📖 Overview
Darcie Little Badger is an Indigenous American author known for young adult and middle grade speculative fiction. She is an enrolled member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas and holds a PhD in oceanography from Texas A&M University.
Her debut novel "Elatsoe" (2020) earned significant recognition, including being named to TIME's Best 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. The book blends Apache cultural elements with paranormal themes in a modern setting, following a teenage protagonist who can raise the ghosts of dead animals.
Little Badger's second novel "A Snake Falls to Earth" (2021) received a Newbery Honor and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Her work consistently features Indigenous characters and themes while incorporating elements of science fiction, fantasy, and traditional storytelling.
Beyond novels, Little Badger has published short fiction in various magazines and anthologies, including Strange Horizons and Robot Dinosaurs. She frequently draws on her scientific background and Apache heritage to create stories that bridge multiple genres and cultural perspectives.
👀 Reviews
Readers connect strongly with Little Badger's character development and authentic integration of Apache culture into supernatural storylines. Reviews highlight the accessibility of complex themes and the fresh perspective on paranormal elements.
What readers liked:
- Natural integration of Indigenous culture without feeling educational
- Character relationships, especially family dynamics
- Unique blend of modern teen life with traditional elements
- LGBTQ+ representation that feels organic
- Engaging writing style for both teen and adult readers
What readers disliked:
- Some found pacing slow in middle sections
- Plot resolutions sometimes felt rushed
- Occasional confusion about supernatural rules/systems
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- Elatsoe: 4.0/5 (15,000+ ratings)
- A Snake Falls to Earth: 4.2/5 (8,000+ ratings)
Amazon:
- Elatsoe: 4.5/5
- A Snake Falls to Earth: 4.6/5
Multiple reviewers note the books work well as both standalone stories and discussion starters about Indigenous perspectives in contemporary settings.
📚 Books by Darcie Little Badger
Elatsoe
In this contemporary fantasy, seventeen-year-old Elatsoe uses her inherited Lipan Apache ability to raise the spirits of dead animals to investigate the murder of her cousin in a small Texas town.
A Snake Falls to Earth A dual-narrative story follows Nina, a Lipan Apache teenager in Texas, and Oli, a cottonmouth snake person from the spirit realm, as their worlds intersect during an ecological crisis.
Robot Dinosaurs! (Short Story) A science fiction tale exploring the relationship between humans and robotic dinosaurs in a futuristic setting.
Strangelands (Comic Series) A superhero comic series co-written with Magdalene Visaggio, following two women with complementary superpowers who must work together despite being unable to touch.
A Snake Falls to Earth A dual-narrative story follows Nina, a Lipan Apache teenager in Texas, and Oli, a cottonmouth snake person from the spirit realm, as their worlds intersect during an ecological crisis.
Robot Dinosaurs! (Short Story) A science fiction tale exploring the relationship between humans and robotic dinosaurs in a futuristic setting.
Strangelands (Comic Series) A superhero comic series co-written with Magdalene Visaggio, following two women with complementary superpowers who must work together despite being unable to touch.
👥 Similar authors
Rebecca Roanhorse writes speculative fiction centered on Indigenous characters and draws from Native American mythology in works like "Trail of Lightning" and "Black Sun". Her blend of traditional cultural elements with post-apocalyptic and fantasy settings creates stories that resonate with readers of Little Badger's work.
Daniel Heath Justice combines Indigenous perspectives with fantasy elements in works like "The Way of Thorn and Thunder" trilogy. His writing examines colonialism and identity through speculative fiction frameworks while maintaining connections to traditional storytelling methods.
Eden Robinson crafts stories merging contemporary Indigenous life with supernatural elements in works like the "Trickster" trilogy. Her works feature young protagonists navigating both modern challenges and mythological forces.
Joseph Bruchac writes middle grade and young adult books incorporating Native American traditions and history into contemporary settings. His extensive body of work includes "Skeleton Man" and "The Dark Pond," which blend horror elements with Indigenous perspectives.
Stephen Graham Jones creates horror and speculative fiction that incorporates Indigenous experiences and perspectives into works like "The Only Good Indians". His stories examine contemporary Native life while weaving in supernatural and horror elements.
Daniel Heath Justice combines Indigenous perspectives with fantasy elements in works like "The Way of Thorn and Thunder" trilogy. His writing examines colonialism and identity through speculative fiction frameworks while maintaining connections to traditional storytelling methods.
Eden Robinson crafts stories merging contemporary Indigenous life with supernatural elements in works like the "Trickster" trilogy. Her works feature young protagonists navigating both modern challenges and mythological forces.
Joseph Bruchac writes middle grade and young adult books incorporating Native American traditions and history into contemporary settings. His extensive body of work includes "Skeleton Man" and "The Dark Pond," which blend horror elements with Indigenous perspectives.
Stephen Graham Jones creates horror and speculative fiction that incorporates Indigenous experiences and perspectives into works like "The Only Good Indians". His stories examine contemporary Native life while weaving in supernatural and horror elements.