Since Galen had died…I had been spinning in place. It was a luminous place because his light still glowed within it, but a chilly place because he really wasn’t there. Now I was finally finding my footing again.

Rain Is Not My Indian Name, p. 126

Synopsis

It’s been six months since Rain’s best friend, Galen, died. Since then, Rain has done her best to shut the real world out, and right now that means trying to get out of her Aunt Georgia’s Indian Camp. But when the camp comes under fire–from no less than her best friend’s grieving mother–Rain agrees to photograph Indian Camp for her brother’s fiancée, who’s the news editor of the local paper. As her new job becomes more complex, Rain has to grapple with grief, family changes, and new friends.

Review

I was truly impressed with the depth Smith was able to create in this brief, 135-page novel. The writing style is deceptively simple: worlds of emotion are hidden beneath day-to-day actions and casual dialogue. Grief, loneliness, love, and small-town life are all explored in the show-don’t-tell writing style of this novel.

I’m also always thrilled to find a book like Rain that straddles the line between middle grade and young adult. With slightly older characters and hints of darker themes, Rain provides intellectual stimulation for mature readers while remaining hopeful and entertaining.