At American Indians in Children's Literature, we occasionally read and recommend books intended for adult readers. We aren't alone in doing that. Within children's literature, the Alex Award is given each year to ten books that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
We often receive emails asking us to read an adult book, and/or if there's anyone doing critical reviews of adult books like the reviews we do at AICL. In answer to the latter, there is not (as far as we know) someone who reads and critiques books for adults. To the former, we sometimes read/critique an adult book because we know it is shaping the ideas that librarians will use to select children's books. We don't have endless time, however. We pretty much stick to children's books.
One book I've been asked about is S. C. Gwynne's Empire of the Summer Moon: Quannah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches. I didn't read it but am happy to share a resolution from the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma. Dated October 5, 2024, their resolution says, in part:
WHEREAS, Mr. Gwynne purposefully eschewed use of Comanche sources in writing his book, and as a result of his over-reliance on ethnocentric sources, the book repeats many inaccuracies and stereotypes concerning the Comanche people.
If you are an educator or a parent that is homeschooling their child and using Gwynne's book as a resource, please reconsider using it. Here's the Comanche Nation's resolution (you can also find it on their website):
