My Life: Growing Up Native in America

by IllumiNative (editor)

A moving collection of twenty powerful essays, poems, and more that capture and celebrate the modern Native American experience, featuring entries by Angeline Boulley, Madison Hammond, Kara Roselle Smith, and many more.

With heart, pathos, humor, and insight, 20 renowned writers, performers, athletes, and activists explore what it means to be Native American today. Through a series of essays and poems, these luminaries give voice to their individual experiences while shedding light on the depth and complexity of modern Native American identity, resiliency, and joy.

The topics are as fascinating and diverse as the creators. From Mato Wayuhi, award-winning composer of Reservation Dogs, honoring a friend who believed in his talent to New York Times bestselling author Angeline Boulley exploring what it means to feel Native enough, these entries are not only an exploration of community, they are also a call for a more just and equitable world, and a road map toward a brighter future.

Edited by IllumiNative, an organization dedicated to amplifying contemporary Native voices, My Life: Growing Up Native in America features contributions from Angeline Boulley, Philip J. Deloria, Eric Gansworth, Kimberly Guerrero, Somah Haaland, Madison Hammond, Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, Trudie Jackson, Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Lady Shug, Ahsaki Baa LaFrance-Chachere, Taietsaró Leclaire, Cece Meadows, Sherri Mitchell, Charlie Amaya Scott, Kara Roselle Smith, Vera Starbard, Dash Turner, Crystal Wahpepah, and Mato Wayuhi.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Indigenous, Essays, Native American, Anthologies, Poetry

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

in all anthologies, some stories are better than others, but that's kind of the gift of this one.

it's intended to paint a full picture of what it means to be Native, outside of stereotypes or expectations or misconceptions. some of the writers are writers, and some aren't. a lot of my favorite essays actually came from non-writers: from Chopped chefs, for example. the best one is from a standup comedian which is a kind of writing and probably cheating. 

i think this book may be specifically intended for a Native audience, but as a non-Native reader, this was enlightening and powerful.

bottom line: love a bildungsroman!

(thanks to the publisher for the arc)

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟 🤩 ✨️

Cloud ☁️ Library 📖 app
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The narrators were really good 👍🏼 Only one narrator was familiar to me but they all had very pleasant voices.

The only story I didn't like was the one at the end.. the humor was there but it just fell flat for me *shrugs* The others were all interesting in different ways.

Collection of personal stories/poems about a variety of topics.. touching and informative. It was an enjoyable read.

I would listen to a few than take a break to soak em in 👍🏼.

Would recommend 👌 "read more learn more" :).

[Panda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook (4 hours) narrated by:
Carolina Hoyos
Kamali Minter
Tanis Parenteau
Shaun Taylor-Corbett

The narrators were very good.
The audio was perfect until almost at the end where one word, doable, was sloppily editing into the story "Timeless Wisdom: Genius Tips for Enhanced Native Living." It was so obvious that I actually laughed.

This is a collection of personal stories, mostly told in the first person, some with more context and detail than others. They are interesting glimpses into the lives of several individuals who shared one of their life experiences with us all in this anthology.

I did feel that while some of the authors shared more openly and perhaps excitedly, others were more reserved and seemed maybe shy or unsure about sharing a personal experience in such a public forum. I especially enjoyed the tribal diversity and the details that some seemed extremely honored to share about their heritage. I was honored to read it.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays and poems written by a fascinating group of Native authors. They each give a unique and interesting perspective and it was really interesting to read their stories. All the essays and poems are strong, I truly enjoyed reading them all. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Atria & MTV Books and NetGalley for the review copy.

Pub date: October 1, 2024

[Jifu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The collections of essays, poems within are all relatively short reads, packaged together in a fairly short book overall - but within this deceptively short collection was a wonderful abundance of stories and perspectives that I admittedly still don't get to hear all too often despite being of the same county as everyone who had an opportunity to speak through My Life. This proved to be be equal parts touching, informative, earnest, honest, and overall it just felt like a perfect November read.

[Emily | emilyisoverbooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Atria for the gifted copy!

This was my choice for our 12 New Perspectives Indigenous perspective in September, and I’m so glad that I picked it up! This is a collection of stories highlighting various aspects of the Native American experience. I loved that there were some essays and some poems, and lots of diversity from the contributors, really giving a wide-lens glance of the Native perspective.

[Krys C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each essay in this collection feels like a window into someone’s life—raw, honest, and full of heart. Together, they paint a vivid picture of growing up Native American, with all the struggles, joys, and quiet moments that stay with you. Definitely worth a read! 3.5/5 stars

[cheyanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

“and our people - like the salmon - will always know how to find their way home”

a touching collection of short stories and essays detailing the experience of growing up native in the US

i was not surprised at the horrors detailed in this book, especially after studying indigenous people and the law in canada, a course that truly opened my eyes

sadly, i did find myself zoning out while listening to parts of the book, maybe if the stories had been read by the indigenous people who wrote them as opposed to random narrators, i might have found it more engaging - though most of the narrators did a pretty good job at conveying the OG emotion and i can understand how the latter may not have been possible

“being native in america is more than a blood quantum; it is a state of mind - and i’ve never met a rez dog that wasn’t mixed”

🎧

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this one so it was a bummer when it fell flat for me. As with most anthologies, some entries will be good while others not so much, but this time the not so good far outweighed the others. It’s a shame, because there is a gem or two in there, but they’re hard to find. I think there are better collections out there for folks interested in hearing Native perspectives.

[Sam]

I initially picked this up for the Fall Reading Challenge on Goodreads and I’m so glad that I did.

This was an amazingly put together piece of art. I gained a lot of perspectives on Native American identities that I did not have before. I learned of lost histories, complicated identities and cultures long erased.

“We are the story of America. And yet, our story is so often untold.”

Learning about the difficulties Native Americans’ have faced in society, really opened my eyes to issues which I did not have much knowledge on prior.

“These places scratched my skin with sneers and wrinkled noses. These places belittled me for my master’s degrees. Barbaric, the walls would whisper. Sad, the clean floors would say to me. And the people there would mimic this disdain for me. Uncivilized, they said with the rolling of their eyes.”

Hearing the voices of those who feel as though they don’t belong to any one culture really helped me feel just a tiny fraction of their pain through their beautiful words.

“I can simultaneously be both the oppressed and the oppressor.”

“We struggle with feeling like we belong in places that were built on our removal, our displacement, and our genocide.”

Growing up I did witness the way that others would describe native people as “primal” or “savage”. Reading these stories really helped me gain perspective on those who were hurt by those horrible characterizations.

“As a Native woman, maybe a majority of the people around me, on land my ancestors have held for over thirteen thousand years, see me as something closer to an animal. At best, an exotic interest; at worst, an infestation to be stamped out.”

I had a bit of a hard time explaining how these stories made me feel and how important this book was to me, but I tried my best.

I would like to end this review by thanking all of those who contributed their stories to this book and how grateful I am to have heard their perspectives.

[Mallory (onmalsshelf) Bartel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Atria and MTV Books for the gifted copy!

An array of essays and poems from 20 Native Americans who share their experience or the experience of their family “growing up Native in America”

I ended up listening to this one on audio as a quick listen on a Friday and it was perfect for that. The essays and poems were quick and digestible and like other collections you could easily stop between each one and pick back up when you wanted to.

Some of the essays are funny and some are emotional, but I think there’s something for everyone here.

[Adina · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I’ve been trying to make a conscious effort to read more diversely over the last few years, I recognize the lack of Native American novels and authors on my shelves and have been working to change that. This collection of essays and poems was beautiful, heartbreaking, and joyful! I enjoyed hearing multiple perspectives from different backgrounds, and have gained a better understanding of the everyday and deep-rooted issues faced by those just trying to live on their own land. I look forward to reading more Native authors.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting look into various aspects of indigenous life. My only issue so to speak is that the collection is very short, and it feels like some of the authors included did not get enough space to fully breathe. I also think it started a bit stronger than it ended.

[Trianna/Treereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and informative!

[Emily Maly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

*audiobook*

I really enjoyed this book. I appreciated the individual essays and the different perspectives that were brought to the table.

[Stephanie’s Libby Antics · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man, I just don’t think most of these stories will stick in my memory very long. Still worth reading!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2015, I founded and co-led Reclaiming Native Truth, the largest public opinion research project by, for, and about Native peoples. The groundbreaking results exposed our invisibility among the general public and within our institutions, from government and education to health care and pop culture, and beyond. Nearly 78 percent of people in the United States know little or nothing about Native Americans.

This invisibility is what fuels injustices and the harm they create, including the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP), “Native” mascots and their impact on the mental health of Native youth, and the legacy of Native American Boarding Schools, through which one hundred thousand Native children were separated from their families and subjected to abuse and forced assimilation.

Crystal Echo Hawk (Pawnee)

An amazing mix of stories, lesson, sketches, poems and more that narrate the experience of young Native people growing up in the United States, with humor and wit, and sorrow and reckoning. I celebrate all these stories as so important to the way forward, a way I still believe we will get to someday, a place of justice. I am passionately obstinate when I say we have to turn the 78% to its opposite, and amplify and spread knowledge of the indigenous peoples of our country, it is, I truly believe, the only base we can innovate from to make justice, clean air and water, and a habitable planet a reality.

“I learned the same hard lessons your grandparents did. What do you think I’m doing right now?” And as she says it, you feel heat rise on your face, the scorch of embarrassment. “I’m saving the falling babies, rescuing them even as we speak, with the powers I have. Like any other superhero, I have claimed my place.” You discover at that moment you’re on the top floor of your own burning building of pride and you’re going to topple any moment. The friend you walked in here with is nowhere to be found. It is only you and the roof and the flames. “Bats, can’t you feel my arms reaching out, getting ready to wrap around you?” she says, showing her open palms. And all at once, you do, and you reach across the table, grasp that outstretched hand. You know what community claims you, suddenly understanding that you have just been rescued. ALL THE FALLING BABIES By Eric Gansworth (Onondaga)

Before I learned how to mend my own heart, I learned how to break it. And before I saw the damage in my own, I saw it first in my mother’s, Who inherited it from her mother, who inherited it from hers, and hers, and hers, and hers, and hers. An ancestral line wrought with an agony so deep, buried for generations.
Kutâputush kin, for granting my existence and for your never-ending perseverance. A people whose power was forever doubted, the same doubt that found its way to me, but a doubt then unwoven by my very existence. Kutâputush earth, for letting me land. Kutâputush air, for teaching me to be nimble. Kutâputush fire, for teaching me how to trailblaze. And Kutâputush water, for teaching me that I cannot be contained. KUTÂPUTUSH, KUTÂPUTUSH By Kara Roselle Smith (Chappaquiddick Wampanoag)

Another person reading this could argue that I was only accepted to Brown because I was Native and that I was lucky to get in and not fail. Who really knows? Not me. What I do know and have since learned is that the college educational system isn’t set up for people like me to succeed, despite my love for reading and learning. Let me explain. Imagine that there are one hundred Native students in a room. Can you guess how many would graduate from high school? Seventy-five,I which is less than the 2019–2020 national average by 12 percent. Now, of those seventy-five who graduated, can you guess how many would go on to college? Twenty-one. That’s roughly 28 percent, compared to the 2021 national average of 38 percentII of recent high school graduates enrolled in college. Of those twenty-one, only nine will graduate within six years. (That’s 42 percent; the national average is 64 percent.)III Essentially, fewer Native kids graduate from high school, and even fewer enroll and graduate from college. This is the state of education for Native students in America. I share these dismal numbers not to glorify the few who get their degrees, but rather to highlight how isolating college can be for Native students and how that feeling of isolation can impact the college experience. I BELONG By charlie amáyá scott (Diné)

These thoughts I’m sharing here with you are at the heart of what moves me to act. To tell stories and to continue to seek knowledge. My work is linked always to the young Gwich’in girl who yearned to live in a world where she was seen and respected with love, kindness, compassion, and understanding. I hope these words are of encouragement to you. As we strive to be seen as fully human, for better representation, more sovereignty, freedom of expression, and protection of our lands and waters, we see that indeed our work is intersectional and guided by the strongest force in our universe: LOVE. Let us act from this place and let us breathe life into the most radical future we can imagine for our future generations. WE, THE ORIGINAL STORYTELLERS By Princess Daazhraii Johnson (Neets’aii Gwich’in)

I was born Panawáhpskewi (the people) and grew up on a small island nation that is flanked on its eastern side by a series of white-water rapids. Panawáhpskek (the place) is one of hundreds of islands located in the Penobscot River. Before I was born to this land, I was seeded in this ground. A dream nestled into the damp soil of this shoreline by generations of ancestors. Having been held here long before the missionaries, militias, and settlers came, I carry the untouched hope of those ancestors in my blood. Our nation is one of the few Indigenous nations where we, the original inhabitants, have never been removed from our homelands. We have faced war, disease, bounties placed on our heads, and centuries of industrial disruption and pollution, and still we remain.I We have lived along these same shores for more than ten thousand years, and our connections here run deep. MY FUTURE BEGAN IN THE PAST By Sherri Mitchell Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset (Penobscot, Passamaquoddy)

[Emmaby Barton Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

giving this book 5 stars because i’ve given all the similar ones i’ve read 5 stars and it feels wrong to not do the same but this was more of a 4 stars for me i think :/

i was really excited for this one as i know very little about native americans. unfortunately, it left me feeling a bit… disappointed? as i didn’t feel i learned as much as i expected/wanted? (insight into culture, rez’s, blood quantum, two spirits etc) - and like i hadn’t really gained a huge insight into what it means to be native american? but!! kept reminding myself it isn’t really fair to judge peoples stories for not giving me what i wanted. and of course, these stories and voices are still valuable regardless and i really enjoyed and valued reading them. however, i do think, given the premise of this collection, it’s a valid point for me to raise that i left the collection feeling i didn’t gain a particularly huge or diverse insight into being native american compared with what i have from similar anthologies.

i find blood quantum etc particularly interesting - especially because it differs so much from the approach from first peoples in australia - interested to learn more about why this classification continues - especially given so many of the stories talk about the difficulties of feeling valid and straddling two worlds/identities etc. but making sure to approach this from a place of curiosity not judgement. something for me to look into!

pieces that stood out to me:
- lemming lessons - nasuġraq rainey hopson - just written so nicely and in ways that really moved me. “this little death tied me to the world in such a permanent and life-changing way. I was bound. I knew from then on that all my actions would affect the world around me in ways I could not understand and never would. but I became part of the world right then and there”; “my world clung to me like my history, complicated and deep”; power of representation, thirst for reading and consuming as much media about herself as possible
- all the falling babies - eric gansworth - concept of the ‘bruised apple’ - i assume like a coconut?
- growing up pueblo (and white) in america - somáh toya haaland - “i grew up despising the shape of my chin my cheeks my dimples but when my grandmother left earthside i began to see her in my own reflection”
- the bullseye and the bird’s eye (angelique boulley - nuance of identity beyond blood quantum and official recognition; “I am Anishinaabe—not fractions of an identity, but the whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.”
- primitive - vera starbard - just so heartwarming seeing her recognising the value and beauty in her culture, shifting from shame to pride, recognising western culture is not superior etc. also interesting re. language and how art is so valued there isn’t a word for it: “there’s no separation between what the western world calls “art” and the community’s economy, or politics, or identity, or spirituality. art is not a separate thing, and it is not a frivolous thing.”
- indigenous queen: finding the rainbow within - lady shug - finding one’s place in the world of drag, “our existence is our own form of resistance. nobody can tell you
who to be or take away who you are”
- the birth of an indigenous food warrior - crystal wahpepah - i find the concept of food sovereignty so fascinating!! “Wahpepah’s Kitchen is my way of helping my community heal. The first day the restaurant was open, an older man came in and ordered the blue corn cake. As he ate it, he began to cry. He had not been home to his reservation since he was eighteen years old, he said, and eating these foods was like leading him home.”
- dear rez kid - ahsaki lafrance-chachere - providing a little insight into living on rez - something i’d have been interesting in hearing more about; “…makes it seem like our rez life can’t be luxurious. but i saw beauty and luxury all around me, in our land, culture, and language. In the faces of our ancestors.” (but equally, of course important to recognise the disadvantages/barriers)
- my future began in the past - sherri mitchell weh’na ha’mu kwasset - provided some insight into culture and the importance of story-telling, the generational impacts of loss of language and the trauma of colonisation
- afraid - trudie jackson - i wish we’d had more exploration about/heard from more two spirits. “i sometimes feel afraid to take chances in life. i remind myself to follow my dreams, to be who I am, and remember my ancestors who have endured so much but who were resilient. stop being afraid... your time on mother earth is only a brief period so be who you are and make a statement.”
- timeless wisdom: genius tips for enhanced native living - dash turner - just very funny but full of lots of good advice haha - boils down to romanticise your life, casual magic, live positively, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my mother, it’s to try to live in balance with the world—and because Jack in the Box is a billion-dollar company, living in balance with Jack in the Box means taking as much as possible from them, constantly, without remorse.”

”Life can feel like a game of Plinko, just a bunch of pegs pushing you around as you fall toward a random slot. But it’s not. Your life is a concatenation of your choices. How you start your day, how you treat the people around you, how you react to change. They all add up: … Our people’s unique worldviews are still passed down through our families. Thousands of years of culture made them too sticky to be totally eradicated by some ugly priests who made our ancestors speak English.

“Your people’s worldview can set you free, bitch! When you train yourself to have different reactions, habits, and behaviors, you force different feelings to the surface—and everything gets better. People are more lovable; music sounds better; sunsets look more orange (the best color). The world feels big again, instead of claustrophobically small. All those fears of loneliness, of losing control, of the grand universal Plinko board not guiding you to your desired outcome... those all fade away.”

[Kristens.reading.nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up.” - Louise Erdrich

Just as the title says, through essays and poems, 20 Native Americans share their experience of “growing up Native in America”. Some are humorous (Timeless Wisdom: Genius Tips for Enhanced Native Living), some are poignant (I Belong), and some are heartbreaking (Growing Up Pueblo (and White) in America). Each piece is heartfelt and I thoroughly enjoyed spending my time reading each one.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Read if you like:
Reading Indigenous works
Essay and Poetry collections
Learning about different cultures

Thank you Atria Books for the ARC.

[Shameem · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a beautiful anthology from Illuminative featuring essays and poems that capture a snapshot of the countless ways growing up native in america can look. i cried, seethed, learned, laughed, and ultimately finished this book so grateful that it exists. hearing the experiences and wisdom of so many contemporary Native voices is necessary for us all, and also incredibly important for everyone growing up Native now to be able to see themselves and aspects of their own experiences reflected and recognized and understood.

[Shannon Nicole Wilkinson]

I won the Goodreads Giveaway, but never received my copy. I just went to the Giveaway and thought I was clicking the tab to let Goodreads know I had not received it, but I guess I clicked the wrong tab, as it is now showing that I received it today! Can someone assist? Would love to finally get my book in the mail.

[Mary Anne]

4 STARS

How this book ended up on my TBR: my library had this book front and center in the new releases section near the front of the room, and I'm a sucker for their recommendations. This book was well up my alley.

This is a really neat collection of stories from a variety of indigenous folks. While I am unfamiliar with all of the contributors, it's clear from their bylines that they are active and successful in their fields (writers, composers, entrepreneurs, athletes, etc.) and have a lot of perspective to share. I especially enjoyed the pieces that spoke directly to the readers as younger Native community members. While I can see why some may say that this book is geared toward a diverse Native audience, I think everyone can learn something from this book.

I'm not sure if it's because I moved to WI, but I know I'm interacting a lot more with indigenous folks who have been talking more about their lives and about Native history. And I'm really glad to have learned more. A book group I'm in had considered reading Angeline Boulley's Firekeeper's Daughter, and I would really like to read that book soon.

--

PS. If you all ever go to The StoryGraph, let's be friends there! Here's my profile.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an excellent collection of Native voices and experiences! While brief, readers are given glimpses into so many of the ways Native people are living in America today-- from grappling with the idea of being "Native enough" to struggling with being the only Native in university classes or board rooms. This collection does not aim to share a unified Native experience because that doesn't exist. Instead, we are given personal insights, encouragement, confessions, beauty, and challenges through each contribution.

If you are looking for something that has a cohesive story, this isn't it. But if you read this book and still believe there is one single story about the life of Native people in America, you missed the point.

As with any collection, some stories stand out more than others. Unlike a lot of collections, though, there isn't a single one I didn't enjoy.
My Favorites:
• Growing Up Pueblo (and White) in America by Somah Toya Haaland
• Primitive by Vera Starbard
• The Ag Worker's Daughter by Cece Meadows
• The Birth of an Indigenous Food Warrior by Crystal Wahpepah
• My Future Began in the Past by Sherri Mitchell Weh'na Ha'mu Kwasset

[Steph (starrysteph) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Life: Growing Up Native in America features 20 essays & poems from Native American writers.

I really appreciated this collection – the diversity of both voices and forms of storytelling kept me engaged, even though (as with all anthologies) there were some pieces that clicked with me more than others.

Some are reflections, some are calls to action, some are expressions of pain and love, and some are pretty darn funny. Each person has a vastly different history and a vastly different relationship to their Indigenous identity.

I wasn’t familiar with most of these voices and I’m super curious about some of their brands & community endeavors! I definitely have a lot to look up.

CW: mentions of racism, residential schools, war, genocide, forced institutionalization, bullying, death of loved ones.

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

[♏ Gina☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of 20 writers who share their differing experiences of growing up as an indigenous person in America. The style of writing is as varied as the stories and includes some poetry.

Facing continuing prejudice, poverty, addiction, and other issues, these writers put into words what is hard for anyone not of Native American ancestry to understand. It's not all doom and gloom - not by a long shot. There is humor interwoven, and feelings are laid bare.

The truth of what some indigenous people still face is daunting. The fact that society still sees them as "lesser" rather than the first people to inhabit this American landscape, is abhorrent. The public at large does not realize how relatively recent you could still purchase a Native American child for $10.00 (there is a poster if you care to search for it from 1952). A population who has the highest per capita rate of military service did not get the right to vote later than that.

I highly recommend this book, whether or not you are Native American.

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories, poems, and essays features powerful contributions from various authors, including Angeline Boulley, as well as athletes like Madison Hammond, activists such as Kara Roselle Smith, and musicians like Mato Wayuhi. Together, they highlight the richness of Native life in America.

I love the diversity of the stories. We hear from individuals who grew up on reservations alongside those seeking to connect with their ancestry, two-spirit and transgender people, and stories from every region of the United States. The narratives range from humorous to deeply moving, yet each offers profound insights. Even though generational trauma runs deep, every story highlights the resilience, diversity, and joy that define Native American identity, community, and culture.

The audiobook features a full cast of narrators, which works well for the collection. Each narrator captures the magic of each story and beautifully highlights the authors' unique perspectives—it's a fantastic collection to listen to.

[Amy Lime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to be exposed to a lot of interesting Native perspectives!

There is so much variety in what the contributors do in their lives, but also in how they relate to being Native (did they grow up in a reservation or big city or somewhere else? are they an enrolled, not enrolled, or ineligible member of a tribe?). I felt like this hit a good balance of being easy to read and introducing a lot of topics impacting Native Americans today.

My favorite parts were the essays that explored Native communities and how Natives treat other Natives. A standout was Angeline Boulley’s essay about the complications of being an enrolled member and the prejudices that can exist for not being seen as Native enough.

But there were also a lot of beautiful, uplifting stories of everyday trailblazers, finding connection with others, and maintaining a link to traditions.

* I received an ARC from the publisher.

[Heather // myinfinitetbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this anthology of essays and poems, 20 Native Americans share some of their experiences growing up in America.

These bite-sized snippets were incredibly diverse, by writers and non-writers, Alaskan Native and throughout the mainland, of all ages and tribes, and two-spirit/transgender voices. Each impactful in their own way; some were thought provoking, calls to action, words of affirmation for other Natives, some sad, others funny.

There were many contributors I was not familiar with but loved their sections. And I was so excited to see Angeline Boulley (author of Firekeeper's Daughter), who wrote a fantastic essay about being "Native Enough."

This should be required reading. Highly recommend.

🎧 The audio was extremely well done, I really enjoyed it. Though, I might need a physical copy to be able to refer back to.

Thanks to Simon Audio for the ALC!

[Manish Mattawar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Thoughtful, Reflective Collection of Native American Voices

My Life Growing Up Native in America by IllumiNative is a short but powerful collection of essays that shine light on the lived experiences of Native Americans in today’s society. At just around four hours in audio, it’s a compact book—but several of the essays are beautifully written, deeply reflective, and genuinely moving. The contributors share personal stories about identity, culture, community, and the challenges of growing up Native in a country that often overlooks its first people.

While the essays vary in tone and perspective, the collection as a whole offers a meaningful window into experiences many of us never get to hear. I enjoyed several pieces quite a lot—they were insightful, heartfelt, and thought-provoking. It’s a good, accessible read that encourages reflection on Native histories and present realities.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an important collection, especially for young Indigenous people to read and see themselves. There were some essays that had more of a purpose than others. The introduction did a good job of grounding the collection and the point.

Pieces discuss the power of stories and words first and foremost. Topics include language, Indigenous food ways, media, education, traditional clothing, colonialism, white supremacy, pride, and more. There are letters to young Indigenous people, poetry, and some excerpts from The Firekeeper's Daughter.

The intent was great, but there could have been more cohesion. I actually preferred the pieces that were not by writers as they showcased more perspectives. I did appreciate how many tribes were represented in the book.