First published 2025
The bright green and gold neon sign of Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-In calls to Native teenagers across tribal nations. Roads from every reservation and urban Indigenous community lead to this special place where traditional foods mix with modern snacks on the rotating menu. Sandy June creates more than meals. Her drive-in becomes a gathering spot for live music performances and movie screenings under the stars. Families reunite unexpectedly in the parking lot. Former lovers find each other again after years apart. Young people discover new romance over shared plates of frybread. The drive-in serves as a beacon for teens who need connection to their culture and community. Each story reveals how Sandy June's place offers belonging to Indigenous youth navigating between tradition and contemporary life. The voices of multiple tribal nations blend together like ingredients in frybread dough, creating something nourishing and essential.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary, young-adult, native-american, cultural
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, slice-of-life
Setting: Native Reservations, Tribal Nations, Urban Indigenous Communities
Period: Contemporary
309 pages · Kindle Edition · Heartdrum