Synopsis
Mary Manygoats, a Navajo girl who wonders how she will fit in at her new school while trying to hold on to her people's traditions, finds a pleasant surprise in her ...
School Library Journal
Gr 2-3-Mary Manygoats, a Navajo girl, is forced to leave her home in Shiprock, New Mexico, when her parents are killed in a car accident. Her aunt in Houston takes her in, but the girl longs for her familiar hogan and her shaman grandfather. She dreads going to school, and on the first day, she wears her tribal clothing for security. She also remembers her grandfather's words, "`Look in your mind for the tiny seed of courage.'" Surprisingly, her classmates are immigrants from 13 countries, and the children share memories of their homelands. Mary, the only Native American, welcomes all of them to the United States. The book contains numerous full-page pencil illustrations; a glossary of Navajo words; and examples of Navajo poetry, chants, symbols, and beliefs. A good choice for all youngsters who have felt like outsiders.-Cassie Whetstone, Keyser High School, WV