#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women

Native American Heritage Month

A selection of pivotal works by Indigenous authors.

Native women demand to be heard in this stunning anthology.

Whether looking back to a troubled past or welcoming a hopeful future, the powerful voices of Indigenous girls and women across North America resound in this book. In the same visual style as the bestselling Dreaming in Indian, #NotYourPrincess presents an eclectic collection of poems, essays, interviews, and art that combine to express the experience of being a Native woman. Stories of abuse, intergenerational trauma, and stereotyping are countered by the voices of passionate women demanding change and realizing their dreams. Sometimes outraged, often reflective, but always strong, the women in this book will give teen readers insight into the lives of women who, for so long, have had their history hidden and whose modern lives have been virtually invisible.

“Highly Recommended...What you see and read in this book will linger in your head and heart. ”  American Indians in Children’s Literature

“A stunning anthology of creative writing and art ..All YA collections will want this.” School Library Journal, starred review

“Both testament to the complexity of Indigenous women’s identities and ferocious statement that these women fully inhabit the modern world.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Lisa Charleyboy is a storyteller living in Vancouver, who has a background in fashion and a heart in all things Indigenous. She has written about everything from Native appropriations and pop-culture to politics, and has been named by Huffington Post as one of three Aboriginal Millennials to watch. With over ten years as a published writer, she has written for publications such as The Guardian, CBC, THIS Magazine, Spirituality & Health, Job Postings, and SPIRIT Magazine.

Mary Beth Leatherdale is a seasoned veteran of children’s publishing, having written, edited, and consulted on children’s books, magazines, and educational resources for more than twenty-five years. She was a founding editor of Chirp, Canada’s first pre-school magazine, and the editor of OWL magazine. As Editorial Director at Owlkids, Mary Beth oversaw the publishing program for Chirp, chickaDEE, and OWL, as well as the development of a number of award-winning books. She was the Senior Acquisitions Editor for McGraw-Hill Ryerson’s iLit Digital Collection, developing an online bank of original works by leading Canadian authors for high school English students. Recently, she edited Legends, Icons & Rebels by Grammy-award winner Robbie Robertson and music industry veterans Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson, and Jared Levine.