Louise Erdrich has been telling stories set in Native American communities for her entire decades-long career as an author.
Her first novel, “Love Medicine,” published in 1984, followed five Ojibwe families in North Dakota and Minnesota. She continued to expand the characters’ stories in subsequent “Love Medicine” novels (which she told TODAY.com in an interview she would be open to revisiting).
Her latest book, “The Mighty Red,” was chosen as a Read With Jenna pick in October 2024 and returns to North Dakota, featuring multiple Indigenous characters.
‘The Mighty Red’ by Louise Erdrich
A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Erdrich’s best-selling novels have won multiple awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for “The Night Watchman,” a story based on her grandfather’s life.
As the owner of Birchbark Books, an independent bookstore in Minneapolis, Erdrich is familiar with the art of book recommendations — and below, she shares a few picks written by Native and Indigenous authors.
Books by Indigenous and Native authors recommended by Louise Erdrich
For adults
‘Everything You Wanted To Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask’ by Anton Treuer
The title of this book is literal: Ojibwe scholar Anton Treuer answers nearly 200 questions about Native history and culture, ranging in tone. Open and find answers to questions like: What is the real story of Thanksgiving? Why are tribal languages important? The book also comes in a young readers’ edition with curated questions and answers.
‘Sinister Graves’ by Marcie Rendon
For a thriller, Erdrich recommends “Sinister Graves” by Marcie Rendon, an enrolled member of the White Earth Nation. In her blurb, Erdrich called Rendon’s “Cash Blackbear Mystery” series “an addictive and authentically Native crime series” and its main character, a “warm, sad, sharp, funny and intuitive young Ojibwe woman.”
‘The Serviceberry’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Robin Wall Kimmerer’s 2013 book “Braiding Sweetgrass,” an ode to the natural world featuring scientific knowledge and Indigenous wisdom, was a word-of-mouth hit. Her latest book, “The Serviceberry,” published in November 2024, offers a new way to exist on the planet, expanding on ideas offered in “Braiding Sweetgrass.” Kimmerer, an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, challenges readers to think of life and the Earth as gifts.
For kids
‘Berry Song’ by Michaela Goade
“Berry Song” is the first picture book both written and illustrated by the award-winning children’s book illustrator Michaela Goade, an enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The picture book, which won a prestigious Caldecott Honor, celebrates the relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter. With beautiful illustrations, the book also captures the beauty of the world and what it means to be in tune with it.
‘Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message’ by Chief Jake Swamp
The late Chief Jake Swamp, a Wolf Clan Mohawk diplomat and author, preserved a Mohawk tradition in his first picture book. The book puts forth a kid-friendly version of the traditional Mohawk morning prayer, centered around showing gratitude to the natural world.