Rain Is Not My Indian Name

by Cynthia Leitich Smith

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME. 2001. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688173977.

B. PLOT SUMMARY

The main character, 14-year old Cassidy Rain Berghoff lives in small-town Kansas and is of both Native American and Caucasian heritage. She is a pretty typical teen in many aspects. However, in having to deal with the sudden and tragic death of her best friend/almost boyfriend, turns to her Native American ancestry. To complicate things further, Rain's mother died not too long before this story begins. Rain is explores what it means to be part Native American, what is means to grieve, what it means to live and what it means to enjoy life once again. As she moves into this phase, she takes a position as a staff photographer for the local newspaper. Her assignment: cover the events that take place at the local camp for outsiders. The camp just happens to be called Indian Camp and is owned by her Aunt Georgia.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

There are some obvious cultural markers - beginning with the title as well as references to skin color, hair color, etc. Rain recalls how her mother often refered to her "Kansas-coloring" and that she can "look out the window and get a tan." There is also mention of some events, a pow-wow that Rain and Galen attendeded in Oklahoma City and the Indian tacos they eat. However, the cultural markers are all part of the main story and not to the extreme; they don't interfere with the story, they add to the authenticity of it. Author Cynthia Leitich Smith helps create a story that is both multicultural and authentic - as she is a mixed blook Muscogee Creek Member herself.

As a novel, there are not any illustrations and therefore, no cultural markers of that type, only in the text. It is surprising that there is no Native American language anywhere in the story since this is about a teen coming to grips with her heritage and who she is.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publishers Weekly: "Multiple plot lines and nonlinear storytelling may make it difficult to enter Smith's (Jingle Dancer) complex novel, but the warmth and texture of the writing eventually serve as ample reward for readers. Some of Smith's devices such as opening each chapter with a snippet from Rain's journal add depth and clarify Rain's relationships for readers, although other elements (the detailing of song lyrics playing in the background, for instance) seem stilted. Even so, readers will feel the affection of Rain's loose-knit family and admire the way that they, like the author with the audience, allow Rain to draw her own conclusions about who she is and what her heritage means to her."

School Library Journal: "There is a surprising amount of humor in this tender novel. It is one of the best portrayals around of kids whose heritage is mixed but still very important in their lives. It's Rain's story and she cannot be reduced to simple labels. A wonderful novel of a present-day teen and her "patchwork tribe."

E. CONNECTIONS

Another publication by Cynthia Leitich Smith:

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. 2000. JINGLE DANCER. Ill. Wright, Cornelius Van and Hu, Ying-Hwa. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 068816241X.

You can also visit Ms. Smith at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/CLS/cyn_books/rain/rainisnotmyindianname.html