Cynsations

THE WINDOW by Michael Dorris (Modoc) (Hyperion, 1997)

In this story, the late Michael Dorris returned his attention to Rayona Taylor, the hero of two of his books for adults, A YELLOW RAFT IN BLUE RIVER (1987) and CLOUD CHAMBER (1997). THE WINDOW is set earlier than the other two and features Rayona at age 11, whose Native mother is preoccupied with her own problems, including drinking, and whose African American father eventually ships her to live with his mother, sister, and grandmother. Ray has never met these relatives before and is surprised to discover that they are white. This is a quiet story, one in which the action is in the heart. Dorris’s writing is perceptive and evocative. Ages 8-up.