Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

"Sing Down the Moon” is a historical novel that highlights the atrocities enacted upon the Native Americans during the 1800’ s. Bright Morning a Navajo girl and her friend are captured by Spaniards while taking care of their sheep. They are taken to a Mexican town where they are sold to work as kitchen help. The resourceful and determined girl find a way to escape. With the help of her future husband, Bright Morning finds her way back to the tribe.

Soon after Bright Morning returns to the tribe another tragic event occurs, US soldiers destroy all the tribe’s crops and livestock. The US government is purposefully starving the Navajos in order to remove them from their land. Once the tribe surrenders, they start what is called the 300-mile “Long Walk” to Ft. Sumner. Bright Morning retells this event with a very real and harrowing narrative.

O’Dell’s writing style makes it easy to visualize the land the Navajos lived on but also understand their traditions and way of life. As you read each chapter you hope the Bright Morning finds a way to keep going. When I read a novel that has such life altering experiences for its characters, I wonder would I have been up the trials that she faced. This is a great introduction for young reader to learn about the Native American history and culture. Critics of the book claim that some of the historical facts are inaccurate but the book is Historical Fiction with the emphasizes on fiction. “Sing Down on the Moon” is a book I am putting on the list of must reads for my Grandchildren.

Fun Activity: American Indians have Pow Wows in major cities across the US. These are gatherings of First Nations tribes that showcase their music, crafts, culture and heritage. Try to find one in your area to attend.

Published In: 1970
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Age Level: 10+
AR Level: 4.9
Pages: 124
Stars: 5
Award: 1971 Newbery Honor Book