Best Historical Fiction Books about Native Americans: 5 Compared

Finding the best historical fiction books about native americans starts with the story’s heart: some novels follow families across generations, others document the history itself. We compared five books by stated topic, print length, publisher, publication date and edition. Every figure below comes from the listings; where a listing contradicts itself, we say so.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee	9.6/10	Buy
2	The Seed Keeper	9.6/10	Buy
3	Five Little Indians	9.5/10	Buy
4	This Tender Land	9.5/10	Buy
5	Two Old Women	9.5/10	Buy

1

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Dee Brown·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 512-page documented history of the American West, 2007.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 512 pages, the longest here
• Landmark history with stated sales
• Reading age 14-18 stated

Cons

• History, not a novel
• 2007 edition
• No novel narrative

2

The Seed Keeper

Diane Wilson·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 392-page novel of a Dakhóta family, Milkweed Editions, 2021.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 392 pages
• 2025 NEA Big Reads selection stated
• Minnesota Book Award win stated

Cons

• No stated reading age
• Novel, not a history
• Single family scope

3

Five Little Indians

Michelle Good·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An award-winning novel, Harper, 2020.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Canada Reads 2022 winner stated
• Governor General's Literary Award stated
• Amazon First Novel Award stated

Cons

• No print length stated
• Novel, not a history
• 2020, older than the newest

4

This Tender Land

William Kent Krueger·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Great Depression odyssey novel, Atria, 2019 reprint.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 2019 reprint edition
• Atria publisher
• 1932 Mississippi River journey stated

Cons

• No print length stated
• Novel, not a history
• Odyssey format may not suit all

5

Two Old Women

Velma Wallis·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 127-page anniversary legend tale, 2013.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 127 pages, the shortest here
• Anniversary edition
• Legend format

Cons

• No publisher stated
• 2013, the oldest here
• Novel, not a history

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More picks to compare

• Thunder Rolling MountainsNez Perce account, 144 pages, 2010.Check on Amazon
• Achak of the Sequoia Tribe293 pages, 2025, Book 1 of 1.Check on Amazon
• They Were Lakota258 pages, 2024, Lakota tale.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs performance, build, value, safety and warranty. For books, the score reflects the listed scope, the publisher, the edition currency and the print length.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best historical fiction books about native americans

Novels vs history

Four of the five are novels: The Seed Keeper (392 pages, Milkweed Editions, 2021), Five Little Indians (Harper, 2020), This Tender Land (Atria, 2019 reprint) and Two Old Women (127 pages, 2013 Anniversary). Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is the history: 512 pages from Holt Paperbacks, 2007, with a stated reading age of 14-18. If you want narrative, pick a novel; if you want the documented record, pick Bury My Heart.

Awards and scope

Five Little Indians states wins including Canada Reads 2022 and the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction. The Seed Keeper states a 2025 National Endowment for the Arts Big Reads selection and a Minnesota Book Award win. Bury My Heart states almost four million copies sold and translation into seventeen languages. The listings state scope from the Great Depression (This Tender Land) to a Dakhóta family across generations (The Seed Keeper).

Check the edition

Editions: 2007 first for Bury My Heart, 2013 Anniversary for Two Old Women, 2019 reprint for This Tender Land, 2020 for Five Little Indians, 2021 for The Seed Keeper. The Seed Keeper is the newest. Also see best historical fiction books about ancient rome and best historical fiction books about america for more periods.

Before you buy

• Four novels and one history; match the format to the reader.
• Print length runs 127 to 512 pages where stated.
• The Seed Keeper is the newest at 2021.
• Three more picks sit in the More picks section, including a Lakota tale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the history?

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: 512 pages, documented account of the 19th century.

Which won Canada Reads?

Five Little Indians, Canada Reads 2022, plus the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction.

Which is the newest?

The Seed Keeper, published March 2021.

Which is the shortest?

Two Old Women at 127 pages.

Still deciding? Our top pickBury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

See every book club books list and all fiction books lists.

More picks: historical fiction about ancient rome, historical fiction about america.