Rain Is Not My Indian Name

In a voice
that resonates with insight and humor, New York Times bestselling author
Cynthia Leitich Smith tells the story of a teenage girl who must face down her grief and reclaim her
place in the world with the help of her intertribal community.

It's been six months since Cassidy Rain Berghoff’s
best friend, Galen, died, and up until now she has succeeded in shutting
herself off from the world. But when controversy arises around Aunt Georgia’s
Indian Camp in their mostly white midwestern community, Rain decides to face
the outside world again, with a new job photographing the campers for her
town’s newspaper.

Soon, Rain has to decide how involved she wants to become in
Indian Camp. Does she want to keep a professional distance from her fellow
Native teens? And, though she is still grieving, will she be able to embrace new
friends and new beginnings?

In partnership with We Need Diverse Books

The next day was my fourteenth birthday, and I'd never kissed a boy -- domestic style or French. Right then, I decided to get myself a teen life.

Cassidy Rain Berghoff didn't know that the very night she decided to get a life would be the night that Galen would lose his.

It's been six months since her best friend died, and up until now Rain has succeeded in shutting herself off from the world. But when controversy arises around her aunt Georgia's Indian Camp in their mostly white midwestern community, Rain decides to face the outside world again -- at least through the lens of her canera.

Hired by her town newspaper to photograph the campers, Rain soon finds that she has to decide how involved She wants to become in Indian Camp. Does she want to keep a professional distance from the intertribal community she belongs to? And just how willing is she to connect with the campers after her great loss?

In a voice that resonates with insight and humor, Cynthia Leitich Smith tells of heartbreak, recovery, and reclaiming one's place in the world.

From a review of Jingle Dancer: "Smith . . . convincingly juxtaposes cherished Native American tradition and contemporary lifestyle in this smooth debut." - Publishers Weekly

"A wonderful novel of a present-day teen and her 'patch-work tribe." - School Library Journal