Cynthia Leitich’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In is a delightful and heartwarming story that blends humor, community, and the magic of storytelling. Set at a beloved drive-in theater, the novel captures the spirit of resilience and connection through its charming characters and vibrant setting. Leitich masterfully weaves themes of tradition, family, and dreams into a narrative that’s as comforting as a plate of frybread. A must-read for those who love stories rooted in culture and heart

Loved it! There is heart in every story. A great glimpse into the modern Native teen. There's representation from a variety of tribes across the country, which is very helpful in pointing out how different they all are.

I loved this book. Every story made me smile. Some made me cry. I will definitely be recommending this book to all ages.

Warm, inviting, nostalgic, and sweet, this short story collection features the comfy appearance the Legendary Frybread Drive-In in each but offers a different experience whether it's first dates or family, an oasis of calm in a painful experience, or plain ol' Native sustenance.

It's easy to describe what happens in each story individually but the power is in thinking about the book collectively-- a beacon of culture and welcoming. Each author knew their mission and then represented their own Indigenous culture from various areas in contemporary ways that reflected on the past. Food brings people together. It can be a hangout. It can be another person's livelihood.

My favorite stories being Marcella Bell's "Mvskoke Joy", Mahoe Adams' "Braving the Storm", AJ Eversole's "Hearts Aflutter", and Byron Graves' "Love Buzz".

This was a fun little compilation of Native/Indigenous short stories, centered around Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-In -- a "mystical" location that appears all over the world whenever Natives (specifically for this story -- Native teens) need it most.

It's definitely written with a YA audience in mind. But even so, it's a well-written collection of stories that showcases Native language, traditions, culture, and more.

I can't say that your average adult would enjoy it unless (like me) they're just interested in reading more works by Native/First Nations authors. In that case, they, also like me, will likely appreciate it.

But I would HIGHLY recommend it to teens of all races/ethnicities.

This book made me cry so much. In a good way. I loved the sense of community that was present in every story. Loved that writing styles varied and how various characters would reappear in other stories. I definitely think it’s fits the target audience of teenagers and young adults.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!!

I loved this! There were so many heart felt stories and amazing quotes.

A powerful anthology of indigenous voices and stories, highlighting different tribes. I fell in love with the character's lives and stories, and how they all intersected at Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-In. There was so much hope and love in each of these stories, and I love how food is used as a centerpiece for love, longing, family, etc. The creativity of the prose in each of the stories was a pleasant surprise! My favorite stories were:
Game Night
Braving the Storm
Hearts Aflutter
Open Mic at the Drive-In

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Children's Books, and the editor for this incredible read in exchange for an honest review!

When asked to recommend a book or author, I usually suggest an anthology or book of short stories that has multiple authors. Usually these books all revolve around one theme, this one an Indigenous drive thru that moves to wherever it needs to be at the time. The drive in is the same in each story, same building, parking lot, picnic tables, menus and many times the same core group of Grandparents. This is the center of the story with plots, time lines and main characters different in each telling. The length of the story varies as does the medium used to tell the story. Poems are just as likely to show up as the characters play out their problems and question the answers.
These stories are targeted at helping young adults solve their problems as they learn from a varied group of elders. The themes set out to teach each character that heavy loads are easier when shared. The questions rise from the interactions of tribal members within a background shared by generations. Many of the stories are set in Oklahoma, not far from my home. Others may find the young adults trying to fit into life outside their heritage only to learn their heritage is who they are. LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN was an excellent read, even if I'm closer to the Grandparent age than the young adult.

I have a confession. Don't tell anyone, promise? I usually hate anthologies. Like, really hate them. I've tried, I swear, but I just never connect with them. But then… then I read Legendary Frybread Drive-In, and everything changed. Seriously, this book blew me away. I laughed, I cried (a little, don't judge!), and I learned so much.

At first, I'll admit, I was a little overwhelmed. There are a lot of stories and characters, and I wasn't sure how it was all going to come together. But then I started thinking of Sandy June’s Frybread Drive-In as the main character, like it was the thread connecting everything, and suddenly it all clicked. It was like magic. From that point on, I was hooked.

I don't want to give away too much about the individual stories because they're honestly something you need to experience for yourself. Each one is so unique and powerful in its own way. But I have to mention "Game Night" by Darcie Little Badger. Oh. My. Goodness. It was my absolute favorite! Now I'm desperately hoping someone will write a full novel about Indigenous friends playing D&D. Seriously, I need that in my life.

The whole concept of the drive-in is just so brilliant. It’s not a place you can find on a map; it just appears when someone needs it. Need a good meal? Need someone to talk to? Need a place where you feel like you truly belong? Look for the sign, smell the frybread, and Sandy June's will be there. It's this magical, comforting space that brings all these different characters together.

What I really loved was the authenticity of the stories. You could feel the heart and soul in every word. I learned so much about different tribal customs, traditions, and, of course, the amazing food. I mean, after reading this book, I need frybread. Like, yesterday. And the writing styles were all so diverse and engaging. It was just a fantastic reading experience from start to finish.

This book is coming out in Summer 2025, and trust me, you're going to want to get your hands on it. It’s perfect for anyone, really, but especially for teens. It deals with some heavy topics, like death and grief, so be aware of that going in. But overall, it's a story about hope, connection, and finding your place in the world.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the authors (there are so many amazing Indigenous authors!), and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this early. It’s honestly one of the best anthologies I’ve ever read, and it completely changed my mind about the genre. I can’t recommend it enough.

An anthology of stories from various author's perspectives of a mysterious restaurant that appears on Native American reservations as a mirage of sorts. I really enjoyed the first half, especially Darcie Little Badger's tale of a D&D game inspired by the Legendary Frybread Drive-in. The book serves to spread Indigenous People joy, which I love, and it teaches a lot about the various languages, races, and backgrounds of people with Native American heritage. I love the concept of a magical restaurant that appears right when a person needs it, and that it is interpreted differently yet similarly by each author.

I did get a bit tired of the short-story set up, and wanted to just read one narrative. I also tired of reading about fry bread (though I enjoyed learning more about it and its place as a cultural food staple). I think this book would be great to pick up and read a short story at random, but when reading straight through, it did start to drag.

THIS IS WHAT MIDDLE GRADE FICTION SHOULD ALWAYS BE!!!! I'm obsessed!! This book was so good!
I will read anything by Darcie Little Badger

Wow! What an incredible collection of short stories! It is a rare feat when you get to read a ton of stories from various authors and almost every single one is amazing! Will 100% be revisiting again!

4.25 stars!

I think this is an excellent addition to any high school library! I love that we have such an incredible collection of short stories from Indigenous authors. As a librarian, I adored finding a really good book of short stories. Each story is relatable, and the addition of mysticism really makes it special. I really loved the idea of finding what you need when you need it most.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun and heartfelt read! Legendary Fry Bread Drive-In serves up a unique mix of humor, community, and a touch of nostalgia, all centered around a beloved fry bread food truck turned drive-in. The story captures the beauty of family, tradition, and perseverance, with characters that are full of life and charm.

Wow! What a fantastic collection of stories! First of all, to have one book with writings of Angeline Boulley, K.A. Cobell, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Byron -Graves all in one set ... amazing! The common setting of the Legendary Frybread Drive-In is brilliant and well done. I found myself going back to certain stories again and again. Culturally accurate and appropriate. Loved it!

Cynthia Leitich Smith has curated a remarkable collection of short stories by Indigenous authors. Each story follows a teen (or multiple teens) finding themselves at Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-In, a magical space that shows up whenever the characters need it the most.

The anthology is wonderfully diverse from the types of teens, elders, and experiences shown. I loved reading the different stories and can't wait to read more from all the authors in the anthology! A must read, and you'll be left wanting frybread.

"Legendary Frybread Drive-In" is a collection of stories by Indigenous authors all tied to an Indigenous run drive-in restaurant that sells fry bread and other food. Each story is a standalone, but when read all together, you get an idea of what a magical place Sandy June's Drive-In is. All of the stories have a lot of heart and will appeal to readers looking for a warm place to land. The end of the book has biographies for all of the authors, as well as a glossary for words in the different languages. A must-buy for all middle grade fiction collections.

Legendary Frybread Drive-in is a collection of stories by many different authors centering around Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-in, which doles out frybread along with good advice for those who are able to find it. This is a wonderful mix of Native stories and I recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about many different aspects of Native life and problems.

I absolutely adored this collection of stories. Normally I am not the biggest anthology fan but something about this set felt like coming home. The overall theme throughout the story was so comforting and informative. I’ve going to rave about this book as much as possible to get as many people to read it.