Wednesday, December 24, 2025 — The Year in Native books

New York Times best-selling author Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) made a number of best-of-2025 lists with the third book in her series centered in the Ojibwe community, Sugar Island, titled “Sisters in the Wind.” Another favorite comes from young adult author and editor, Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee), who challenged more than a dozen other Native authors to imagine a Native future where a frybread eatery holds community and culture in the “Legendary Frybread Drive-In.” And renowned Potawatomi botanist and writer, Robin Wall Kimmerer tapped into the curiosity of young readers with her first children’s book “Bud Finds Her Gift.” They are among the Native works highlighted by our distinguished panel of reading enthusiasts. You can find their lists of favorite books of the year below.

GUESTS

Allison Waukau (Menominee and Navajo), American Indian Library Association member -at-large

Amber McCrary (Diné), writer and poet

Stacy Wells (Choctaw Nation), author and librarian

Allison Waukau’s favorite books: 
“I Am on Indigenous Land” by Katrina M. Phillips
“We Survived the Night” by Julian Brave Noisecat *featured on NAC in October
“Sisters in the Wind” by Angeline Boulley *featured on NAC in September 
“Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse” by Darcy Whitecrow and Heather O’Connor
“Moon Song” by Michaela Goade
“Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones *featured on NAC in October
“Bud Finds Her Gift” by Robin Wall Kimmerer *featured on NAC in September 
“Ishkode: A Story of Fire” by Evan Larson and Nisogaabokwe Melonee Montano and illustrated by Moira Villiard
Minnesota Lives series

Stacy Wells’ favorite books: 
“The Others” by Cheryl Issacs (sequel to “The Unfinished”)
“Legendary Frybread Drive-In” edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith *featured on The Menu in August 
“Faye and the Dangerous Journey: An Ojibwe Removal Survival Story” by Kim Sigafus
“The Summer of the Bone Horses” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve *featured on NAC in July 

Amber McCrary’s favorite books: 
“The Museum of Unnatural Histories” by Annie Wenstrup
“Mele” by Kalehua Kim
“Beyond the Glittering World: an Anthology of Indigenous Feminisms and Futurisms” edited by Stacie Shannon Denetsosie, Kinsale Drake and Darcie Little Badger
“Soft as Bones” by Chyana Marie Sage

Shawn Spruce’s favorite books: 
“Hole in the Sky” by Daniel H. Wilson *featured on NAC in October 
“Sisters in the Wind” by Angeline Boulley *featured on NAC in September 
“We Survived the Night” by Julian Brave Noisecat *featured on NAC in October
“Stick Houses” by Matthew Fletcher *featured on NAC in June 

Andi Murphy’s (NAC producer) favorite books:
“Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones *featured on NAC in October
“Punished” by Ann-Helén Laestadius *featured on NAC in February 
“Broken Fields” by Marcie R. Rendon *featured on NAC in March
“Big Chief” by Jon Hickey
“Love is a War Song” by Danica Nava
“The Whistler” by Nick Medina *featured on NAC in October 
“Hole in the Sky” by Daniel H. Wilson *featured on NAC in October 
“Surviva: A Future Ancestral Field Guide” by Cannupa H. Luger *featured on NAC in October 

 

Break 1 Music: 12 Days of Christmas (song) Carol Adams (artist) Heartbeat of the Holiday Season (album)

Break 2 Music: Coventry Carol (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Coventry Carol (album)