Morning Girl

In alternating chapters, a 12-year-old Taino Indian named Morning Girl and her young brother, Star Boy, tell of their lives on an island in the Bahamas in 1492. Both Morning Girl and Star Boy describe life in their family and community, their lyrical commentary informing readers about the Taino culture. However, the siblings also face such difficulties as a destructive storm and their mother's miscarriage. The story concludes with Morning Girl innocently welcoming a group of oddly dressed visitors--who turn out to be explorer Christopher Columbus and his crew. The book's afterward features excerpts from Columbus's own diary that provide further insight into how his arrival forever changed the lives of the Taino people. MORNING GIRL is the winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.