Published: 2021
Series: Follow-up to Crazy Brave
Author: Joy Harjo
Illustrator: N/A
Genres: Poetry, Native American Literature, Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography, Nonfiction Narrative
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 11-12; Adult
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: Poet Warrior
Triggers / Content Warnings: Abuse, war, systemic hardship, negative treatment and discrimination of Native peoples, and death.
Review By: Sarah Williams
Publisher’s Summary:
Three-term poet laureate Joy Harjo offers a vivid, lyrical, and inspiring call for love and justice in this contemplation of her trailblazing life. Joy Harjo, the first Native American to serve as US poet laureate, invites us to travel along the heartaches, losses, and humble realizations of her “poet-warrior” road.
A musical, kaleidoscopic, and wise follow-up to Crazy Brave, Poet Warrior reveals how Harjo came to write poetry of compassion and healing, poetry with the power to unearth the truth and demand justice. Harjo listens to stories of ancestors and family, the poetry and music that she first encountered as a child, and the messengers of a changing earth – owls heralding grief, resilient desert plants, and a smooth green snake curled up in surprise.
She celebrates the influences that shaped her poetry, among them Audre Lorde, N. Scott Momaday, Walt Whitman, Muscogee stomp dance call-and-response, Navajo horse songs, rain, and sunrise. In absorbing, incantatory prose, Harjo grieves at the loss of her mother, reckons with the theft of her ancestral homeland, and sheds light on the rituals that nourish her as an artist, mother, wife, and community member.
Moving fluidly between prose, song, and poetry, Harjo recounts a luminous journey of becoming, a spiritual map that will help us all find home. Poet Warrior sings with the jazz, blues, tenderness, and bravery that we know as distinctly Joy Harjo.
Review:
Joy Harjo is a poet whose work I have taught in my AP Literature class, so when I saw that she had a memoir I had to read it. Her poems are personal, relatable, and memorable, so I expected the same from this book. It did not disappoint. I was captivated by this memoir from page one. She weaves her story through prose, songs, and poetry, opening up her heart and soul and sharing both her triumphs and difficulties as she writes. I enjoyed the stories she tells of her childhood, the connections to family and nature, and I learned a lot about Native culture. In fact, she references the many names for Natives in the notes at the end of the text, stating that she prefers “Native Nations”, “Indigenous” or even just “Native”.
The book is divided into different parts, and each one details a part of her journey for empowerment and self-discovery. Her writing style is, as her poems are, compelling and mesmerizing, even when discussing difficult topics. She covers identity struggle, societal injustices, and generational trauma, all topics that readers, regardless of their background, can probably relate to.
One of the most remarkable aspects of “Poet Warrior” is the way Joy Harjo reflects on her heritage as a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation. Her deep connection with nature and spirituality breathes life into her words, inviting readers to appreciate the profound wisdom of Indigenous cultures. The book’s exploration of creativity and the poet’s role as a warrior for truth and healing is moving. Harjo’s belief in the power of art to transform and heal is beautifully conveyed throughout the narrative, one that will leave a lasting impression on me, as well as any readers who share her passion for creative expression.
Beyond the poetic prose and emotional depth, Harjo’s memoir also serves as a call to action. She addresses pressing global issues, urging readers to seek unity, respect, and understanding. Her powerful words are a wake-up call, compelling us to become agents of change in our communities and the world at large.The ideas she includes here are also passions she pursued when she was the Poet Laureate for the US, an honor she held from 2019 – 2022. Throughout the pages of this memoir, Harjo’s resilience and unwavering spirit shine brightly, showcasing her as a true warrior who fought not only external battles but also those within her own heart. Her journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of embracing one’s own truth.This book deeply moved me, and I felt compelled to explore my own identity and world after reading it. Her words will stay with me, encouraging me to seek my truth, use my voice, and to spread love and kindness even more than I have tried to do now. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a unique and empowering literary experience – it will not disappoint.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- ELA (English Language Arts): An unparalleled mentor text for AP Literature, creative writing, or senior English classes to analyze hybrid genre structures, study how subtext functions within prose-poetry transitions, and evaluate autobiographical voice.
- Social Studies & Native American History: Integrates flawlessly into high school US History, sociology, or cultural geography modules examining the sovereign rights of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the ongoing trauma of indigenous displacement, and the sociopolitical impacts of federal policy on Native Nations.
- SEL (Social-Emotional Learning): Offers an invaluable path for students to explore identity development, navigate generational healing, practice active emotional resilience, and discover personal agency through creative expression.
- Extension Activity / Library Application: Perfect for use as a high school media center application or senior seminar extension project. Utilizing the cultural and ancestral notes provided by Harjo at the end of the text, school librarians can organize a “Spiritual Maps & Creative Identity Workshop.” Students can analyze how Harjo integrates her cultural heritage and artistic influences (such as jazz, stomp dances, and nature) into her identity. They can then design their own multimedia “spiritual map” or write a free-verse poem highlighting the people, environments, and artistic expressions that have anchored their own personal journeys.
- Diversity & Representation: The book models elite standards of diversity, equity, and inclusion by amplifying an authentic Indigenous voice that directly combats monolithic cultural stereotypes. By centering her lived experience as a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and detailing the complex intersections of native sovereignty, language preservation, and historical endurance, Harjo expands equity. She delivers an essential, empowering literary mirror for Indigenous students while offering a profound educational window for the broader school community.
Readalikes:
- Crazy Brave: A Memoir by Joy Harjo
- Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot
- Bad Indians: A Tribal Memoir by Deborah A. Miranda
- Dog Flowers: A Memoir by Danielle Geller
- Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq
