Where to Start Reading Andrea L. Rogers
Andrea L. Rogers writes across multiple genres, age ranges, and formats. Deciding where to begin depends entirely on what kind of reader you are:
- For fans of horror and speculative fiction (Young Adult/Adult): Start with Man Made Monsters (2022). This award-winning YA horror collection spans two centuries and follows one extended Cherokee family. It is Rogers's most celebrated work and showcases her ability to blend traditional monsters (like vampires, werewolves, and ghosts) with the real-world horrors of colonialism and forced displacement.
- For fans of science fiction and dystopian futures (Young Adult): Start with The Art Thieves (2024). Set in the year 2052 amidst climate collapse, this novel offers a bold exploration of "Cherokee Futurism," time travel, and cultural preservation.
- For Middle Grade readers (Ages 8-12): Start with Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story (2020). It provides an accessible yet historically grounded look at the forced relocation of 1838 through the eyes of a 12-year-old girl.
- For young children: Start with her award-winning picture books, such as When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha) (2024) or the Caldecott Honor book Chooch Helped (2024).
The Speculative Multi-Generational World of Man Made Monsters
Published in 2022, Man Made Monsters is a collection of 18 speculative stories. While each story can be read as a standalone piece, they are arranged in a strict chronological order. Reading them in this sequence reveals a rich, multi-generational saga of a single Cherokee family spanning over 200 years.
The stories begin in the 1830s during the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation from Georgia, follow family members through the World War I and Vietnam War eras, transition into contemporary settings, and finally push into a speculative future. Rogers includes a family tree in the front matter of the book, which readers are highly encouraged to reference to keep track of character lineages and recurring names. The book is enhanced by illustrations from Cherokee artist Jeff Edwards, making it a cohesive visual and narrative experience.
The capstone "Girls Survive" Series Context
Many readers discover Rogers through Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story (2020). It is listed as part of the Girls Survive series published by Capstone. However, new readers should understand a key detail: Girls Survive is a multi-author educational series. Different historical survival stories are written by different authors, such as Nikki Shannon Smith, Julie Kathleen Gilbert, and Emma Carlson Berne.
Because the books in the Girls Survive series do not follow the same characters or share a continuous storyline, you do not need to read the other books in the series to understand Mary's story. It is completely self-contained. For those interested in the historical progression of the series, here is the publication order of the books in the Capstone collection, highlighting Rogers's standalone contribution:
- Emmi in the City: A Great Chicago Fire Survival Story (2019) by Emma Carlson Berne
- Noelle at Sea: A Titanic Survival Story (2019) by Nikki Shannon Smith
- Alice on the Island: A Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster Survival Story (2019) by Julie Kathleen Gilbert
- Ann Fights for Freedom: An Underground Railroad Survival Story (2019) by Nikki Shannon Smith
- Charlotte Spies for Justice: A Civil War Survival Story (2019) by Jessica Gunderson
- Carrie and the Great Storm: A Galveston Hurricane Survival Story (2019) by Valarie Giogas
- Ruth and the Night of Broken Glass: A Holocaust Survival Story (2019) by Emma Carlson Berne
- Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story (2020) by Andrea L. Rogers
- Sarah Journeys West: An Oregon Trail Survival Story (2020) by Nikki Shannon Smith
- Lily and the Great Quake: A San Francisco Earthquake Survival Story (2020) by Veeda Bybee
- Maribel Versus the Volcano: A Mount Saint Helens Survival Story (2020) by Karen Jameson
- Rebecca Rides for Freedom: A Revolutionary War Survival Story (2020) by Jessica Gunderson
- Tara and the Towering Wave: An Indian Ocean Tsunami Survival Story (2020) by Cristina Oxtra
- Hettie and the London Blitz: A World War II Survival Story (2021) by Jenni L. Walsh
- Molly and the Twin Towers: A September 11 Survival Story (2021) by Jessika Fleck
- Maria and the Plague: A Black Death Survival Story (2021) by Julie Kathleen Gilbert
- Constance and the Dangerous Crossing: A Mayflower Survival Story (2021) by Julie Kathleen Gilbert
- Lena and the Burning of Greenwood: A Tulsa Race Massacre Survival Story (2022) by Anitra Butler-Ngugi
Cherokee Futurism and Standalone Novels
In 2024, Rogers expanded into science fiction with her YA novel The Art Thieves. Set in 2052 in a Texas museum, the story follows a Cherokee teenager named Stevie Henry as she navigates a world of severe climate collapse. The introduction of time travel and warning signs from the future creates a dystopian thriller that draws comparisons to the works of Octavia Butler. It is a standalone novel that can be read at any point without prior knowledge of her other books.
Picture Books and Cultural Traditions
For younger readers, Rogers has written standalone picture books that celebrate Cherokee heritage, community, and family dynamics:
- When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast (2024): Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight, this book celebrates the tradition of wild onion dinners and community gatherings.
- Chooch Helped (2024): Illustrated by Rebecca Kunz, this Caldecott Honor-winning picture book follows a young girl named Sissy and her helpful (but messy) younger brother, Chooch, as they practice Cherokee cultural traditions.
Anthology Contributions
If you want to read Rogers's shorter essays and fiction, look for these collaborative collections:
- "My Oklahoma History" in You Too? 25 Voices Share Their #MeToo Stories (2020): An essay detailing personal and historical reflection.
- "The Ballad of Maggie Wilson" in Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids (2021): A short story written for middle-grade readers.
- "Lifting While She Climbs" in Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, and Trying Again (2021): A non-fiction essay contribution.