Morning Girl

Morning Girl, published in 1992, is a short novel by Michael Dorris that offers a glimpse into the life of a Taíno family living in the Bahamas just before European contact in 1492. Dorris, an American anthropologist and writer, is known for his works exploring Indigenous cultures and experiences.

The novel alternates between the perspectives of two siblings, Morning Girl, named for her love of waking up early, and Star Boy, her younger brother, who prefers the night. Sibling rivalry, personal growth, and a growing understanding of the world around them mark their coming-of-age tale. This lyrical narrative captures the innocence of childhood against the backdrop of impending historical change, offering insight into the day-to-day life, culture, and spirit of the Taíno people. The novel ends with the arrival of the European colonizers, marking the beginning of a dark chapter in history. Morning Girl explores themes of The Search for Identity, The Significance of Cultural and Familial Bonds, and Respect for the Natural World.

Morning Girl was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 1992 and received the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 1994.

This study guide refers to the 1992 Hyperion Books edition of Morning Girl.

Content Warning: The novel includes discussions of colonization and miscarriage.

Plot Summary

Morning Girl lives with her family on an unnamed island in the Bahamas. She is called Morning Girl because she loves waking up early to swim, explore, and gather flowers. Her younger brother, Star Boy, is her opposite: He stays up late, fascinated by the night sky and the stars, and sleeps during the day. Their parents often compare them to a bat and morning flower.

The siblings don’t get along because of their contrasting personalities. Morning Girl often imagines how peaceful life would be without her brother, whom she finds too loud and childish. One day, their mother announces she is pregnant with a baby sister. Morning Girl is excited, but Star Boy declares that if it’s another sister, he will leave forever. A month later, their mother has a miscarriage. This brings the siblings closer, as Morning Girl notices that Star Boy is just as worried about their mother as she is.

One day, Star Boy accidentally lets his father’s canoe drift away. He avoids facing the consequences by hiding among the rocks by the shore. He pretends to be a rock and ignores everyone who comes looking for him. Eventually, his father arrives and, knowing his son is nearby, begins talking aloud as if to himself. He mentions how lucky it was that Sharp Tooth, his brother-in-law, found the canoe undamaged. Even if it had been lost, it’s just a canoe—something that can easily be replaced. But a son, he says, is irreplaceable. His father also mentions how worried Morning Girl has been, which surprises Star Boy. Star Boy eventually steps out of his hiding place and returns home.

Morning Girl is curious about her appearance. She struggles to see her reflection in the water, so one day, she asks her mother to describe her face. To help her understand, her mother guides her to feel her own features and compare them to hers. Morning Girl realizes what she looks like and that she has the same ears as her mother. Later, her father tells her that if she wants to see herself, she has to look into his eyes. When she does, Morning Girl sees her reflection and thinks she looks pretty.

One day, as Star Boy lies outside looking at the sky, he notices dark clouds gathering on the horizon. The storm arrives suddenly, and as he tries to make his way back home, the strong wind pushes him back. The storm uproots trees and tears away the roof of their house. Star Boy manages to hold onto a large tree, its trunk bearing the carved faces of family members who have passed, including his little sister and grandfather. He holds on tightly, and he hears his grandfather’s voice comforting him. Finally, the storm passes, and Star Boy sees his family rushing toward him.

The storm damaged many homes, but luckily, no one died. The community gathers the coconuts, fruit, and fish the storm scattered and comes together for a shared meal. Everyone dresses up, wearing shells, flowers, and jewelry to celebrate surviving the storm. Star Boy races ahead of everyone to the food and begins eating voraciously. His behavior gets him some strange looks, and some people tease him by calling him Hungry, his former name. Star Boy feels embarrassed. Morning Girl steps in, mimicking his actions and dramatically declaring her hunger. Their family joins in. Grateful for her support, Star Boy gives his sister a new name: The One Who Stands Beside.

The following day, Star Boy gets upset when his best friend, Red Feathers, mocks him for his behavior at the feast, and his father comments that he shouldn’t hide his love of food. Star Boy’s mood worsens when Morning Girl tells him to stop sulking and act his age. Angry and hurt, he spends the night outside, staring at the night sky. Alone in the darkness, he reflects on his actions. Eventually, he feels as if he is becoming one with the darkness, and his anger subsides. Meanwhile, Morning Girl lies awake, waiting for him to come back. She misses him. Their parents are also awake and concerned, and eventually, their mother goes out to find Star Boy. She returns after some time, carrying him in her arms. The family goes to sleep, but Morning Girl slips outside at dawn. At the shore, Morning Girl sees strangers approaching, rowing toward the island from the water. She greets them and promises to return with the right people to welcome them.

The epilogue is an excerpt from Christopher Columbus’s diary, dated October 11, 1492. In it, Columbus describes his first encounter with the Taíno people and how he attempted to befriend them with gifts. He describes them as innocent and poor and notes his plan to take six of them back to Spain to teach them his language, believing they will make good servants.