Boozhoo Books | Old School Indian: A Novel

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Old School Indian: A Novel

Aaron John Curtis

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A Most Anticipated Book of 2025: Brit + Co | Debutiful.

“ A novel of pure heart and mastery.” —Morgan Talty, bestselling author of Night of the Living Rez and Fire Exit.

“ An inspired novel by an author whose voice absolutely sizzles on the page . . . A moving story of self-discovery that journeys through the crucibles of sickness, history, identity, family, and loss—all told by one of the most inventive, funny, brash narrators you’ll ever find.” —Nathan Hill, New York Times bestselling author of Wellness and The Nix.

A coming-of-middle-age novel about an Ahkwesáhsne man’s reluctant return home and what it takes to heal.

Abe Jacobs is Kanien’kehá:ka from Ahkwesáhsne—or, as white people say, a Mohawk Indian from the Saint Regis Tribe. At eighteen Abe left the reservation where he was raised and never looked back.

Now forty-three, Abe is suffering from a rare disease—one his doctors in Miami believe will kill him. Running from his diagnosis and a failing marriage, Abe returns to the Rez, where he’s convinced to undergo a healing at the hands of his Great Uncle Budge. But Budge—a wry recovered alcoholic prone to wearing punk t-shirts—isn’t all that convincing. And Abe's time off the Rez has made him a thorough skeptic.

To heal, Abe will undertake a revelatory journey, confronting the parts of himself he’s hidden ever since he left home and learning to cultivate hope, even at his darkest hour.

Delivered with crackling wit, Old School Indian is a striking exploration of the power and secrets of family, the capacity for healing and catharsis, and the ripple effects of history and culture.

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Posts about this title from Boozhoo Books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Jun 14

[Hi Friends,\ \ I thought I would make my May reading update public this month. I typically will keep these paid members only, mostly so I can be a little more honest than I can on social media. I'm not saying now is the time to upgrade, but today I released a WHAT FEEDS BELOW update, an update on the THIRD book from our imprint and will likely be doing a cover reveal for our second book CRACKS soon (so yeah, maybe I am saying now is the time to upgrade!)\ \ Before I get into the update: I LISTED 150 books for sale, many under $5\ \ Shot out to anyone who buys multiple books at once because I have a ton of big boxes I'm dying to get rid of!\ \ I read 15 Books in May. And got a little bit of everything this month.\ \

Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis\ \ \ \ This was our book club pick for Good Day To Read Indigenous and I thought it was fantastic. It's a coming of middle age story, and to be honest, I think we need many more of these! It follows Abe, a man with a debilitating autoimmune disease who in a last ditch attempt to get healed, goes back to the Rez to consult a healer. The prose here is perfection. The characters are SOMETHING ELSE. There is so much about language and love. If you didn't get a chance to read along for book club, I still suggest checking this one out.\ \ \
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke\ \ \ \ Well, it was a book. Anyway. There are 2 things that are true about me. One, if everyone is talking about it, I want to talk about it. And 2. I LOVE BOOKS ABOUT INFLUENCERS. This book was...fine. I was entertained for at least 65% of the book. The ending totally fell apart and pissed me off. I don't think it is worthy of all the hype, but I also don't find it interesting enough to be worthy of all the attention and criticism either.\ \
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas\ \ \ \ There are times when you read a book and you know this book is going to be for me, but other people might hate it and this is definitely one of these books. It's a book for anyone who loves a book with immaculate vibes over plot. It's dark academia gothic that is impeccably written. Do we need to know what the hell is going on anyway?\ \
Lethal Kiss by Taylor Grothe\ \ \ \ TAYLOR IS A MASTER AT HORRORMANCE. This book made me want to read 10 more books just like it. Sapphic. Gory. Dark Academia. Monsters. It drops 10/20 and it is one I THINK YOU SHOULD PREORDER RIGHT NOW.\ \
Heartbeat Braves by Pamela Sanderson\ \ \ \ This is an Indigenous romance that centers around the Crooked Rock Urban Indian Center, it's book one of a four book interconnected series. We follow Rayanne who is just trying to do a good job and make changes and then a new leader puts his nephew, Henry, is charge and Rayanne has to work with him. I usually do not care for workplace romances, but because of the unique setting and the cultural significance this one really worked for me. I enjoyed all of the characters here, so I'm looking forward to continuing the series.\ \
Native Love Jams by Tashia Hart\ \ \ \ Short and sweet Indigenous romance. This follows Winnow and Niigaani and they have a rough first meet, but end up working so well together. I love a book that centers on FOOD. This is a very sweet story, with memorable characters that is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny.\ \
When Stars Have Teeth by Dani Trujilio\ \ \ \ WHOA this Indigenous romance was STEAMY. Buffy does not want a man, but she finds one anyway. Buffy works at the Urban Indian center and just wants to get her job done but is struggling with a non-native board. Santiago is a HOT immigration lawyer. She wants a booty call. He wants BUFFY.\ \
The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez\ \ \ \ This is an atmospheric fantasy reimagining the golem story. It's folklore. It's sapphic. There is political intrigue and yearning. It's a moving tale with impressive prose.\ \
Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson\ \ \ \ HOLY SHIT. THIS IS THE BEST ROMANCE I HAVE EVER READ IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. This book releases October 6. PREORDER IT IMMEDIATELY. This is a romance about a book critic and a debut author who gets DESTROYED by said critic. This is ENEMIES to FRIENDS to THIS BETTER LAST FOREVER OR I WONT SURVIVE. A lot of interesting stuff about creativity, on the publishing industry, the book world, social media. I NEED MORE PEOPLE TO READ THIS. The banter. Did I mention the banter? WHEN THEY FINALLY BECOME LOVERS. OMG. Every time I put this book down, I would think about it. I will 100% reread this annually.\ \
We Are All Guilty Here (North Falls #1) by Karin Slaughter\ \ \ \ Karin Slaughter is the best living thriller writer. You can disagree in these comments, but you'll be wrong. Everything she writes blows me away. The twist at the end of this book. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No, not that twist. The twist after that twist. Two teenage girls vanish. A detective with baggage thinks she's solved it. Fast forward, two more girls vanish.... but it can't be the same man? Can it? Just give Karin Slaughter the awards every time she picks up a pen. Please.\ \
Girl, Forgotten (Andrea Oliver #2) by Karin Slaughter\ \ \ \ So, naturally, I had to go on a Karin Slaughter binge. Who killed Emily Vaughn on prom night in 1982? All of her friends are suspects. This is a sequel to Pieces of Her and while I think they can be read as separate stories, there are connections to the first book that just make starting there worth it. PLUS, all Karin Slaughter's thrillers are to die for.\ \
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune\ \ \ \ Wow, I think Carley Fortune just unseated Emily Henry as my fave contemporary romance author. This book was perfection to me. A second chance romance about Persephone and Sam, told in the present and as their time as teens. All we know is they split up because of something Percy did...and MY GOD when we learn what. I thought I would hate that. I didn't. It worked so well for me. This couple. Could NOT put it down.\ \
Meet Me At The Lake by Carley Fortune\ \ \ \ Decided I was going to read all of her books in pub order. This should have been a book for me. Dirty Dancing references. A couple who spends an entire day together like the Before Sunset/Sunrise movie trilogy but NO. NO. What. NO.\ \
The Lemon Twist by Élan Les Vies\ \ \ \ This is mystery set in the 80s that follows an ice skater suffering memory loss who gets a postcard from her sister that's been missing, with one word written on it: HELP. Lots of puzzles to solve. And a TWIST like no other.\ \
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune\ \ \ \ Heck yes. The joy I felt reading Every Summer After is back! This follows Lucy who falls for her best friend's brother (A trope I thought I would hate. NOPE!) They have to stay apart, but yet they hook up every year. I LOVE SUMMER ROMANCE. What can I say?\ \ \ \ \ \ Have you read any of these? What's on your June TBR?](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/vb8wwYWR4PqkMlE9vH5x/)

Everything I Read in May

15 books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Apr 1

Hi All, \ \ This month, any purchase from my Bindery (through Bookshop . org ) supports Quiet Quail Books, an Indigenous bookstore in Southern California.\ \ Quiet Quail Books \ \ Quiet Quail Books is a California Indigenous-owned bookseller located in San Bernardino, CA. Quiet Quail Books curates book lists and book sales of various Indigenous authored books and diverse books across all genres. Our goal is to get as many quality Indigenous authored books into people's hands and communities. We are a digital online store, do pop-up bookstores in person on a monthly basis, and have a bookstore hybrid office in San Bernardino, CA. Every book you purchase from our list helps us towards funding our supplies for our pop-up schedule. Thank you so much for your support! \ \ To find out more information about our office and other interests, visit our website: quietquailbooks.com

April: Quiet Quail Books

8 books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Mar 30

[Hello All,\ \ Find the details for April’s book clubs below!\ \ If you’re new, the bookclub chats happen in Discord (channels will be up for book clubs and the Toni Morrison readalong tmw!) \ \ Of note: Our April bookclub pick for women in horror is Silk and Sinew (nominated for a Stoker this year!) and is edited by Boozhoo Books’ Spring author: Kristy Park Kulski \ \ Our April Good Day to Read Indigenous selection is Old School Indian! \ \

April Book Club

4 books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Dec 2 2025

[Hello,\ \ So excited for next years books! Can't wait to read them together! If you aren't in the bookclub yet, simply join the Discord to join in the fun.\ \

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Apr 24 2025

Indigenous Book Bingo #3!

Indigenous Book Bingo #3! My first bingo card with my imprint logo 🥰 The intent of these cards is to help people discover, read and promote Indigenous books! All of these books will be available on my dynamic bookshelf on Bindery! If you are not a member of my community on Binderu yet, please go and subscribe for free! If you can afford to support for $5 a month, please consider a paid subscription to help fund the publishing of our upcoming releases! Boozhoo Books is dedicated to uplifting and promoting Indigenous and diverse voices. (First 🔗) in bio! WIN A FREE BOOK! There is one thing I have kept consistent on all three cards and the first person to name the one I’m thinking of will get a free book! Take your guesses below! Please note these books are either already out or releasing by August. #indigenousbooks #boozhoobooks #bookrecommendations #bookbingo

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Dec 24 2024

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