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| Plot Summary of The Spirit Line |
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Viking, Apr 2004, 15.99, 224 pp.
ISBN: 0670036455
Near the Four Corners, tenth grader Crystal Manyfeathers disdains Navaho traditions since her mother, a believer, died a few years ago yet ironically Crystal is a skilled weaver. However, she breaks tradition as she weaves a rug for her Kinaalda ceremony that makes her a woman by not adding THE SPIRIT LINE to honor the Spider Woman.
At high school, many of her peers overhear her negative comment about Navaho traditions. Her best friend Henry “Junior” Tallman is hurt by her contempt as he studies to become the next hataalii healer. Perhaps out of anger, someone steals her rug just prior to the ceremony. As Crystal and Henry seek the purloined rug, she begins to understand more about her father's ways though she still wishes they had a TV, computer, and hair dryer. Will she find the rug in time to receive the blessings of womanhood, a rite of passage she only is going through for her father?
Known for their Navajo police procedurals, the Thurlos furbish a delightful story similar to the Special Investigator Ella Clah classics in terms of providing insight into modern Navaho life, but this time aimed at young adults. The terrific novel hooks the reader with its vivid descriptions of Crystal's world in which she feels she will be more comfortable in an Anglo scenario than with her family's heritage. Though aimed at the pre-teen to early teen crowd who will empathize with the identity crisis, adults will enjoy THE SPIRIT LINE that weaves a simplistic but fun amateur sleuth plot inside a deep look at Crystal's struggle between modern conveniences and tradition.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Spirit Line |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- present (2000-2010)
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Kids:
- religious influences
Inside culture (main char)
- American Indian
Culture clash?
- family young v. old guard
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Age 11-14
If story of urban/rural...
- Small town life
Ethnic/regional/gender life
Yes
Age group of kid(s) in story:
- high school
Parents/lack of parents problem?
- Momma gone
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- a teen
Ethnicity/Nationality
- American Indian
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- a teen
Profession/status:
- student
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 3 (some)
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Unusual Style:
- a lot of play on words
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Aimee and David Thurlo Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Harriet Klausner
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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