Broken Days

Dah-quel-e-mah, or family love, was all Walking Breeze wanted after losing her mother and her older brother. Ann Rinaldi shows the differences between Native America's and American's in the 1800's through this historical fiction, Broken Days. Walking Breeze was sent to live with the Chelmsford's, the family she claims to be a part of. But the family, Aunt Hannah, Uncle Louis, Mary, and Ebie seem to disagree but take her in anyway. The only proof Walking Breeze has of belonging to the family is a piece of the Chelmsford family quilt, given by her mother before she died. But Ebie, jealous of her natural beauty and angry about Walking Breeze being half Native American, steals the piece of quilt so she would become a working slave rather than a member of the family. But soon, more and more people grow to like, even love, Walking Breeze and Ebie is stuck between admitting to taking the quilt or keep the quilt to herself, tearing her family apart. Stuck between these two choices, Ebie decides to admit to her fault, and afterwards, Walking Breeze still shows dah-quel-e-mah to her, despite everything that has happened. Thus, proving that family will always be there, no matter how different the heritages are.

With great description and realistic characters from the 1800's, this book is recommended to anyone. Ann Rinaldi was very descriptive throughout the story, putting the reader in the time and place. "She wore her dark hair in long braids and she was dressed in a simple one piece garment the color of butter. She wore soft boots and a band studded with silver around her forehead." Because this story was historical fiction, I felt that Rinaldi added many historical events and information, helping the reader get into the moment. For example, the Battle of Lexington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere were mentioned. They also mentioned General Gage leading in the American Revolution. Readers really learn and see the difference between American Indians and America's through the actions of Ebie and the reaction of Walking Breeze. Broken Days shows the fall of a family because of differences, and the rise of them because they put those differences aside. Dah-quel-e-mah - we all need it.