Sing Down the Moon [Mass Market Paperback]

Scott O'Dell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 1997

The Spanish Slavers were an ever-present threat to the Navaho way of life.  One lovely spring day, fourteen-year-old Bright Morning and her friend Running Bird took their sheep to pasture.  The sky was clear blue against the red buttes of the Canyon de Chelly, and the fields and orchards of the Navahos promised a rich harvest.  Bright Morning was happy as she gazed across the beautiful valley that was the home of her tribe.  She turned when Black Dog barked, and it was then that she saw the Spanish slavers riding straight toward her.  

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

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The very simplicity of the writing, at times almost terse, makes more vivid the tragedy of the eviction and the danger and triumph of the return." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

"The forced migration of Navahos from their original homeland in Arizona to Fort Summer, New Mexico, is described from the Indian point of view in a poignantly moving first-person story about Navaho life in the mid-1860s." --Booklist

"Beautifully written, immensely moving, Sing Down the Moon is a memorable reading experience--for any age." --Book World

"The very simplicity of the writing, at times almost terse, makes more vivid the tragedy of the eviction and the danger and triumph of the retum. Recommend." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.

"An outstanding Book of the Year." --The New York Times. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (May 12, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440227364
• ISBN-13: 978-0440227366
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,676,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott O'Dell (1898-1989), one of the most respected authors of historical fiction, received the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honor Medals, and the Hans Christian Andersen Author Medal, the highest international recognition for a body of work by an author of books for young readers. Some of his many books include The Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Road to Damietta, Sing Down the Moon, and The Black Pearl.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Wondering about authenticity, June 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sing Down the Moon (Paperback)

I am from the four corners area and am wondering about how much research Scott C'Dell did for this book? I have never heard of mesquite growing around here or aspen in Canyon de Chelly or of the pueblo people eating dog meat and...... the owl a GOOD OMEN? I don't think so!!!! Any one from this area that has any knowledge of the Navajo culture knows that OWLS ARE NOT GOOD OMENS!!! I am reading this book with my class and am so frustrated by the fact that such a good author would be so negligent. The other students don't seem to notice the problems that I have with the book, except of course the Navajo students. I was happy to see the reviews from children who agree with what I was thinking. I am an adult student.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What it's like to be a Navaho girl, December 6, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Sing Down the Moon (Paperback)

The book I read was called Sing Down the Moon. It is about a Navaho girl named Bright Morning. She tells about all the adventures she has had. She tells about when slave traders captured her and what she does. I learned about Navaho life and how the United States soldiers treated Navaho people. The soldiers forced the Navaho people out of their canyon and forced them to walk to Fort Sumner. I liked the book very much. I liked hearing what life was like for the Navahos in the 1860's from the point of view of a girl close to my age. It was very exciting. There was a lot of action. I especially liked the part where Bright Morning and her husband Tall Boy escape the Long Knives. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Navaho history and likes an exciting adventure story.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Navaho Trail of Tears, May 13, 2006

By 

Green Marker Girl "Bernadette" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sing Down the Moon (Paperback)

One morning, while Navaho fourteen year old Bright Morning and her friend Running Bird are out in the fields of their home, Canyon de Chelly, tending sheep, they see strange men approaching. Before they can stop it, Bright Morning is kidnapped by the men, who turn out to be Spanish Slave-holders, and take her to a South-Western town, dominantly Mexican. She is sold as a slave to a Spanish speaking family, where she meets another slave, who can speak her language. Bright Morning tries desperately to find a way to get back to her people. The other slave imprisoned with her tells her the way, and Bright Morning is able to make a narrow escape back to her people. But when she returns, she finds her village under occupation of the "Long Knives", or American soldiers. After she is forsed into an arranged marriage with another Indian, Tall Boy, the Long Knives push the Navaho out of their land- and onto one of the most memorable events in American history- the Trail of Tears. Many all around her suffer and eventually die as they continue to walk on.

A very well written story, and very informative.