For too long, the Indigenous presence in school curricula has largely been relegated to units on history, with reading assignments that prioritize award-winning historical fiction by white authors. The books often contain unexamined biases and outright errors. But we’re now witnessing a significant shift in publishing that has real momentum and is evident in these 2024 titles, all of them out in time for Native American Heritage Month.

Sheine Lende: A Prequel to Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger, illustrated by Rovina Cai (Levine Querido, April 16): In this genre-blending, stand-alone companion novel, Little Badger (Lipan Apache) immerses readers in the world of award-winning bestseller Elatsoe. Seventeen-year-old Shane is a wilderness tracker who’s able to summon the spirits of dead creatures; ghost dogs help Shane and her mother with their work. This wildly imaginative celebration of resilience is steeped in Lipan tales and features evocative art.

Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell (Heartdrum, June 4): Debut author Cobell, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation, weaves the horrifying topic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Relatives into a twisty, page-turning thriller that emphasizes the tremendous emotional toll of these crimes. As classmates go missing from the reservation, the four teens at the heart of the story must clear their names of suspicion.

Indiginerds: Tales From Modern Indigenous Life edited by Alina Pete (Iron Circus Comics, Aug. 27): This colorful, inviting graphic memoir anthology shatters narrow ideas about what a nerd (or a Native person) looks like. The diverse Indigenous contributors celebrate the ways that nerd culture builds community. As editor Pete (Cree) says in their introduction, “We’re still here. We’re big nerds. And it’s time for the world to learn about how awesome we are!”

Little Moons by Jen Storm, illustrated by Ryan Howe, colors by Alice RL (HighWater Press, Sept. 3): In her author’s note, which describes a personal connection to the gut-wrenching events in this graphic novel, Storm (Ojibwe) writes, “Grief is messy and complex; it’s love with nowhere to go.” Howe’s expressive line art and the jewel-toned palette of colorist RL (Ojibwe) perfectly complement Storm’s affecting exploration of a family’s trauma when a teen girl goes missing.

The Rez Doctor by Gitz Crazyboy, illustrated by Veronika Barinova, colors by Azby Whitecalf (HighWater Press, Sept. 3): In this accessible, uplifting graphic novel, Crazyboy, who is Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot) and Dene, tells the story of a young man whose journey exemplifies the importance of having role models and a grounding in one’s identity. Ryan, who grew up on the rez, is acutely aware of the community’s medical care needs, but his path to becoming a doctor is filled with obstacles.

The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs (Levine Querido, Sept. 3): Kanyen’kehá:ka author Isaacs’ debut is a riveting and atmospheric horror novel about cultural dislocation. Avery, a small-town teen, is haunted by nightmares after encountering the eerie black water of a pond in a nearby forest. Speaking with Mohawk Elders and learning more about the story of the Ragged Man helps Avery figure out what’s going on when her crush goes missing.

Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.