that it is geared toward 6th graders and students in middle school. Younger students may get bored with the lack of plot. Also, Mia's parents drink a lot and the book shows how this affects Mia. Older students may handle that part of the book better. Mia is Indigenous Canadian. Lara is Mexican Hungarian. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee by Rachel Bithell - ADVISABLE

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee by Rachel Bithell, 145 pages. Jolly Fish Press (Myrick), 2023. $9. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (gunshot wound) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In 1973, 11yo Patsy lives with her white mother and Native Lakota father in Denver, while her dad’s family mostly live on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, near the site of Wounded Knee. When Patsy hears about the American Indian Movement protest going on at Wounded Knee, she wants to learn more about her Lakota heritage. She gets her chance when her Dad is asked to come help repair the water pump on his aunt Marilyn’s homestead. She decides to stowaway and learn about the situation first hand. She gets much more than she bargained for. 

When Patsy talks about seeing Sacheen Littlefeather’s speech at the Oscars, it brought back my own memories of being 9 and watching the same scene. I also liked learning that fry bread was a Native invention in protest to the US government given them only flour, salt, and lard after they took their Native lands away. Good for a robust history collection or to fill in some historical holes in your collection. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Other Side of the River (Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna) by Alda P. Dobbs - ADVISABLE

The Other Side of the River (Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna) by Alda P. Dobbs. 368 pages.  Sourcebooks, 2022. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, injury) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Now safely across the border into the United States, 12yo Petra Luna is desperate to keep her family together, she's a hard worker but she is only twelve and she's trying to support her little sister, baby brother and abuela. There are so many refugees in San Antonio and not enough work or housing for everyone. Petra will work on her days off just to keep her job. But the odds are against her, as soon as her employer finds someone a little older and a little stronger, Petra is let go. She thought life would be so much easier on the other side of the river. 

A darling companion to "The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna," Dobbs continues the story, but the situation is so different, the plot isn't dependent on having read book 1. I loved Petra's resilience, and way the refugees of the Mexican revolution are portrayed. Although the story takes place more than 100 years ago, I found it interesting and relevant. Petra and her family are Mexican 

Lisa Librarian 

Top Story by Kelly Yang - ESSENTIAL

Top Story (Front Desk #5) by Kelly Yang, 304 pages. Scholastic, 2023. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Mia is excited to be in San Francisco’s Chinatown for journalism camp at the Chronicle. Even though it occupies her winter break, she is ready to go. Plus her best friend Lupe is attending her own mathematics camp across the bay at Berkeley and Mia’s mom is getting for her first major mathematics lecture - IN ENGLISH! The other kids at camp are older than Mia, and some of them are influencers, who seem to have more pull with the editors. If Mia and the other token diverse campers want to be heard, they are going to have to find a way to tell their stories on their own.

I love that along the way Mia learns even more about the history of Asians migrating to the US.  I liked that Yang wove these incidents (Angel Island, internment camps, racist laws) into the narrative without feeling intrusive. I feel this book in particular could stand alone, even if it is #5, and be used to spark many class discussions. Yang also gives each of her diverse characters room to bring in their own cultures.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

She Holds Up the Stars by Sandra Laronde - ADVISABLE

She Holds Up the Stars by Sandra Laronde, 187 pages. Annick Press, 2022. $18 

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G (mistreatment of horse) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Misko is a Canadian First People and she lives in the city with her aunt. She does not want to move back to the reservation to live with her grandmother - all her friends, her school, all the stores she knows are here in the city. She is not happy to be there until she meets a most beautiful horse she names Mishtadim, which is being violently broken by his new owner. At first Misko and Thomas, the son of Mishtadim's owner, do not get along, but after awhile a friendship starts to form between them. Can Misko and Thomas stop his father from being so hard on the horse? Is there another way? 

She Holds Up the Stars is a quick read, and a beautiful story. I read it all the way through, I could not put it down. This would especially appeal to children who love horses, and maybe children who own horses. I recommend the lovely little story and I hope you will enjoy it, too. Main character in Native American. 

Ellen-Anita. Librarian 

Warrior Girl Unearthed Angeline Boulley - OPTIONAL

Warrior Girl Unearthed Angeline Boulley. 387 pages. Henry Holt and Company. 2023. $20 

Language: R (100 swears 35 'f');  Mature Content: PG-13 (sexting, mention of teens having sex, drug use, teen drinking); Violence: PG-13 (assault, kidnapping, murder, mention of rape)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

16yo Perry loves her twin sister more than anything, but has always felt overshadowed by Pauline who has been called the ""smart twin."" Perry would much rather spend her days outside with her dog, fishing, or helping her Pops in the garden than sitting at a desk in school. When a summer internship program opens Perry’s eyes to the injustices that surround the stolen remains and artifacts of thousands of Native Americans, her own ancestors, she finds herself obsessed with doing something to bring her people home. In the midst of this political turmoil, she’s also trying to be a regular teen who sometimes makes poor choices, who doesn’t know what to do with her future, who might be falling in love for the first time, and who becomes uneasy as the number of missing and murdered indigenous women grows and eventually touches her personally. Will she be able to accomplish what so many adults haven’t? Can she help bring her ancestors home where they belong? Or will she become just another statistic?

It's difficult to learn about the atrocities which plagued the indigenous people of North America, and discovering that still to this day the government, institutions, and private collectors are still dragging their feet in returning these people and artifacts should anger any reader. Perry is dealing with things that most of us can’t even fathom, and these crimes are happening every day on reservations across the country. Her story is difficult to read at times, but so important. Because there is a lot to learn about Native culture, language, and history, it takes a while for Boulley to make it to the climax. But when it hits, watch out! You won’t be able to breathe again until you turn the last page. Perry and most of the other characters are from the Ojibwe community in Michigan. 

Tammie H, Librarian

Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith - ADVISABLE

Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith, 320 pages.  Candlewick. 2023. $19 

Language: PG-13 (30 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Drugs, ghosts) Violence: PG-13 (Assault, stalking, murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Hughie Wolfe can't wait for 11th grade to begin so he can jump back into theatre with his friends -- especially since he turned down a previous role last year due it its insensitivity towards his Indigenous roots. Unfortunately, the school has cut down on the theatre budget, and students are left to create plays or theatre activities on their own. Following the lead of his drama teacher, Hughie begins to help set up a Haunted House near the Crossroads at what they call "Harvest House." To his dismay, the students and his teacher want one of the main displays to be an "Indian Burial Ground" which features the tragic "Indian Maiden" who was rumored to have been killed there. Annoyed by the stereotype and misrepresentation of sacred parts of his culture, Hughie can't decide what to do. Then strange things begin happening, and Indigenous women and Latinas start claiming that maybe there is someone haunting that area. Soon, Hughie has to decide if protecting his Indigenous and Latina sisters by staying near Harvest House is worth putting up with the racism and stereotypes of the haunted house's main attractions. 

I'm torn about how I feel about this novel. I absolutely love the representation of Indigenous cultures and the way it explored the pressure many minorities feel to always speak up for their cultures/beliefs - those elements were profound and important. At the same time, Hughie's entire moral conflict revolves around using the "Indian Maiden" as a way to create interest in the haunted house, and this feels exactly like what the book does: it takes a mysterious Indigenous ghost to help drive the mystery of the story. It felt like maybe the publishers wanted to do exactly what Hughie was fighting against in the book, so I'm uncomfortable with that. I also felt it didn't have much in terms of spooky or scary, and the ending was rather lackluster bordering on preachy. So I think it's valuable purely for its representation, but it's not a strong novel on its own. Hughie Wolfe is Indigenous with Latin-x and LGBTQ+ friends. 

Lisa J HS ELA Teacher 

The Woman in the Woods and other North American Stories, edited by Kate Ashwin, Kel McDonald and Alina Pete- OPTIONAL

The Woman in the Woods and other North American Stories, edited by Kate Ashwin, Kel McDonald and Alina Pete,136 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Iron Circus Comics. 2022. $15 

Language: G (1 swear);  Mature Content:G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The Woman in the Woods is a collection of short stories from various Native American Nations. They involve a trickster rabbit, shapeshifters, and things hiding in the woods. 

 The beginning was a little weird. There is a woman telling stories to a school and she has a teen perched on her lap clutching her. As an educator, that would be code for, "I want to be fired," so it seemed an odd beginning. Some of the stories were really good, but it's an uneven mix. That said, there is a dearth of Native American stories. I just wanted more depth because I think Native American stories are beautiful. Story authors include: Milo Applejohn, Mercedes Acosta, Jordaan Arledge, Elijah Forbes, Rhael McGregor, Maija Ambrose Plamondon, Alice Rl and Izzy Roberts.  One story contains a same-sex attraction.

Michelle in the Middle

Troublemaker by John Cho - ESSENTIAL

Troublemaker by John Cho, 224 pages. Little, Brown and Company/Poppy. 2022 $17 

Language G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Fight, child with a firearm). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

12yo Jordan worries that he is his father's biggest disappointment. He has been messing up a lot lately, getting in trouble with his friend Mike, and not doing well in school - in fact, today he got suspended for cheating! But before Appa can find out about the suspension, he heads to their family store - the Rodney King verdict has just been announced, and their store is close to where the riots are - just a little away in Koreatown. Jordan wants to prove himself and is worried about his father being alone at the store with no protection. He knows where Appa's gun is hidden and decides to take it to him. 

I could not put this down, as soon as I realized he was taking that gun I was hooked. I loved the sprinkling of Korean words and phrases, the family/friend dynamics, and the comments about the perceived impression of Asian kids "people think you're good and quiet and expect you to stay out of the way." Fast-paced and gripping, this historical fiction about a couple of boys on an ill-advised mission is perfect for middle school readers. The main characters are Korean. 

Lisa Librarian 

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros - HIGH

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros, 480 pages. Inkyard Press, 2021 $20 

Language: R (63 swears 6 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (intimacy); Violence: R (murder, dead bodies, torture, assault). 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In 1893 Chicago, 17yo Alter Rosen is working hard to save enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America from Romania. It was supposed to be Alter and his father working together, but his father died - now Alter is doing the best he can. At first, he worked for a street gang, picking pockets, but when one job turned violent, Alter left the gang and is trying to make an honest living as a type setter for a Yiddish newspaper. Several young men his age have disappeared over the last few weeks, and neither the police nor his newspaper think it's worth reporting - the police are calling them runaways. But when his best friend Yakov is murdered, and Alter is possessed by Yakov's dybbuk, Alter is thrown back into the dangerous back alley life he left behind, and must reunite with the boy he's tried so hard to forget to try to find out who, or what, is the killer. 

I could not put this down. Looking into the world of Jewish immigrants and their religion was beautiful - Polydoros' description of the ritual involved in preparing someone for burial was sensitive and spiritual - followed immediately by a plunge into this thriller that grabbed me and wouldn't let go. There was a lot of Yiddish included, I appreciated the glossary in the back, Yiddish speakers won't need it. I'm happy that Polydoros didn't try to incorporate context into the story, and let the glossary fill in my gaps.   Alter and his friends are in their late teens, but they are experiencing adult lives, living on their own, working etc. Alter is gay, and there is some romance in The City Beautiful, but it's also pretty dark, and violent and scary. 

Lisa Librarian