by Miska Miles
First published 1990
Annie lives with her family on the Navajo reservation, where her beloved grandmother teaches her the old ways. When her grandmother announces that she will die when the rug on her loom is finished, Annie cannot accept this prophecy. She tries everything to stop time and prevent the inevitable. Annie unravels her grandmother's weaving at night, hoping to keep her alive longer. She skips school and hides from her responsibilities. But her grandmother gently shows Annie that fighting the natural cycle of life only brings suffering. Through patient guidance, the old woman helps Annie understand that death is part of the sacred pattern, like the designs in their rugs. Annie must learn to honor both her grief and the continuation of their traditions. The story explores how a young Navajo girl reconciles her love for her grandmother with the ancient wisdom that life and death flow together like threads in a weaving.
Genres: family-life, historical-fiction, native-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, generational-conflict
Setting: Navajo Reservation
Period: 20th-century
44 pages · Paperback · Trumpet Club