The Sea in Winter: an authentic, modern-day Native voices book

 

The Sea in Winter written by Christine Day  is a middle grades novel that appeals to those who have been disconnected from their life purpose and need to find their way back.  In this story, 12 year-old Maisie is recovering from a knee injury that has left her without her ballet friends and her identity as a dancer.  This loss of control of her life is sending her down a depressing cycle of negative self-talk and a feeling of helplessness.  

When her family goes on a road trip to her mother's native ancestral homeland, the Makah, Maisie connects to the strength of her ancestors who had to endure hardships.  During the trip she cannot express why she feels so low despite her attempts to try to enjoy the memories she is making with her family.  After a text from her friend sends her into a downward spiral, Maisie has no choice but to face reality and accept help from her family so that she may heal in more ways than one.  

As a teacher and librarian, this book can be used in multiple ways:

1. The poetic language Day uses to describe the landscape as well as the characters.  It transports the reader to the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, to the ocean and the forest.   Students can explore the setting through online research to note how it compares to what they imagined while reading the book.  

2. Maisie learns how her ancestors lived through a landslide caused by magnitude-9 earthquake in the 1700s that caused a tsunami in Japan.  When asked how that could be, her mother replies, "The ocean has always connected us."  Students can take this one step further by researching other ways that one natural event affects other places.  

3.  Maisie and her little brother learn from their father about how his Klallam peoples' lives were affected by White settlement in the area, specifically, not being able to fish without a license.  But fishing licenses were only granted to citizens and Native Americans did not attain citizenship until 1924.  Students can research how the Native American community in their area was affected by White settlement. 

4. Maisie is going through a difficult time in her life. She doesn't have friends at school, her grades are slipping, and her one and only hobby is something that is off-limits until her body can heal.  A lot of people can relate to this sense of loss.  Students can revisit Maisie's mother's advice when she tells her, " Dreams change. Realities change. People change.  We all go through it in different ways."  What does she mean by this? How does this connect to your life?

The author's note at the end of the story gives more context to the various topics explored in the book.  The reader can benefit from reading this because it has such a personal connection to Day and her life.  More stories of modern-day Native people and their history and hopes for the future are much needed. Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, which published Day's book, has more authors with stories to tell. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books, classrooms and libraries around the world can carry and share these stories with their communities. 

Bunheads: A Story within a Story

 

Misty, a young ballet dancer, is just learning the movements and names for them in her first ballet class.  She is full of anticipation when her teacher announces that they will be performing a ballet called Coppelia.  The story of Coppelia captivates the young dancers. It has everything that makes up an intriguing story:  a toymaker, a doll, love, jealousy, and outwitting the villain.  

The reader learns how a performance like this comes together from starting with the steps to asking the dancers who they feel they want to be in the show.  This story encompasses camaraderie between dancers, teamwork, feeling proud and embracing the drive to improve.  

There are numerous topics for conversation with this book.  Children can describe a time that they had to work with others toward a common goal.  Or focus on the story within the story, Cappelia.  Who is their favorite character?  Of what other story does it remind them?  How would they change the ending?

Overall, it is a book that celebrates dance and the dancers who practice their art.  It is for boys and girls and anyone who likes to move, feel the music to express the emotions that dance evokes.  The book's illustrations encompass a variety of skin tones so the reader can see that the world of ballet is one in which all people can be welcome.  

For extra enrichment you can share clips of Misty Copeland dancing, watch the book trailer, or even better, incorporate movement by trying out the ballet moves described in the book! Or find the story of Coppelia and read it or watch other ballet performances of Coppelia.  Children can even act it out with their own interpretive movements.