Elatsoe is a 2020 young adult novel by Darcie Little Badger marketed to young readers aged 12–18. It is Little Badger's debut novel. It was included on Time's list of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time.[1] Some publications have classed the novel as part of the Indigenous Futurism movement.[2]
Elatsoe is set in contemporary Texas, but supernatural creatures like ghosts, vampires, and fairies exist. The titular character Elatsoe, nicknamed Ellie, is a 17-year old asexual Lipan Apache girl. She has the ability to recall the ghosts of deceased animals, due to knowledge passed down through her family; Ellie chooses to bring back the ghost of her childhood dog, Kirby, as her companion. Ellie's best friend, Jay, is a descendant of Oberon.
One night, Kirby is spooked by an unknown cause, and shortly afterward Ellie learns that her cousin, Trevor, has died in an apparent car accident. After her mother flies to fictional Willowbee, Texas to support his widowed wife, Lenore, and infant child, Trevor's ghost appears to Ellie. He tells her he was murdered by Abe Allerton, a wealthy local doctor, and asks her to protect his wife and child. She and her father join her mother in Texas. Ellie sets out on a mission to bring her cousin's killer to justice, during which she learns about some misdeeds committed by her own ancestors.[3]
Little Badger came up with the idea for Elatsoe when she was a teenager. Although initially intended to be written for an adult audience, Little Badger decided to shift to a young adult demographic given the teenage protagonist.[4]
Cole Rush of Tor.com gave 9/10 review to Elatsoe and wrote "I highly recommend picking up the book and relishing Darcie Little Badger’s exquisite tale".[5] It was also reviewed favorably by NPR,[3] School Library Journal,[6] The Horn Book Magazine,[7] and Kirkus Reviews.[8]
Sheine Lende, a prequel novel set two generations prior to the events of Elatsoe, was published in 2024.[9]
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ALA's Best Fiction for Young Adults | — | Finalist | [10] |
| Locus Award | First Novel | Won | [11] | |
| Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book | — | Finalist | [12] | |
| 2022 | American Indian Youth Literature Awards | Young Adult | Honor | [13] |
| Whippoorwill Book Award | — | Won | [14] |
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