Most Popular Books by Joseph Bruchac

release date: Jan 01, 2006

After being taught in a boarding school run by whites that Navajo is a useless language, Ned Begay and other Navajo men are recruited by the Marines to become Code Talkers, sending messages during World War II in their native tongue.

Killer of Enemies

Years ago, seventeen-year-old Apache hunter Lozen and her family lived in a world of haves and have-nots. There were the Ones―people so augmented with technology and genetic enhancements that they were barely human―and there was everyone else who served them. Then the Cloud came, and everything changed. Tech stopped working. The world plunged back into a new steam age. The Ones' pets―genetically engineered monsters―turned on them and are now loose on the world.Lozen was not one of the lucky ones pre-C, but fate has given her a unique set of survival skills and magical abilities. She hunts monsters for the Ones who survived the apocalyptic events of the Cloud, which ensures the safety of her kidnapped family. But with every monster she takes down, Lozen's powers grow, and she connects those powers to an ancient legend of her people. It soon becomes clear to Lozen that she is not just a hired gun. As the legendary Killer of Enemies was in the ancient days of the Apache people, Lozen is meant to be a more than a hunter. Lozen is meant to be a hero.

The First Strawberries (Picture Puffins)

by: Joseph Bruchac, Anna Vojtech

From an award-winning Native American storyteller comes this captivating re-telling of a Cherokee legend, which explains how strawberries came to be.

Long ago, the first man and woman quarrelled. The woman left in anger, but the Sun sent tempting berries to Earth to slow the wife's retreat. Luminous paintings perfectly complement this simple, lyrical text.

"Complete harmony of text and pictures: altogether lovely."-- Kirkus Reviews, pointer review

Jim Thorpe, Original All-American

Jim Thorpe was one of the greatest athletes who ever lived. He played professional football and Major League baseball, and won Olympic gold medals in track and field. But his life wasn?t easy. Born on a reservation, he endured family tragedy and was sent to various Native American boarding schools. Jim ran away from school many times, until he found his calling under the now-legendary coach Pop Warner. This is a book for history buffs as well as sports fans?an illuminating and lively read about a truly great American by award-winning author Joseph Bruchac.

Native Plant Stories

These mythical stories draw upon legends from eighteen Native American tribes and illustrate the importance of plant life in Native American traditions.

Trail of Tears (Step-Into-Reading, Step 5)

In 1838, settlers moving west forced the great Cherokee Nation, and their chief John Ross, to leave their home land and travel 1,200 miles to Oklahoma. An epic story of friendship, war, hope, and betrayal.

Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving

by: Joseph Bruchac, Greg Shed

In 1620 an English ship called the Mayflower landed on the shores inhabited by the Pokanoket, and it was Squanto who welcomed the newcomers and taught them how to survive. When a good harvest was gathered, the people feasted together--a tradition that continues almost four hundred years later.

Raccoon's Last Race

by: Joseph Bruchac, James Bruchac

The team behind How Chipmunk Got His Stripes retells an Abenaki fable that warns against arrogance and honors the importance of keeping your promises.

Azban the Raccoon loves to race on his long legs. He is the fastest of all the animals, but he's also the most conceited, mocking everyone with his speed. When the other animals grow tired of his attitude, Azban chooses Big Rock as his next opponent. Busy taunting instead of running, he trips, and Big Rock flattens him. Only the ants will help stretch him out again—as long as he promises to be their friend. But will a trickster like Azban keep his word?

This clever and funny reimagining of a traditional story is for fans of Ed Young's Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China and David Wiesner's The Three Pigs.

“Lively, clever, and authentic."—Kirkus

“The text reads aloud smoothly and keeps the action moving quickly. A strong addition to picture-book collections."—School Library Journal

Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children

by: Michael J. Caduto, Joseph Bruchac

This gathering of carefully selected Native animal stories and related activities for children promotes responsible stewardship toward all animals on Earth, including human beings.

Pocahontas