39 pages • 1 hour read
Michael DorrisMorning Girl
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1999A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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The Search for Identity
Morning Girl is a coming-of-age story for both protagonists, Morning Girl and Star Boy. As they grow up, both siblings grapple with questions of identity, each on their own journey of self-discovery. The search for identity is central to their experiences, reflecting the universal challenges of growing up.
Though the story never mentions her exact age, Morning Girl is likely on the cusp of adolescence. As such, she begins to confront her evolving identity. As she watches her younger brother impulsively throwing himself on the food during the feast, she reflects on the age gap between them: “I only wish I could join Star Boy now.” She acknowledges that while she is not yet a woman, she is “no longer a child” (49). Morning Girl’s search for identity also extends to her appearance. In Chapter 5, she realizes that she doesn’t have a clear image of what she looks like and turns to her mother for answers, asking if her face is long or round and what her eyes look like. Her concern with her physical appearance is typical of adolescence. She compares parts of her body to elements of the natural world: her chin resembles a starfish, and her brows are like clouds. Nature, in this way, becomes a mirror for self-reflection. Her father helps her on this journey by having her look into his eyes, where she sees two reflections of herself: “And they are always here when you need to find them” (36), he says. This moment highlights the intertwined nature of her and her family’s identity.
Star Boy, on the other hand, struggles with insecurity and a sense of belonging. As the younger sibling, he often feels disconnected from his sister and the community. His childish impulsiveness and desire for attention are evident throughout the novel. After losing his father’s canoe, he hides, pretending to be a rock, and, during the feast, he throws himself onto the food. In Chapter 8, he is hurt by his family’s remarks and sulks, making his sister tell him to “grow up.” Star Boy feels lost and overwhelmed: “I wished again for the island with only birds. I wished the wind had carried me there, carried me anywhere, anywhere but where I was” (60). However, he finds peace in the night, a time he feels most connected to himself. As he sits in the darkness, he reflects that nighttime takes away his anger and allows him to become himself. In embracing the quiet of the night, he begins to accept his emotions and find his true identity.
In Morning Girl, names play a significant role in the search for identity. Morning Girl explains that, in their culture, “names are strange and special gifts. There are names you give to yourself and names you show to the world” (52). Names reflect one’s identity, and Star Boy’s transformation from Hungry to Star Boy symbolizes his growth and self-discovery. Similarly, Morning Girl receives a new personal name from her brother: The One Who Stands Beside. This name represents the deepening bond between the two siblings and Morning Girl’s evolving identity in relation to her brother.
The Significance of Cultural and Familial Bonds
Cultural and familial bonds are central to Morning Girl, shaping the lives of the characters and providing them with a deep sense of identity and belonging. Through Morning Girl and Star Boy’s experiences, the novel highlights the significance of family and community in Taíno culture.
Both Morning Girl and Star Boy share a deep connection with their parents. In Chapter 1, Morning Girl expresses her love by searching for “the most beautiful blossoms and [weaving] them together into necklaces for Father and Mother” (6), leaving them as gifts outside the house. In Chapter 3, when her mother is away, she realizes just how much she misses her: “Her voice, calling me to eat. Her fingers working on my hair when it was tangled or stuck out from my head after sleep” (19). These small, tender moments show how deeply she values her mother’s presence. Though he is younger and more mischievous, Star Boy also cares deeply for his parents. When he learns about his mother’s miscarriage, for instance, he is visibly shaken, and when she returns home, he hugs her tightly.
Both parents reciprocate this love. Mother is especially nurturing and reassuring. When Morning Girl asks her about her appearance, she responds by reminding her daughter that she is loved exactly as she is, helping Morning Girl feel secure in her identity. She is kind and patient toward Star Boy despite his mischievous nature. In Chapter 9, when he spends the night outside, feeling upset, Mother goes out to find him and returns holding him in her arms like a baby. This image emphasizes her deep, unconditional love for her son. Father also shows his affection and forgiveness. When Star Boy loses his canoe, he reassures him that a canoe, unlike a son, is replaceable, underscoring the value of family over material things.
The bond between Morning Girl and Star Boy, despite their differences, also exemplifies the strength of familial connections. Their contrasting personalities create tension, but ultimately, their love for one another runs deep. This is represented in Chapter 7 when they “reach across the space between” them, creating a “fishing line with [their] eyes” to pull each other together (51). This metaphor shows that their sibling bond can bridge physical distance. Later, when Star Boy gives Morning Girl the name The One Who Stands Beside, it signifies the strength and evolution of their bond.
The tree Star Boy clings to during the storm is a symbol of the significance of cultural and familial bonds in Taíno society. The tree, carved with the faces of dead family members such as Star Boy’s little sister and grandfather, represents the strength of ancestral connections and provides Star Boy with both emotional and physical support in a moment of danger. The storm itself becomes a metaphor for the challenges life presents, and the tree symbolizes the support that family provides. After the storm, the community’s response also underscores the importance of unity and support of Taíno culture. Rather than focusing on the destruction, the villagers gather for a communal feast. Father explains that it is a chance to come together, sharing happiness, dance and music, games, and food. This highlights the importance of coming together as a community to celebrate life, even in the face of adversity.
Respect for the Natural World
The theme of respect for the natural world weaves throughout Morning Girl, highlighting the deep connection the Taíno people have with their environment and their belief in living in harmony with nature.
Nature is not just a backdrop for the characters’ lives; it is central to their identity. For both Morning Girl and Star Boy, nature shapes their understanding of themselves and their place in the world. Morning Girl loves to explore the island in the early morning: “watch the ocean or slip into the mango grove, keep very quiet until the birds forgot I was there and began to talk to one another again” (5). Her perception of the world is rooted in her connection to nature. She compares herself to elements of the natural world, using them to understand her own identity. For instance, when trying to imagine what she looks like, she says: “She has a chin like a starfish and brows like white clouds on the horizon. [...] Her cheeks swell into mountains when she smiles” (33). This shows how Morning Girl sees herself as part of a larger, interconnected world. Nature, for her, is a tool for self-discovery and personal growth.
Star Boy also has a strong connection to nature, especially with the night. He feels a deep connection to the night sky and bats, explaining that, like them, he enjoys observing the stars and looking down at them. His love for the night reflects his affinity for the quieter, unseen aspects of the natural world. When he lets his father’s canoe drift away, he hides among the rocks, pretending to be one of them, observing the world like a rock would: “wind, rain, the things that could crawl out of the night and run across my face” (24). Through his connection to the natural world, he finds peace and learns important lessons.
The novel also illustrates the Taíno people’s communal respect for nature. After the storm, the community comes together, not to mourn the damage but to celebrate their survival. Morning Girl’s father interprets the storm’s aftermath as nature’s apology: “The palms were already spread on the ground, perfect for thatch. Coconuts lay where they had fallen, and even [...] silver fish carried from the sea could amazingly be found” (47). This suggests that the Taíno view nature’s events as part of a larger balance, one they should accept and respect.
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By Michael Dorris
