Healer of the Water Monster

For Part Two of our Indigenous Children’s Book Series, I am excited to highlight Healer of the Water Monster by Brian Young. Brian Young is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and received his Master’s from Columbia University. Since graduating, he has worked as an author, filmmaker, and personal trainer. 

Published as Young’s debut novel in 2022, Healer of the Water Monster follows a young Navajo boy named Nathan on an unexpected journey to save a Water Monster. As someone who loves fantasy novels, I wanted to highlight this book for fellow fantasy readers looking for something fresh and meaningful. The novel blends traditional Indigenous storytelling with elements of fantasy and adventure, making it an entertaining read from beginning to end!

Title: Healer of the Water Monster

Author: Brian Young 

Age Range: 8 to 12

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7

Length: 368 pages

Content warnings: N/A

While I could offer a brief summary of the story, I felt it would be better to share the synopsis directly from the source. Below is the official description provided by Strong Nation Publishing:

“When Nathan goes to visit his grandma, Nali, at her mobile summer home on the Navajo reservation, he knows he’s in for a pretty uneventful summer, with no electricity or cell service. Still, he loves spending time with Nali and with his uncle Jet, though it’s clear when Jet arrives that he brings his problems with him.

One night, while lost in the nearby desert, Nathan finds someone extraordinary: a Holy Being from the Navajo Creation Story—a Water Monster—in need of help.

Now Nathan must summon all his courage to save his new friend. With the help of other Navajo Holy Beings, Nathan is determined to save the Water Monster, and to support Uncle Jet in healing from his own pain.”

Since its debut, Healer of the Water Monster has received widespread praise. In 2022, the novel won the American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Middle Grade Book. Likewise, its sequel, Heroes of the Water Monster, continued that success by earning an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book in 2024.

If you’re interested in reading Healer of the Water Monster, copies are available through Birchbark Books, Amazon, and Strong Nations Publishing. Many libraries also carry the novel, making it easy to borrow free of charge.

So, if you’re searching for your next great read, I highly recommend picking up Healer of the Water Monster. Who knows – you might love it so much that you’ll be reaching for the sequel next!

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Author: Riley Sommerville, ITMP Blog Writer

Image Credits: Healer of the Water Monster Cover, Brian Young via Strong Nations Publishing