My Place Among Them by J. Stanion Wins 2023 NYC Big Book Award for Cultural Heritage
United States, 25th Sep 2024, –
My Place Among Them, the debut novel by J. Stanion, has been awarded the 2023 NYC Big Book Award for Cultural Heritage. This recognition highlights the novel’s contribution to the exploration of Indigenous history and the complex dynamics of cultural identity during a critical period in U.S. history.
The novel portrays John Iron Horse, a twelve-year-old survivor of the Wounded Knee Massacre, who is forced into the U.S. government’s Indian Education program. The novel follows John’s journey as he strives to preserve his Lakota identity while facing a boarding school system designed to assimilate Indigenous children.
The story also features Carter Heath, a teacher at the boarding school who initially views his role through a lens of indifference but late...