Modulo

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People (ReVisioning History for Young People)

Recommended Ages

6th–12th grades

Most U.S. history books still tell the story of America primarily through European settler eyes. “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People” reframes that story, centering Native nations’ experiences, resistance, and survival from colonization to the present day. Adapted from Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s widely discussed adult work, this young readers edition uses clear language, maps, and sidebars to unpack complex events and policies. We love its commitment to using Native sources and perspectives, helping students see how government actions and narratives have shaped lived realities. It’s ideal for middle and high school students and works especially well as a counterpoint or companion to standard U.S. history texts. The material is heavy and at times graphic, so sensitive readers will benefit from adult support and pacing. Pro tip: pair chapters with research on the Indigenous nations of your own region, including contemporary issues, to emphasize that Native communities are present and active today.

Best for thoughtful middle‑ and high‑school students who have some prior U.S. history exposure and are ready to confront difficult truths, especially in families and co‑ops seeking to decolonize their curriculum and foreground Indigenous voices.

Pros

Accessible adaptation of Roxanne Dunbar‑Ortiz’s influential history that tells the story of the United States from Indigenous perspectives over more than 400 years, emphasizing resistance, resilience, and the ongoing impact of settler colonialism; reviewers describe it as an “important corrective” and “engaging, necessary addition” to school libraries. 

Cons

Discusses genocide, land theft, and broken treaties in frank terms, which can be heavy for some readers; prose and density make it better for upper middle‑school and high‑school students; may conflict with traditional textbook narratives, requiring adults to be ready for hard questions and possible pushback.

As a serious, standards‑aligned U.S. history text from a respected academic press, this title is commonly approved by charter schools and ESAs for use in core history or ethnic‑studies courses; families generally purchase through approved vendors and submit receipts under social‑studies spending.

$11.99

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An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People (ReVisioning History for Young People)
$12.00 USD

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History
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US History
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Indigenous History
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An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People (ReVisioning History for Young People) Mission

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People reframes U.S. history through the eyes of Indigenous nations, emphasizing resistance, survivance, and the ongoing impacts of settler colonialism. Its mission is to help students understand that Indigenous peoples are not just part of the past but are present‑day communities shaping the country’s future.

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People (ReVisioning History for Young People) Story

This book adapts historian Roxanne Dunbar‑Ortiz’s acclaimed An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States into an edition tailored for middle‑ and high‑school readers. Curriculum experts and scholars Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo) and Jean Mendoza reworked the text with clearer language, added maps and archival images, and built in discussion prompts to support classroom and homeschool use. Released as part of the ReVisioning History for Young People series, it has become a key resource for educators seeking a decolonized, Indigenous‑centered account of U.S. history.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People (ReVisioning History for Young People)

You might sit at the table with maps spread out and this book open, listening as your teen reads a section aloud about a treaty or uprising, the scratch of pens marking traditional homelands on the map, followed by a quiet moment as everyone reflects on what it means to live where you do—and then a burst of conversation about how to honor Indigenous sovereignty today.

This adaptation of Roxanne Dunbar‑Ortiz’s seminal history retells U.S. history from the perspective of Indigenous nations, emphasizing resistance, resilience, and the long arc of settler colonialism over more than 400 years. In a homeschool context, families often weave it through a middle‑ or high‑school U.S. history course, reading one chapter at a time, locating events on maps, learning the names of local tribes whose lands they occupy, and using the discussion questions and suggestions for further action to connect past and present. 

Because of the heavy subject matter, adult facilitation is crucial; caregivers can help students process difficult emotions, avoid centering guilt over responsibility and action, and connect the history to local issues such as land acknowledgments, mascots, or environmental justice.

Intended for middle‑ and high‑school readers who can handle complex nonfiction and emotionally intense content, including genocide, forced removals, boarding schools, and ongoing structural injustice.

This adaptation is strong for thoughtful, justice‑oriented teens, including gifted, 2e, and autistic kids who crave honest, decolonized history. Because it deals with genocide and ongoing oppression, highly sensitive or anxiety‑prone learners may need adults to pace the reading, offer context, and build in emotional regulation breaks.

Refund options depend on the bookstore or online seller’s policies; most allow returns or exchanges for new copies within a defined period, especially if the book arrives damaged or misprinted.

Not appropriate for younger or very sensitive children without significant scaffolding; families who want a strictly celebratory or mythologized version of U.S. history will likely find its framing uncomfortable.

For younger learners, start with picture books by Indigenous authors (such as “We Are Water Protectors” or “Fry Bread”) and tribal history resources from local nations, then move into this text in later grades; pairing with primary sources and contemporary Native authors can further enrich understanding. 

Published in 2019, the young‑people’s edition distills the American Book Award–winning adult text while incorporating updated timelines, sidebars, and back matter for classroom use; ongoing reprints keep it widely available as part of the growing ReVisioning History line. 

Read in small sections and pause often for mapping, timelines, and reflection; consider inviting students to research the Indigenous nations of their own region and explore those nations’ websites or recommended educational materials.

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Meet Roxanne, Debbie and Jean

Roxanne Dunbar‑Ortiz is a historian, writer, and longtime activist who has written extensively on Indigenous rights, feminism, and U.S. imperialism, including the adult volume An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States; she is professor emerita of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Hayward. Debbie Reese, a Nambé Pueblo scholar and educator, founded American Indians in Children’s Literature to critically analyze Native representation in youth books, and Jean Mendoza is an educator and curriculum specialist who collaborates with Reese on AICL; together Reese and Mendoza adapted Dunbar‑Ortiz’s work into this widely used young‑people’s edition.