This book would be good for middle level grades. This book gives the indigenous peoples' side of the story to doctrine of discovery, manifest destiny, and the myth that the US is a nation of immigrants. I would use this in conjunction with history lessons about the US "discovering" the "new world" to show the other side of the story.

Going beyond the story of America as a country “discovered” by a few brave men in the “New World,” Indigenous human rights advocate Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz reveals the roles that settler colonialism and policies of American Indian genocide played in forming our national identity.

The original academic text is fully adapted by renowned curriculum experts Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza, for middle-grade and young adult readers to include discussion topics, archival images, original maps, recommendations for further reading, and other materials to encourage students, teachers, and general readers to think critically about their own place in history.

Very good, informative, a great summary. Recommended. ( )

"A young readers’ adaptation of the groundbreaking 2014 work, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, offering an important corrective to conventional narratives of our nation’s history.

Questioning the ideologies behind the belief systems that gave birth to America’s dominant origin stories, this book not only challenges the standard tale of European explorers “discovering” America, it provides an Indigenous perspective on key events. The book urges students to think critically about private property and extractive industries, land conservation and environmental rights, social activism, the definition of what it means to be “civilized,” and the role of the media in shaping perceptions. With an eye to the diversity and number of Indigenous nations in America, the volume untangles the many conquerors and victims of the early colonization era and beyond. From the arrival of the first Europeans through to the 21st century, the work tackles subjects as diverse as the Dakota 38, the Ghost Dance and Wounded Knee, the American Indian Movement’s takeover of Alcatraz, and the Dakota Access Pipeline resistance. A deeply felt connection to the Earth’s health permeates the text, along with the strength and resiliency that have kept Indigenous cultures alive. Maps, photographs, informative sidebars, points for discussion, and a recommended book list round out this accessible, engaging, and necessary addition to school libraries and classrooms.

An excellent read, dismantling American mythologies and fostering critical reasoning about history and current events. (further reading, recommended titles, notes, image credits, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)" A Kirkus Starred Reveiw, www.kirkusreviews.com

nonfiction/history (indigenous/native American perspectives)
As I expected, there was much I didn't know about American history (that really should be included in our textbooks). This was pretty comprehensive--sometimes a bit overwhelmingly so--and unfortunately, it frequently read like a dry textbook. I could only manage about a chapter a day, but it's still worthwhile--an important resource for information that we just don't get in very many places, though I don't think it's necessarily great for most kids' casual reading. I would recommend it to kids who like history, or kids with a special interest in Native Americans and First Nations.

I really liked the suggested reading list on the back, featuring Indigenous authors (as opposed to outsiders pretending to know about native customs and containing various errors and stereotypes/bias) and will need to add some of them to my to-read list. I am including the entire list below because I think this online community of readers should have easy access to it as well--note that I've only so far read a few of these, but I figure the authors' recommended list is much better than anything I could come up with on my own:
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Child|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522182247l/39665297._SX50_.jpg|61241415][bc:Unstoppable: How Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team Defeated Army|38508827|Unstoppable How Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team Defeated Army|Art Coulson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1524077249l/38508827._SX50_.jpg|60146748][bc:New Poets of Native Nations|36477476|New Poets of Native Nations|Heid E. Erdrich|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508977150l/36477476._SX50_.jpg|58187441][bc:Original Local: Indigenous Foods, Stories, and Recipes from the Upper Midwest|17980708|Original Local Indigenous Foods, Stories, and Recipes from the Upper Midwest|Heid E. Erdrich|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371685950l/17980708._SX50_.jpg|25211424][bc:The Birchbark House|159666|The Birchbark House|Louise Erdrich|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1280242695l/159666._SY75_.jpg|154105][bc:The Round House|13602426|The Round House|Louise Erdrich|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352999408l/13602426._SY75_.jpg|19195697][bc:If I Ever Get Out of Here|17071488|If I Ever Get Out of Here|Eric Gansworth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1374119419l/17071488._SY75_.jpg|23421230][bc:Give Me Some Truth|36127468|Give Me Some Truth|Eric Gansworth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506575949l/36127468._SY75_.jpg|53457433][bc:Mission to Space|34834470|Mission to Space|John Herrington|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491841450l/34834470._SX50_.jpg|56063179][bc:In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse|24795887|In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse|Joseph M. Marshall III|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1425594754l/24795887._SX50_.jpg|44431922][bc:When the Shadbush Blooms|2183475|When the Shadbush Blooms|Carla Messinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320556433l/2183475._SX50_.jpg|2189168][bc:Hungry Johnny|18936752|Hungry Johnny|Cheryl Minnema|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407813609l/18936752._SX50_.jpg|26944508][bc:The Wool of Jonesy|34455746|The Wool of Jonesy|Jonathan Nelson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1488558223l/34455746._SY75_.jpg|55569679][bc:Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time|31560094|Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time|Hope Nicholson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471636874l/31560094._SX50_.jpg|52243134][bc:Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection, Volume 1|25823323|Moonshot The Indigenous Comics Collection, Volume 1|Hope Nicholson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435656532l/25823323._SY75_.jpg|45681301][bc:The People Shall Continue|1840241|The People Shall Continue|Simon J. Ortiz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1304443844l/1840241._SX50_.jpg|1840446][bc:Celebrate my Hopi corn|40608628|Celebrate my Hopi corn|Anita Poleahla|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529644654l/40608628._SX50_.jpg|63077426][bc:Murder on the Red River|29633624|Murder on the Red River|Marcie Rendon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1468409314l/29633624._SX50_.jpg|49984974][bc:The Water Walker|34415917|The Water Walker|Joanne Robertson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1499179295l/34415917._SX50_.jpg|55518959][bc:Hiawatha and the Peacemaker|24795927|Hiawatha and the Peacemaker|Robbie Robertson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1427933301l/24795927._SX50_.jpg|44431959][bc:Rock and Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story|20519007|Rock and Roll Highway The Robbie Robertson Story|Sebastian Robertson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390169325l/20519007._SX50_.jpg|36428519][bc:Son Who Returns|18854859|Son Who Returns|Gary Robinson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385994896l/18854859._SY75_.jpg|26801215][bc:The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen|34448042|The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen|Sean Sherman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493314411l/34448042._SX50_.jpg|55558887][bc:Jingle Dancer|742125|Jingle Dancer|Cynthia Leitich Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347725245l/742125._SX50_.jpg|728289][bc:Rain Is Not My Indian Name|1007345|Rain Is Not My Indian Name|Cynthia Leitich Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348084921l/1007345._SX50_.jpg|993471][bc:Indian Shoes|1007346|Indian Shoes|Cynthia Leitich Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348330486l/1007346._SX50_.jpg|993472][bc:Hearts Unbroken|38564416|Hearts Unbroken|Cynthia Leitich Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522343961l/38564416._SY75_.jpg|60178419][bc:The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood|11935255|The Christmas Coat Memories of My Sioux Childhood|Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347519466l/11935255._SX50_.jpg|16896117][bc:We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga|36711245|We Are Grateful Otsaliheliga|Traci Sorell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525825917l/36711245._SX50_.jpg|58508012][bc:Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers #1|22730813|Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers #1 (Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers, #1)|Arigon Starr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405474238l/22730813._SY75_.jpg|64161330][bc:Super Indian, Vol. 1|18687879|Super Indian, Vol. 1|Arigon Starr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1382159432l/18687879._SY75_.jpg|26531669][bc:Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light|7999750|Saltypie A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light|Tim Tingle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348038292l/7999750._SX50_.jpg|12516095][bc:How I Became a Ghost|17901341|How I Became a Ghost|Tim Tingle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1374334746l/17901341._SY75_.jpg|25076772][bc:When a Ghost Talks, Listen|40606587|When a Ghost Talks, Listen (How I Became A Ghost, Book 2)|Tim Tingle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529626922l/40606587._SY75_.jpg|63071904][bc:Code Talker Stories =: Nihizaad Bee Nidasiibaa'|16655849|Code Talker Stories = Nihizaad Bee Nidasiibaa'|Laura Tohe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356149554l/16655849._SY75_.jpg|22863068][bc:Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock|41541639|Young Water Protectors A Story About Standing Rock|Aslan Tudor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535390600l/41541639._SX50_.jpg|64716246][bc:Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story|16033532|Kamik An Inuit Puppy Story|Donald Uluadluak|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1361572217l/16033532._SX50_.jpg|21804653][bc:Fall in Line, Holden!|35746900|Fall in Line, Holden!|Daniel W. Vandever|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504926343l/35746900._SX50_.jpg|57250842] ( )