Families who loved Paint Your Face on a Drowning in the River by Craig Kee Strete often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with the tension between where they come from and who they want to become. It is particularly resonant for families navigating the pull of modern society against the preservation of traditional heritage. The story follows a young Native American man at a crossroads: stay on the reservation with his girlfriend and grandparents, or leave for the promise of a life in the white man's world. It explores deep themes of loneliness, belonging, and the heavy weight of ancestral expectations. Given its realistic and often somber tone, it is best suited for mature readers aged twelve and up who are ready to engage with complex questions of identity and the sacrifices required for independence. Parents will find it a powerful tool for opening conversations about what it means to be loyal to one's roots while still growing as an individual.
