November is Native American Heritage Month, so this week on Valley Libraries Radio Reference, we want to celebrate the voices and experiences of indigenous people in the United States and Canada. This is Sarah from Staunton Public Library and Ali from Augusta with some suggestions for readers of all ages.
Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson is an exploration of shared pain, loss, and growing up on the fringes of society. Sequoyah is a 15 year old Cherokee living in Oklahoma in 1989. His mom is in jail and he’s bounced around shelters and foster homes for years. He gets placed with a family that is also fostering Rosemary, a 17 year old Kiowa girl with a talent for art. Sequoyah is quiet on the outside but inside he is all at once seething, wildly imaginative, and desperately lonely. His deepening obsession with Rosemary paints a troubling but illuminating picture of his need for stability and meaning, culminating in an unspeakable tragedy. This is a great contribution to OwnVoices stories, a heart wrenching and moving read with content that is definitely for adults.
For the younger readers in your family, Go Show the World: a Celebration of Indigenous Heroeswritten by Wab Kinew is a beautiful, picture book celebration of notable Indigenous people from the United States and Canada. Complemented by Joe Morse’s bold and colorful portraits, the book briefly highlights thirteen native men, women, and two-spirit heroes through the ages using rhyming verse.
Encounterby Brittany Luby has the most gorgeous, radiant illustrations by Michaela Goade and is a simple picture book that almost reads like an alternate history. Its premise is that Fisher - a native man, meets Sailor - a European explorer. Rather than immediate colonization of native land, Encounter dreams of their first meeting as one of shared curiosity, respect, and joy.
Joy Harjo is a member of the Muscogee tribe and the first Native Poet Laureate of the United States. I’m not usually a poetry person, but I’ve found her works to be inspiring and beautiful. She blends music, poetry, and storytelling using the language of the oppressor -English- to heal and recreate a space for indigenous women’s strength, power, and stories.
She is the editor of a new Norton Anthology of Native American poetry, When The Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through, which includes pieces from over 160 indigenous authors. Her own works include Crazy Brave, a memoir, An American Sunrise, a book of poems, and a kids’ book called The Good Luck Cat.
We are always happy to help you find materials that fit your interests and reading levels, for adults and kids! All of these titles and many more from Native authors can be found in print and online at your local public libraries. Put them on hold and prepare for your visit in advance by using the catalog at valleylibraries.org.
Don’t forget: our free digital collections are available 24/7, contactless curbside service is still available as the safest way to check out physical books, and masks and social distancing are required if you choose to visit in-person.
Valley Librarians talk books, culture and all things happening at your local library on 106.3 WQSV: https://www.wqsv.org/about/program-schedule/
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