Reading Metrics
Description
A young Taino girl goes swimming off her Bahamian island and meets Christopher Columbus' landing party in this vivid portrait of a Native American family and their culture.
Quick Summary
Morning Girl, a young Taino girl living on a Bahamian island, encounters Christopher Columbus's landing party in this powerful story that alternates between her perspective and her brother Star Girl's, depicting a Native American family navigating cultural differences and the looming threat of European colonization. The novel explores profound themes of family bonds, cultural identity, and the devastating impact of first contact between indigenous peoples and European explorers. If your child enjoys deeply emotional historical fiction like "The Last Summer of the Death Warriors of the Mohicans" or "A Single Shard," they will be moved by this intimate portrayal of a culture on the verge of change. The book is best suited for 4th-5th graders with a 4.9 AR level who appreciate character-driven stories about history from underrepresented perspectives.