“The Round House” by Louise Erdrich is about a young boy, Joe, who lives on a reservation in North Dakota. His mother is attacked, which leaves her withdrawn and frightened. Joe, determined to find out what happened, starts searching for answers himself.
The story dives into tribal law, family bonds, and the challenges of justice in a system that fails to protect everyone equally.
The book “Chickadee” by Louise Erdrich follows the journey of a young Ojibwe boy named Chickadee, who is separated from his family after being kidnapped.
Set in the 1860s, the story shifts between Chickadee’s travels across the harsh Dakota landscape and his family’s efforts to bring him home. Along the way, Chickadee relies on his wit, courage, and a special connection to his namesake bird.
The story is full of challenges and moments of resilience, showing the strength of family and tradition.
“Ancient Shores” by Jack McDevitt is a science fiction novel set in North Dakota. It begins when a farmer digging on his land uncovers a yacht buried under the soil, made of a material that defies explanation.
This discovery leads to a series of events that unravel secrets connected to ancient technology and otherworldly origins. The story weaves together the lives of the locals, the scientific community, and the government as they grapple with its implications.
The location adds a grounded, small-town atmosphere to a tale of extraordinary possibilities.
The book “The Grass Dancer” by Susan Power takes readers into the lives of characters from a Sioux reservation in North Dakota. It weaves together stories from different generations, showing how their lives are connected by love, loss, and tradition.
Ghosts, visions, and old tribal beliefs play a role in shaping the characters’ paths, offering a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural world of the Sioux people.
“Downtown Owl” by Chuck Klosterman takes place in a fictional small town called Owl, North Dakota.
The story follows the lives of three characters: Mitch, a high school student navigating awkward teenage years; Julia, a new teacher adjusting to life in a quiet and isolated place; and Horace, an elderly man reflecting on how the town has changed.
Their lives unfold separately, but a sudden and brutal snowstorm ties their stories together in an unexpected way. The book captures the atmosphere of a rural town in the 1980s, with moments that feel both strange and familiar.
Jonathan Twingley’s “The Badlands Saloon” follows a young artist who travels to a small North Dakota town and becomes intertwined with the lives of its quirky residents.
The story unfolds in and around a local saloon, where the artist paints, observes, and connects with the characters that populate this rugged, dusty landscape.
The mix of personalities he encounters shifts his perspective on life and creativity, all against the backdrop of the Badlands’ stark and haunting beauty.