Sheine Lende: A Prequel to Elatsoe

Set decades before the events of Elatsoe, Darcie Little Badger's prequel follows Shane, a young Lipan Apache woman who works with her mother and their ghost dogs to find missing people, even when the families cannot afford to pay. When the people closest to her vanish, Shane sets out to bring them home, though the trail may lead beyond this world and beyond the present moment. Along the way she draws on family, friends and gifts handed down through generations, and must face a vengeful monster. Illustrated by Rovina Cai, the novel deepens the world of Elatsoe through the story of Ellie's grandmother. It was a 2026 American Indian Youth Literature Award honor book for young adult readers.