Walks in Beauty

Girls in Mr. S.'s eighth grade class were asked to keep a two-week journal as they read the book. They responded to a question posed in the journal each day. The following are some of their responses:

Day 1 Question: Can you name one thing you and Anita have in common and one that you do not?

From Addy: "She rides horses and I ride horses. She is a Navajo Indian and doesn't have indoor bathrooms."

From Katie: "Her parents don't live together and mine don't. We both do chores after school but she doesn't have a dishwasher."

Day 8 Question: In today's reading, Anita has a hard time liking herself. What traits do you see in her that she could like?

From Ruth: "She is smart, and doesn't let her friend tell her how she should be. Like wearing make-up and clothes and stuff that they don't really wear in the reservation and that her mom wouldn't want her to wear."

From Amy: "I would tell her she should like herself because no one will like her if she doesn't like herself ...she is really good at weaving and riding horses and she could be proud of that and that she has her family."

Day 14 Question: Did you like this book? Why?

From Clarissa: "I liked the story of her and her boyfriend best and the end when she gives her speech. I think living on a reservation wouldn't be fun but I think she likes to be there. I liked that she and her mom started getting along and she stopped being mad at her dad."

From Ruth: "I think this is a good book so that I can learn about the Navajos and give them more respect. I would like to see them weave a rug and I would like to talk to Navajo girls my age that would be cool."

From Lorraine: "I liked this book because Anita has a lot of the same problems I have with my family and friends like boys. I don't know any Native Americans so now I think I know more about them. I really liked that she liked nature a lot because I do too."

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