If you enjoy reading books by Tommy Orange then you might also like the following authors:
Sherman Alexie writes with a candid and sharp style, often exploring the lives of modern Native Americans. His book “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” is a collection of interconnected short stories set on and around the Spokane Indian Reservation.
The stories follow characters like Victor and Thomas, showing their struggles with identity, family, and the weight of historical pain.
One story includes a road trip where two friends confront their pasts, while another depicts a pickup basketball game that becomes an unspoken battle for dignity. Alexie’s writing paints vivid pictures of reservation life, blending heartbreak and humor.
Louise Erdrich is an author known for exploring the lives of Native American communities with depth and sensitivity. One of her books, “The Round House,” revolves around a Ojibwe boy named Joe, whose family is shaken after a violent crime against his mother.
Set on a reservation, the story captures Joe’s search for answers and justice. The book paints a vivid picture of reservation life, with moments of humor, pain, and resilience.
Erdrich shows the complexity of laws that govern Native land and how this impacts the characters’ lives. It’s a story that feels personal and unforgettable.
Leslie Marmon Silko is a Native American author from the Laguna Pueblo tribe, known for weaving stories that are deeply tied to the land, culture, and history of her people.
Her novel “Ceremony” follows a young Laguna man named Tayo, who returns home after World War II, struggling with trauma and a sense of disconnection. As he seeks healing, he learns about his heritage and the importance of the natural and spiritual worlds.
Silko integrates elements of Laguna myths and traditions into the narrative, showing how personal and cultural healing are intertwined. It’s a story that feels rooted in place and history.
Joseph Boyden is an author known for exploring themes of identity, culture, and the connections between Indigenous people and their histories.
His novel, “Three Day Road,” follows Xavier Bird, a Cree sniper returning home after serving in World War I, and his aunt Niska, a healer. As they journey together, Xavier reflects on the harrowing experiences of war, while Niska recalls stories of survival and resilience.
The book captures the haunting impact of violence and the strength found in family and tradition. Fans of Tommy Orange may find Boyden illuminating similar struggles tied to heritage and belonging.
David Treuer is a writer and anthropologist from the Ojibwe nation who weaves Native American life and history into his work. One of his books, “The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee,” revisits the history of Native Americans from the late 19th century to today.
Treuer challenges the idea that Native culture is disappearing and brings stories of resilience and adaptation. He blends historical accounts with personal narratives, giving powerful insight into survival and transformation in modern Native life.
Rebecca Roanhorse writes stories that blend modern life with Indigenous culture and mythology. In her novel “Trail of Lightning,” the world has been reshaped by a massive flood, and the Dinétah—Navajo land—has become a place of gods, heroes, and monsters.
The story follows Maggie Hoskie, a monster hunter who is asked to track a missing girl. As she searches, she faces ancient powers, her own dark past, and mysteries that threaten her world. The setting feels alive with Navajo traditions and a gritty, post-apocalyptic edge.
If you enjoyed the depth and cultural insight in Tommy Orange’s work, you might find Roanhorse a great fit.
Natalie Diaz is a poet whose work blends personal history with the landscape and culture of her Mojave heritage. Her poetry collection, “Postcolonial Love Poem,” explores themes of identity, love, and survival.
One of the poems reflects on the connection between the body and the natural world, tied deeply to desert imagery. Her writing conveys a strong sense of place and history, with moments that feel both raw and reflective.
It offers a perspective filled with deeply rooted stories and emotions.
Stephen Graham Jones is a Blackfeet author known for his unique approach to storytelling, blending horror with deep cultural themes. His book, “The Only Good Indians,” follows four Indigenous friends who are haunted by a disturbing event from their past.
As they try to move forward in life, something sinister begins to unravel their world. The story touches on identity, tradition, and guilt, all while delivering moments that can catch you off guard.
Fans of Tommy Orange might appreciate how Jones captures the ongoing impact of history on contemporary Native lives.
Joy Harjo is a poet and writer who weaves Native American heritage and experiences into her work. Her memoir, “Crazy Brave,” shares her life’s journey, from her challenging childhood to finding her voice as an artist.
The book reveals her struggles, her connection to her Muscogee (Creek) identity, and her path to self-discovery. Readers get glimpses of her vivid dreams, moments of resilience, and the deep spiritual ties that shape her life’s story.
Fans of Tommy Orange, who enjoy narratives grounded in Native identity and history, may find Harjo’s writing deeply moving.
N. Scott Momaday is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who focuses on Native American culture and storytelling. His book, “House Made of Dawn,” tells the story of a young man named Abel, a Native American struggling to find his place after returning home from World War II.
The novel explores his life in his tribal community and his struggles with the pull between modern life and traditional ways. The story captures personal and cultural challenges, offering a deep connection to the land and ancestral roots.
Fans of Tommy Orange might find the same powerful look at identity and community in Momaday’s work.
Terese Marie Mailhot is an author whose writing carries a raw and honest voice. Her memoir, “Heart Berries,” tells her story of love, family, trauma, and resilience.
The book is structured as a series of essays addressed to people in her life, blending personal pain with cultural identity, as she reflects on her experiences growing up on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation.
Her words are sharp and intimate, offering a deeply personal look into struggles with mental health and her path toward healing. Fans of Tommy Orange may find her work equally powerful.
Layli Long Soldier is a remarkable author and poet who brings powerful emotion and insight to her work.
Her book, “Whereas,” is a collection of poems that reflect on the history and treatment of Native American communities, while also exploring themes of identity, resilience, and language.
In one section, she examines the 2009 Congressional apology to Native peoples, exposing its hollow tone and lack of real action. At the same time, she weaves in deeply personal reflections, such as moments of motherhood and heritage.
The writing is honest and unforgettable, offering a fresh perspective on history and lived experience.
Linda Hogan is a Chickasaw author who writes stories that explore Native American heritage and our relationship with the natural world. Her novel “Mean Spirit” is set in Oklahoma during the oil boom of the 1920s.
It follows a Native American family targeted by people who will do anything to take over their oil-rich land. The story focuses on greed, loss, and resilience, offering a vivid look at a community caught in a turbulent time.
Janet Campbell Hale is a Native American author from the Coeur d’Alene tribe. Her book, “The Jailing of Cecelia Capture,” tells the story of a Native woman arrested for petty theft and reflecting on her life while in a jail cell.
Cecelia’s struggles with identity, poverty, and the weight of her past unfold through moments from her childhood and adulthood. The book shows how her complicated relationships with her family and her efforts to balance two worlds shaped her.
Fans of novels that explore personal histories and cultural identity may find Hale’s writing engaging.
Heid E. Erdrich is an Ojibwe poet, writer, and editor whose work explores Native identity, culture, and storytelling in vivid and powerful ways.
Her book, “Curator of Ephemera at the New Museum for Archaic Media,” blends poetry and prose to examine memory, history, and the stories that shape us. Through themes of loss and belonging, she offers snapshots of life infused with wit and insight.
Fans of Tommy Orange’s layered narratives might appreciate how Erdrich gives voice to contemporary Indigenous experiences.