Native American Heritage 2025 - Middle School Picks

Suggested reads that explore the past, present, and future of Indigenous people in North America.

Updated October 23, 2025
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Braiding sweetgrass for young adults : indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants
Kimmerer, Robin Wall
Paper Book
Drawing from her experiences as an Indigenous scientist, Robin Wall Kimmerer demonstrated how all living things provide us with gifts and lessons in her book Braiding Sweetgrass. Adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith, this new edition reinforces how ecological understanding stems from...
Elatsoe
Little Badger, Darcie,
Paper Book
One of TIME Magazine's Top 100 Fantasy Novels of All Time -- Now in Paperback!  A Texas teen comes face-to-face with a cousin's ghost and vows to unmask the murderer. Elatsoe--Ellie for short--lives in an alternate contemporary America shaped by the...
Borders
King, Thomas
Paper Book
A People Magazine Best Book ★ "The thematic and literary richness of this story is exhilarating."-- Horn Book, starred review ★ "An important and accessible modern tale."-- School Library Journal,<...
A snake falls to Earth
Little Badger, Darcie,
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER In this breathaking work of Indigenous futurism, Darcie Little Badger weaves an unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She's always felt there was something more out there. She still...
The barren grounds
Robertson, David,
Paper Book
Two Indigenous foster children discover a portal to another reality, Aski, where they embark on a dangerous mission to help the starving community there. The exciting first book in this epic Narnia-inspired Indigenous middle-grade fantasy series. Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous...
Healer of the water monster
Young, Brian
Ebook
Brian Young's powerful debut novel tells of a seemingly ordinary Navajo boy who must save the life of a Water Monster--and comes to realize he's a hero at heart. When Nathan goes to visit his grandma, Nali, at her mobile summer home on the Navajo reservation, he knows he's in for a pretty...

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