Rain Is Not My Indian Name

Rain Is Not My Indian Name. Cynthia Leitich Smith. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2001. 137 pages. $16.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-688-17397-5. Grades 5-9.

My Thoughts …

I have been making a conscious effort to look for the positives in each book that I have read this summer. I can normally determine why it is a good book to be familiar with and who I would want to recommend it to. Some times I love the book and can’t wait to talk about it, while other times I don’t love it but recognize its strengths. Rain Is Not My Indian Name offered a new combination of feelings. I enjoyed reading the book due to the writing style and likeable narrator, but I don’t like what it said at all. This book introduces the subject of loss and dealing with grief, which is important, especially because dealing with death is difficult for young adults. I think, however, that this book does a horrible job of really explaining how to deal. Galen’s death is a huge aspect to the story that is introduced in the first 10 pages. This important plot line dies for the 3/4ths of the book, however, and when it does return the dealing with loss I felt was superficial. I have lost loved ones (not my best friend, but still) around the same age, and I was put off by this story. I’m glad at the end Rain does ‘figure things out’ but I felt like the loss was super important and then downplayed.

I also think the approach toward Native American culture and heritage was lacking. Rain does ponder getting in touch with her heritage, but more because she feels guilty or that something is missing, not because she honors her roots. The Indian Camp hardly focused on anything cultural, the bridge being the only symbolic item. I also think it sends a horrible impression for Fynn to change the race marker on his college applications. I think that if awareness and self-acceptance was a truly important theme in this book the author could have done a much better job. Indian Camp, for example, should have been for everyone and a learning experience to dispel the racism and stereotypes mentioned when Rain talked about what they learn in school. I have to say I have enjoyed this book the least thus far.