MORNING GIRL is the story of a Taino family living on an island in 1492.  The author, Michael Dorris, is a member of the Modoc tribe.  The story revolves around the lives of Morning Girl and her brother, Star Boy.  The narration is shared by the two siblings, with rotating chapters devoted to each voice.  Through this structure, the reader comes to feel as if they know each of the characters.

Morning Girl is so named because she rises at the first light each day.  She says that otherwise, “you never catch up.”  Morning Girl is often annoyed with her brother, but also loves him on a deeper level.  Their teasing and exasperation lend an authenticity to the tale.  Just because they are part of a Taino tribe of long ago doesn’t mean that they don’t experience some of the same family issues as we do today.  Morning Girl has been taught respect and in fact refers repeatedly to being “polite.”  When she makes a mean comment, she is not reprimanded by her parents, but instead feels that they are disappointed in her.  This is enough to make her want to change her attitude.

Star Boy is so named after her begins to explore during the night and sleep during the day.  It is shown that names are not something constant in the Taino tribe; they are things to be earned over time.  Babies are not named until the family “gets to know” them.  Star Boy’s childhood name was Hungry, and when he earns his new name, he has left part of his childhood behind.  Yet, these are not perfect children.  They make bad decisions, just like children do now.  The main thing is that they care deeply about their community and how they will be viewed by them and it helps to shape their decisions in the future.

Dorris brings in Taino customs without making it seem like a history lesson.  Mother cleans roots for dinner and playfully feeds Father fresh fruit.  Father mends his fishing net in their home.  When Star Boy is caught in a storm, he finds refuge in an old tree that is said to hold the faces of those who have passed away in its bark.  There he finds strength from his Grandfather.  When a storm blows away many of the houses, the community comes together to celebrate what they do have.  They have very few material possessions that will be missed.

At the end of the story Morning Girl is having a swim when she spots a boat full of strangers.  She politely welcomes them, even though they seem not to know what they are doing.  She is very excited that they have come.  Dorris ends the book with an excerpt from Christopher Columbus’s journal in which he describes what he saw and proclaims that “they should be good and intelligent servants…and I believe that they would become Christians very easily, for it seems they have no religion.  Our Lord pleasing, at the time of my departure I will take six of them from here to Your Highness in order that they may learn to speak.”  These words leave the reader shaken; for the joyful and intricate culture that they have just shared is about to change forever.