Navajo Summer [Paperback]

Jennifer Owings Dewey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2000 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Upset at her parents' impending divorce, twelve-year-old Jamie runs away from home to live with a Navajo family that she befriended on earlier trips to the desert country with her father.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-In 1953, 12-year-old Jamie takes charge of her life when she runs away from her divorcing parents, a distant mother and an abusive father. She arrives on the doorstep of a Navajo family she has known for years and they willingly allow her to join them for the summer at their camp in Canyon de Chelly, AZ. Jamie becomes part of the community and finds a sort of peace. Her sense of loneliness and alienation from her family, temporarily at bay, reemerge when she meets Michelle, an angry native girl her age. Running again, Jamie embarks on an impromptu, personal vision quest and decides to trust Michelle and befriend her. When she is permitted to witness a Blessingway ceremony, Jamie gains a further sense of peace and balance, allowing her to leave the canyon and face the future her parents have arranged for her. This story, based on the author's experiences, reads more like a well-plotted original tale than an autobiographical expression of angst and growth. It is a continuation of Cowgirl Dreams (Boyds Mills, 1995) but stands well on its own. The writing is smooth and compelling, carrying readers along with Jamie, sharing her uncertainties, fears, hopes, and relationships. The author has also provided decorative illustration in the form of Native American rock-art symbols. The softly edged images are intriguing and charming. An excellent choice with myriad themes: Navajo culture, coming-of-age, life in a troubled family, friendship, and growth of trust.
Darcy Schild, Schwegler Elementary School, Lawrence, KS
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-8. Twelve-year-old Jamie's family has come apart: her parents are divorcing, leaving her to face life with an abusive father or with a passive mother. She feels she has no choice but to run away to the only place she feels safe: Navajo country. The Wilsons, a close-knit Navajo family Jamie grew to know through horse-trading with her father, are everything her family is not--peaceful, cooperative, understanding, and spiritual. When they take her in, she instantly adapts, caring for the youngest Wilson, helping with the chores, participating in rituals, and winning the friendship of a mistrustful neighbor girl. She knows she can't stay forever, but her Navajo summer gives her the inner peace and strength she needs to face her parents once again. Jamie's introspective narrative seems a bit too wise for her years, and her family situation seems vague and lacking in emotional impact. It's the atmospherically detailed New Mexico setting and the enjoyable insider's view of the Navajo culture that balance things out. Kathleen Squires --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563978555
• ISBN-13: 978-1563978555
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,547,984 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars What I learned in Summer, March 1, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Navajo Summer (Paperback)

Jamie is the main character in this book. She has black hair, black eyes, and she is white. She lives in New Mexico, in 1953. She lives in Navajo country. She makes 3 stops when she runs away by herself. In the begining she runs away because her father is treating her bad. In the middle of the book she meets her mom, and she lets her stay with the wilson's. I did not like this story because the author hardly discribed the characters. I had to lok at the cover for Jamie's characteristics. Jamie doesn't solve her problem in a way because she goes back where she started. I give this book 1 star.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Navajo Summer, March 10, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Navajo Summer (Library Binding)

Navajo summer
Jamie, the main character, is beaten by her father who owns a ranch He also buys and sells horses. One family who sells to him is a Navajo and their name is the Wilsons. The Wilsons are Jamie's favorites.
Jamie runs away from home and gets a ride to the bus station. Then she gets on a bus and heads for Window Rock and hitches a ride to the Wilsons house. She gets there and is welcomed. Then Jamie explains why she ran away and asks if she can go to the canyon with them. They say yes and they go to the canyon for the summer.
While they are in they canyon she gets to know Jake, a Wilson family member, and she also meets a Navajo girl that the Wilson's think is a witch but she turns out to be a good kid when she gets to know her.
I disliked the book because it did not have any action or survival or fighting. I thought this book would be more like the book "The Hatchet." It is almost the direct opposite of it. I guess this book wasn't made for all of the Rambo or Diehard fans. I really think this is a poorly written book. I think it was written more for girls than for boys.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Navajo Summer, November 26, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Navajo Summer (Paperback)

Navajo Summer

All the wheels on the bus go round and round as we left the town. About three miles away from my home, I started to cry because I felt that my brothers were going to get beaten like I did, it was horrible.
I need to jump off this bus and run home and save my family from being accused of doing stuff just so my father can get a hold of them and take his hands and smack and punch. Then I thought about it, well what if my dad threatens to kill my mother if she doesn't tell him where she is, so I didn't jump off I just stared out the window and imagined what my new life was going to be like. Well the bus ride took forever. (Papa used to take her to Chelly all the time and it is further then Navajo Country, it was a blast.) I miss my baby brothers and I want them to know that they have my pain and my sympathy.
As we arrived to Navajo County I ask a man I didn't even know for a ride to the Johnson's family; most likely he did and then asked for $2.00. I approached their house and knocked, I was so nervous I started to shake and fidget with things in my backpack. "Who is it?" asked Mrs. Johnson. "Navajo Summers!" I said. "Oh my gosh, what are you doing here all by yourself?"
You can read the book for yourself to figure out what Mrs. Johnson's says and how Navajo responds. I rated the book five out of five stars
Because this book is interesting and makes you want to keep your eyes on the pages and the book in your hands. I recommend this book to kids the ages of ten through twelve because there are some challenging words and some kids younger will not understand. I want to thank you for taking your time out of your day to read my summary about Navajo Summer!