Seneca, South Carolina, United States, 29th Sep 2024, -
J. Stanion’s novel, My Place Among Them, has been awarded the Literary Titan Gold Book Award. This recognition follows a series of accolades for the novel, which also received the BREW Fiction Book Excellence Award for Political Fiction of the Year 2023 and the BREW Seal of Excellence. The novel has been praised for its unique writing style, complex characters, and its exploration of themes related to education, cultural identity, and the intersection of personal and political struggles.
The Literary Titan review highlighted the novel's "biographical feel," noting that it masterfully intertwines the lives of John Iron Horse, a Native American boy, and Carter Heath, a school teacher, as they confront adversity in a world marked by systemic prejudice. The review emphasized the book’s exploration of questions like, “How could his people preserve their freedom while confined within reservation boundaries?”
In an interview where J. Stanion recounted the significance of early accolades, stating, “The 5-Star Highly Recommended Award from the Historical Fiction Company was the first award I received. It will always be a special memory because it gave me the courage to enter other competitions”
During her The World's Best Magazine interview, J. Stanion spoke about how her great-grandfather’s tales shaped the characters in My Place Among Them. “My great-grandfather was a hero to my father and me because of his reputation for fighting for what was right,” she shared. Her characters’ perseverance and integrity reflect her family’s legacy.
J. Stanion’s remarkable transition from educator to bestselling author began with a deeply personal commitment. As Jackson Gabriel at notes in the “From the Classroom to Bestseller List: How J. Stanion Found Her True Calling” article, "A promise to her late father altered the course of her life." The success of My Place Among Them is also highlighted by Gabriel, who points out the numerous awards the novel has received. According to Gabriel, "The novel has been celebrated for its historical accuracy, evocative storytelling, and sensitive portrayal of Indigenous history," which underscores the novel's impact and Stanion's remarkable transition from educator to acclaimed author.
In the “Teaching, Farming, and Writing: How J. Stanion Balances Multiple Passions” article, Jackson Gabriel highlights J. Stanion’s remarkable ability to manage a career in education, a life on a farm, and a successful writing career. Gabriel captures this unique balance by noting, “It’s not every day that you meet someone who juggles a career in education, a life on a farm, and a successful writing career, but J. Stanion has had it all.”
J. Stanion uses her collection of Lakota Ledger art to inform the emotional layers of her characters. As she noted in another interview: “Several pieces helped me better understand the term generational trauma, which, in turn, helped me describe some of the more difficult scenes.” Through the lens of visual art, Stanion approaches her characters with empathy, offering readers a nuanced exploration of the historical traumas faced by Indigenous communities in My Place Among Them.
More details about this announcement are on the Literary Titan website.
The book is available in digital, paperback, and hardbound editions through major retailer sites such as Amazon.
For more information on J. Stanion and her work, visit her official website, www.jstanion.com.
About the Book
My Place Among Them tells the story of John Iron Horse, a twelve-year-old survivor of the Wounded Knee massacre. The novel explores the challenges faced by Indigenous children in the U.S. government’s Indian Education program. The book has won several awards, including the BREW Seal of Excellence and the BREW Fiction Book Excellence Award 2023 Political Fiction Book of the Year from The Chrysalis BREW Project, and highlights the struggles between cultural identity and forced assimilation.
About the Author
J. Stanion is an award-winning author who spent 31 years teaching science before turning to writing. Her novel My Place Among Them draws on her family’s history and her passion for storytelling. A National Board Certified teacher who has been featured on Newsweek and hundreds of news and media sites, Stanion’s work has been widely praised for its depth and cultural authenticity. She currently lives on a cattle farm, where she cares for animals and collects Pine Ridge Pottery and Lakota ledger art.
