I Give You Back: Native American Heritage Month

I jumped at the chance to write a post for Native American Heritage Month because I honestly didn't know that many Native American authors. Sherman Alexie, of course, is the first one that comes to mind, and I was happy to read one of his other books. While the books I recommend here are vastly different, they are connected through the common themes of family and love, in their many shapes and forms.

I was introduced to Sherman Alexie though his book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which was a hilarious and touching coming of age story. Reservation Blues, Alexie's tale of a Native American rhythm and blues band, has the same type of quirky comedy. Follow Thomas and his band members as they take their show on the road in a broken-down blue van. Some of the unusual characters include a mystical talking guitar and sisters named after board games.

Reservation Blues is available in other formats.

Paula Gunn Allen was both an anthropologist and an author, giving her an unique perspective on Native American culture. Her only novel, The Woman Who Owned the Shadows, has a dreamlike quality. It follows its protagonist as she recovers from a life-changing event and learns how to depend on herself as well as the powerful women in her life.

As I read Joy Harjo's poetry, I felt lonely, but I also considered my family—the one that I was born into, as well as the one that I have chosen. Each poem paints a picture of a moment in time, whether it be painful or joyous. The most striking poem in the short collection She Had Some Horses is named "I Give You Back," where the author tells her many fears that she releases them and that she is no longer afraid to be angry or to love and be loved.

She Had Some Horses is available in other formats.