Spirit Line
Grade 5-9–Set on a Navajo reservation, this mystery pits a gifted rug weaver against Anglo exploiters. Although Crystal Manyfeathers is disdainful of many Navajo traditions, she is preparing for her coming-of-age ceremony in order to please her father, who has been emotionally distant since her mother's death one year earlier. Nearly finished with her latest project, she decides to leave out the Spirit Line, the one mistake that all Navajo weavers put into each rug to avoid offending Spider Woman. Not only does she become ill while weaving (and experience visions of Spider Woman herself), but also the rug is stolen just before her ceremony–and it is vital to that rite. Crystal's friend Junior is on his way to becoming a healer in the old ways. Together, they identify and thwart the thieves. Crystal completes her ceremony to the joy of her father and finds her way to peace with her way of life. Carefully combining humor and seriousness, this well-paced story contains accurate portrayals of Navajo customs, mostly believable teen dialogue, and a realistic depiction of the conflicts modern Native young people face.–Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.