Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories
Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
HarperCollins Children’s Books/Heartdrum
Ages 13+
Available August 26. 2025

Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In is everywhere and nowhere all at once. It appears to anyone who needs it, regardless of where they are, bringing together Indigenous people from a variety of places and backgrounds. Each piece of this anthology takes place against the backdrop of Sandy June’s, as teenagers from everywhere from Alaska to Hawai’i visit and grow. The short stories and poetry in the collection brush up against each other, creating a picture of the people and places which make up Sandy June’s.

Published by Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books for which Leitich Smith serves as author-curator, and in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, Native joy and the centering of Indigenous voices is at the heart of Legendary Frybread Drive-In. The teenage characters come from a wide variety of tribal backgrounds, with which they have varied and complex relationships. As they deal with hallmark challenges of young adulthood such as grief, love, jealousy, friendship, and family, they make connections with, beyond, and between Indigenous cultures.

The relatable struggles of the characters in this anthology will appeal to any young reader who wishes to read about teens facing challenges similar to their own. For Indigenous readers, it will provide a mirror of their own experiences, while for nonindigenous readers, it provides a window to others’. Cynthia Leitich Smith, in her end note, encourages readers who are unfamiliar with Indigenous literature to use this book as a jumping-off point to explore more. With contributors both established and new, it provides a variety of authors for curious readers to look into, should they want to read further.