The portrayal of the American Indian in young adult fiction was studied through the examination of 23 works of realistic or historical fiction published from 1960 to 1985. Books selected from the card catalogue at the Center for Children's Books at the University of Chicago were primarily about Indians or Indian life, and were appropriate for readers at grade 7 or above. All selections were read and analyzed to determine trends in the portrayal of the American Indian. Analysis included diversity of the literature, types of themes and issues, story settings, tribes, and main characters. Results showed significant changes in the image of the American Indian in the years under study. From 1970 to 1979 works available grew in diversity, and story settings become more varied and realistic. Alcoholism was the most frequently discussed issue in books from the 1960's, but later works looked at a broader range of issues including feminism and ecology. The portrayal of tribes moved from traditional and conservative in the 1960's to greater accuracy and diversity in the 1980's. There is still a need to improve accuracy in many areas of the works studied and a need for more literature by American Indian authors. (JHZ)