Featured Chapter Books & Graphic Novels

"Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. It always seems like her mom, her kokum (grandma), and her teacher have a lot to learn--about how good Jo Jo is at cleaning up, what makes a good rhyme, and what it means to be friendly." The library has books 1 & 2 in the series. (Grades K-3)

"Native families from Nations across the continent gather at the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In a high school gym full of color and song, people dance, sell beadwork and books, and celebrate friendship and heritage. Young protagonists will meet relatives from faraway, mysterious strangers, and sometimes one another (plus one scrappy rez dog). They are the heroes of their own stories"--From the publisher's web site. (Grades 3-6)

"A coming-of-age tale about the beauty and challenges of embodying two cultures. When a school bully declares that Mia is "not a real Indian" because she doesn't conform to his stereotypes, the tween questions her right to claim a Native identity. Since her Jewish mother separated from her father when she was 3, Mia's contact with her Muscogee relatives has been limited. Seeking to reconnect with that side of her heritage, Mia lies about attending a school trip and takes the bus from Los Angeles to visit her dad in Tulsa. The weekend goes well until her mom discovers her lie. Torah study with the rabbi, one of Mia's punishments, helps her reflect on her actions, leading to frank conversations with her mom and stepfather about the importance of keeping her father and her Muscogee heritage in her life."  (Grades 3-6)

"In this beautifully reimagined story by NSK Neustadt Laureate and New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Creek), Native American Lily and English Wendy embark on a high-flying journey of magic, adventure, and courage to a fairy-tale island known as Neverland..."
(Grades 3-6)

"Wesley's hopeful plans for Indigenous Peoples' Day (and asking her crush to the dance) go all wrong--until she finds herself surrounded by the love of her Indigenous family and community at the intertribal powwow"--Provided by publisher.
(Grades 5-8)

"The kids in these humorous short stories each have a minor superpower they're learning to live with . . . But what these stories are really about is their young protagonists 'owning' a power that contributes to their individuality, that allows them to find their place in the world, that shows them a potential they might not have imagined.These playful, thought-provoking tales from some of today's top middle grade authors prompt readers to consider what their own superpower might be"
(Grades 5-8)

"Told from several perspectives, this timely novel follows six middle-schoolers, all with different backgrounds and beliefs, as they learn about identity, tradition and what it means to stand up for real change when their school’s mascot is seen as racist." (Grades 5-8)

"With their parents gone and supplies running dangerously low, step-sisters Millie and Rose only have one chance at survival: leave home with their infant half-brother and loyal dog Corncob in search of Millie's grandma, a Seminole elder. As they navigate the burning land with a group of fellow survivors, dodging The Hive, a villainous group that has spent the last year hoarding supplies and living in luxury, the siblings have to learn to rely on each other more than ever, and discover how to build a new life from the ashes." --Provided by publisher. (Grades 5-8)

"Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She's always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories. Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he's been cast from home. He's found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake. Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli's best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven't been in centuries. And there are some who will kill to keep them apart"--Provided by publisher. (Young Adult)