Young Adult: Anthologies and Short Story Collections
Anthologies and short story collections are wonderful classroom assets. These volumes offer multiple Native authors in one location to allow for more diverse Indigenous representation. Each tribal Nation has its own unique culture, traditions, and stories; and anthologies and collections compile a variety of these experiences into a singular volume.
Whether used as a whole or offered as essays, excerpts, and selections, these titles offer the opportunity to make Native voices more accessible for students. By choosing a selection from one author, or one essay, a narrative can often be read in class and discussed in the same session. Short stories and anthologies can often be more accessible to readers, as instead of focusing on reading an entire book, the student can read a story or selection at a time.
This list includes anthologies that contain short story compilations, multimedia collections, fiction and nonfiction. Many stories are often cross-disciplinary and can fulfill curriculum requirements of multiple subjects.
Man Made Monsters
Author
Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee Nation)
Illustrator
Jeff Edwards (Cherokee Nation)
Summary
This anthology features short stories in the horror genre, connected through time and family. Beginning in the 1800s and following the same family into the future, these short stories range from classic vampire fare to creatures from traditional Cherokee stories to new frights. A family tree in the opening pages offers readers an understanding of how each story is connected to the others. Alongside each story is an illustration that incorporates the Cherokee syllabary.
NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women
Author
Lisa Charleyboy (Tsilhqot’in) and Mary Beth Leatherdale
Summary
This mixed-media anthology features fifty-eight pieces of art from Native women, from poems to images to collages. The result is a stunning collection that uplifts Native voices, highlights Native experiences, and demonstrates the diversity among North American Indigenous Nations and their peoples. Full of songs, poems, essays, photography, and visual art, this collection can be used in excerpts or as a whole.
Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices
Author
Lisa Charleyboy (Tsilhqot’in) and Mary Beth Leatherdale
Summary
This stunning anthology features essays, poems, photographs, visual art, and mixed media expressing the breadth and diversity across Indian Country. The collection works to break down stereotypes, challenge preconceived notions, and explore urban Native experiences. Stand-up comedians, authors, photographers, and more come together in this anthology, exploring difficult topics, finding joy, and celebrating Indigeneity.
Notable Native People
Author
Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation)
Summary
This collection balances biographical information with cultural context. Essays focusing on colonialism, land back, Native representation in media, and current issues on Native lands are interspersed among the short biographies of Native people. Each notable Native person has their own beautiful illustration; and each profiled individual is a change maker who is having an impact on their community and the world at large. The book as a whole highlights Native joy and triumph; and the collection would make an excellent classroom resource on biographical, historical, and nonfiction writing.
Project 562
Author
Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip)
Summary
Over the course of ten years, photographer Matika Wilbur set out on a journey to photograph people from each of the then-562 tribal Nations on the land presently known as the United States. This collection of essays and photographs showcases Native joy while touching on topics like language preservation, traditional knowledge keeping, identity, belonging, representation, sovereignty, and more. This nonfiction collection of essays and photographs is a love letter to Indigeneity while sharing the diverse lives Native peoples lead. Though this title is not marketed solely for young readers, it is appropriate for teen readers.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask
Author
Anton Treuer (White Earth Nation)
Summary
This text can be used as a whole, divided up into distinct lessons, or offered as a general classroom resource. With questions ranging from terminology to cultural appropriation to social activism and climate issues, this collection offers broad opportunities for discussion and curriculum applications that include Native voices.
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
Author
Monique Gray Smith (Cree, Lakota, and Scottish)
Illustrator
Nicole Neidhardt (Diné)
Summary
Monique Gray Smith has adapted Robin Wall Kimmerer’s beloved Braiding Sweetgrass for young adults. Kimmerer, an Indigenous scientist and botanist, shares how Indigenous worldviews have enhanced her scientific career and how both fuel her understanding of the world and its connectivity. Smith’s adaptation for young adults includes gorgeous illustrations, pop-outs with thought provoking questions, and informative sidebars. The result is a collection that highlights Indigenous ways of being with gentle, thoughtful questions posed to the reader. Part plant knowledge, part philosophy, whole perspective, this collection can be used in its entirety or in excerpts.
Navajo: Visions and Voices across the Mesa
Author
Shonto Begay (Diné)
Summary
This collection of poetry and paintings offers the author and artist’s personal history interwoven with traditional Navajo stories. Begay discusses staying connected to his culture and lifeways while living in modern times and with technology.
Conclusion
Anthologies and collections are an excellent classroom resource, allowing for a variety of voices to be shared. Whether lessons include excerpts or utilize the entire anthology, these works offer exposure to a wide and diverse group of Native voices, experiences, and Nations.
About the Author
Christine Hartman Derr
Christine Hartman Derr is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. A current student at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program, she enjoys writing picture books, middle grade fiction, and young adult fiction. Her primary goal is to contribute to increasing Native representation and share the Cherokee language through her fiction. She runs the blog Paw Prints in the Sink, is a regular contributor for Knoxville Moms, and has written articles for regional publications. Christine is from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, but currently resides in East Tennessee on ancestral Cherokee land with her spouse, children, and a motley crew of lovable pets. She was honored to be selected for the We Need Diverse Books Native Children’s and YA Writing Intensive in 2022. She won the VCFA-WCYA Summer-Fall 2022 Revisionary Award, the VCFA-WCYA Winter 2023 Candlewick Picture Book Award, and was chosen as a recipient for the 2022 Walter Grants for Native creators from We Need Diverse Books. Wado!
