Morning Girl is a story about an indiginous family that lives on an island in 1492. The chapters alternate narraters between two siblings, Morning Girl and Star Boy. It tells the struggles of sibling love and finding your place in your family. Morning girl has short easy to read chapters. This book would be a great introduction to historical fiction for elementary students. They will be able to relate with the characters feelings about their sibling even in this modern time.

STAR BOY seemed better to me than MORNING GIRL, but both tell about the arrival of Columbus to American from the eyes of Native American/American Indian children. Our class read these books when I was teaching fifth grade and they were excellent for discussion. ( )

The setting in the Bahamian island where Columbus landed in 1492. We are with one family of the people who live on that island, with alternating chapters narrated by Morning Girl, and her younger brother, Star Boy. Though the two children have distinct personalities, they do not have different voices in writing, which was a downside. Each short chapter is a small story in the life of the children and their parents. At the end of the book, the last section is a letter from Christopher Columbus, speaking of how easily these people on this island will be converted to Christianity and made useful servants (i.e. slaves).

For most of the book, I found it a little dull, but the ending, knowing what we know today of the results of Columbus' intrusion into the Americas, made this little book more meaningful, albeit in a sad and tragic way. ( )

3.5 stars

Morning Girl is an interesting short book. It's strongly described and complex. Each chapter can be like a short story in it own reveling something about the two main characters. There just everyday family problems that the reader may relate to. The confits are use with description of characters actions.

I don't think it will be hard for a nine year old to understand. It will be great to read with a kid and discuses what went on in each chapter. This will be great for teachers, they can have a week lesson plan for Morning Girl. Kids are not stupid. Teach them to love learning and they will be open to anything.

What I didn't like is that there could be an arcing confits that goes along with the small ones. There can be a little more to the ending. ( )

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