Staff Picks: Native American Authors

Talking Leaves: Contemporary Native American Short Stories, edited by Craig Lesley
“Great appetizers by various Native American authors.” There are 30 or so authors who have been included, some Lucy liked better than others. There were various themes such as folklore and life on the reservation, and in some stories the landscape takes on the role of a character.

Ohitika Woman, by Mary Crow Dog
“Everyone should read this to see their life.” Betty felt that by reading this book you could gain a better understanding of how the native people have been treated. Follow the life of Mary Crow Dog and see what happened to the Native American people, their issues with diabetes and alcoholism, and how they have lost their culture and their language.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
“There's a bitter-sweet flavor to this book - Sherman Alexie has a sense of self depreciating humor, the sort of humor I love.” This is a story of a boy who wants to go to the white school when he sees that his mother’s signature is in the history book he is using in class. It follows him through all the trials that ensue.

Code Talker, by Chester Nez
The autobiography of the last living Code Talker, who devised the actual World War II code. “It’s written as if you were sitting and talking to this man. Just a gentle voice all the way through this book. It’s a fascinating read that is very inspiring.” There were only 32 original Code Talkers.