The Window, written by Michael Dorris
and published by Hyperion, tells a story about a mixed eleven year old girl
named Rayona who is trying to discover who she is by figuring out where she
comes from. After her Native American
mother is sent to rehab for alcoholism, she is forced to spend time with her
African American father and meet his family, who is unexpectedly white. She has never spent that much time with her father
throughout her life, and is taken aback when she finds out that he is in fact white. She soon discovers that his family is not
what she expected but is pleasantly surprised by the realization. As we follow Rayona on her journey of
discovering where she comes from, it ignites the question of our own racial
identity in each of us. The theme of
racial identity is huge in this book, as our narrator comes from three very
different backgrounds, none of which she knows very much about at the beginning
of the novel. Because there are so many
different races within the context, it is very relatable, even if the reader’s
race is not represented in the text.
The
teachability of this novel in a middle school setting is definitely conceivable. The book is very short, under one hundred
pages, and the vocabulary is not too difficult either. Although alcoholism is a part of the novel,
the concept is never discussed in explicit detail and it is not what the story
is about. Dorris uses just the right
amount of “adult concepts” to make the novel intriguing to read, but not inappropriate. The variety of races represented in the text
is really beautiful and captivating to read, especially coming from someone who
is mixed themselves. Rayona’s character
charms the reader as she slowly learns about her heritage and she invites the
reader to think about their heritage as well.
I think that this novel can be enjoyed by both males and females while
at the same time teaching you to appreciate where you come from.
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