Dorris, M. (1992). Morning Girl. New York, New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Young Children.
Brief Annotation: This story is told from two different perspectives: Morning Girl and her brother Star Boy. They alternate, telling about their life in pre-Columbian America and their stories are very different, but even though they are so different they are still brother and sister. Their bond is strong and when problems arise, they stick by each other and protect one another. At the end of the story, the first Europeans stepped onto their land and it is up to the reader to be knowledgeable about what happens to the people already settled there.
Genre: Historical Fiction- Novel
Grade Level: 4-6
Readers who will like this: Readers who like reading about history and other cultures with some fiction thrown into the story.
Response/Rating (1-4): *** This book illustrated the history of what life was like in pre-Columbian America. The author showed the reader what boys and girls went through by telling the story through the brother and sister. The entrance of the Europeans set the stage for what happens to their culture after the Europeans are settled. Since we all know the story after that, this book have us detail and insight into how life was like before the Europeans came.
One question you would ask before a read aloud: What do you know about how Native Americans lived their lives before the coming of Christopher Columbus?
Reading Strategies Connection: Reading Logs- Reading logs are journals where students write their thoughts, feelings, and questions about what they read. This activity helps clarify meaning in the book, misunderstandings, explore ideas, and deepen their comprehension. Teachers can either have the students write about whatever they want, or there is a certain question for them to answer. This activity is done independently with teachers monitoring their writing.
This activity is a great strategy to incorporate into this book, because there might be misunderstandings about the book and clarifications may need to be made. This works on the students’ writing and comprehension of the book and the students can make connections to their own life and to the story in the book. As a result, the activity becomes meaningful and the story is understood.
1st: What kinds of confusions for misconceptions might arise for kids who read this book? Explain because the answer helps justify your choice of reading logs as a response strategy.
ReplyDelete2nd: Did you know that at one time, Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris were married? They have 4 kids together (but they split up and later he committed suicide--yikes!)
Some confusion students may have is when Star Boy talks to his grandfather. How is this possible; why is he having a conversation with someone who isn't really present?
ReplyDeleteAlso, when Morning Girl's mother loses the child. Some students may not understand that whole scene because it isn't stated in clear terms what happened.
What does it mean when boys and girls receive a grown up name? Must they act a certain way? Talk a certain way? What does that all entail?
Who were the people Morning Girl say and talked to? Why was she so nice and polite to them even though she didn't know who they were?
Students may want clarifications about the culture; what is right, not right, what the people do to survive are some misunderstandings or clarifications students may need to write about.
I did not know that they were married. Crazy story about him committing suicide, not a good situation!