Author Louise Erdrich won the National Book Award for The Round House, her look into criminal justice issues in Indian Country.

Erdrich is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota. Her novel is based on a fictional reservation, also in North Dakota, where a woman's assault raises jurisdictional and other issues.

Erdrich accepted the award last night in New York City. "This is a book that talks about the real situation in the real world," she told The Minneapolis Star Tribune after the ceremony.

Spokane/Coeur d'Alene author Sherman Alexie won the same award for "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" in 2007.

Get the Story:
Writers Louise Erdrich, David Ferry, Katherine Boo, William Alexander win National Book Awards (AP 11/14)
Mpls. writers Erdrich, Alexander win National Book Awards (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 11/15)
Novel About Racial Injustice Wins National Book Award (The New York Times 11/15)

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