I accept Joy Harjo donations anywhere in the Albuquerque metro with free pickup — the whole collection: the poetry (She Had Some Horses, In Mad Love and War, The Woman Who Fell from the Sky, An American Sunrise), the memoirs Crazy Brave and Poet Warrior, the anthology she edited as Poet Laureate, and her children's books. You don't sort or price anything. Bring it all; first printings and signed copies are recognized, and the rest funds New Mexico literacy.
Published June 2026 · By Josh Eldred, New Mexico Literacy Project
Joy Harjo, of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, made history as the first Native American United States Poet Laureate — and she served three terms. She has deep New Mexico ties, having studied at the University of New Mexico and the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, and her work is read and loved across the state. When a Harjo collection gets cleared, most people just want it to land somewhere that honors it. That's exactly what I'm for: I take the whole thing, free, and I check every book.
What I take: all of it
The poetry
She Had Some Horses (1983), In Mad Love and War (1990), The Woman Who Fell from the Sky, A Map to the Next World, How We Became Human, Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings, and An American Sunrise (2019).
Memoir, music & anthology
The memoirs Crazy Brave and Poet Warrior, the prose of Catching the Light, and the landmark Native poetry anthology she edited as Laureate, When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through.
Children's books & any condition
The Good Luck Cat, For a Girl Becoming, Remember; plus reading copies, signed copies, and the W. W. Norton editions — bring whatever's on the shelf.
You don't have to know what's valuable
Here's the honest picture: most of Harjo's trade editions are common and modest in value — but first printings and signed copies are collected, especially of the early collections like She Had Some Horses (1983) and the award-winning In Mad Love and War (1990), and interest has climbed since her historic Laureateship. Small-press first printings of poetry can be quietly scarce. You don't have to figure out which printing you have; bring the whole shelf and I'll recognize the first printings and signed copies, set them aside, and keep the reading copies in circulation, with any hidden value identified and handled properly.
Why donate instead of selling it yourself
For a signed first you know is special, selling on your own is fine. For the rest — paperbacks and later printings — listing each book is more work than it's worth. Donating handles it in one call: no research, no pricing, no listings, no shipping, free pickup at your door, reading copies to new readers, and any first printing or signed copy recognized and supporting New Mexico literacy. Here's where donated books go.
How free pickup works
Call or text 702-496-4214 (or schedule online), tell me roughly how much there is and where you are, and we set a time. I come to you and load it all. I cover Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, the East Mountains, and the surrounding metro, and I handle whole-house and estate cleanouts regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I donate Joy Harjo books in Albuquerque?
Right here — free pickup anywhere in the metro for the whole collection: the poetry, the memoirs, the anthology, the children's books. Call or text 702-496-4214.
Are Joy Harjo books collectible?
Most trade editions are common, but first printings and signed copies (especially She Had Some Horses 1983, In Mad Love and War 1990) are collected. Bring it all and let me check.
Paperbacks too?
Yes — worn paperbacks, Norton editions, reading copies. Just don't throw any of it out first.
Cite This Guide
Eldred, J. (June 2026). Donate Joy Harjo Books in Albuquerque — Free Pickup. New Mexico Literacy Project.
https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/donate-joy-harjo-books-albuquerque
Licensed under CC BY 4.0.