Morning Girl

Morning Girl (1992)by Michael Dorris. 74 pages.
ISBN 1-56282-661-1

In alternating chapters, two young siblings tell their story from the first person point of view. Morning Girl and Star Boy live their parents, in a hut on an island. Each child provides their different perspectives of life. Morning Girl loves the morning and Star Boy prefers the night; "for him night is day, sleep is awake".

Quite lyrical in her descriptions, Morning Girl describes her relationship with her brother - "It's as though time is split between us, and we only pass by each other as the sun rises or sets". The siblings seem typical in their regard for each other and at times are surprised at their mutual affection.

Morning Girl reflects on peoples names, considering them to be "stange and special gifts", reflecting on their relevance. Each character has an interesting name: their mother, She Wins the Race; father, Speaks to Birds; uncle Sharp Tooth; and neighbor -I Swam Too Far. This could be a good lead in to a discussion about names.

The book provides glimpses of daily island life prior to the arrival of Columbus. Ending with Columbus's arrival on the shore being met by Morning Girl leaves the reader to ponder that time in life prior to the arrival of Europeans and the impending affects after. A sweet, simple story appropriate for 9 to 12 year olds.

Curriculum Connection: History-Social Science
Grade 5
5.1 Students describe the major pre-Columbian settlements, including the cliff dwellers and pueblo people of the desert Southwest, the American Indians of the Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland peoples east of the Mississippi River.
5.2 Students trace the routes of early explorers and describe the early explorations of the Americas.

Book Guide for Educators from the Maine Association of School Libraries

Michael Dorris Biography