Rain is Not My Indian Name

 

Bibliography

Smith, C. R. (2001). Rain is not my Indian name. HarperCollins.

ISBN

978-0688173975

Plot Summary

Rain struggles with grief and begins to withdraw from her family and friends after the death of her best friend. She starts to slowly return to everyday life as she becomes the new photographer for her town's newspaper and documents the town’s Indian Camp. She will reconnect with her Native heritage and her community, while moving forward and embracing both her identity and the people who care about her.

Critical Analysis

Rain Is Not My Indian Name provides an authentic portrayal of a contemporary Native American teenager dealing with grief, friendship, family, and finding herself again after the loss of her best friend. Rain is portrayed as a realistic and relatable character whose Native heritage is an important part of who she is, but it does not define every aspect of her life. Rather than relying on stereotypes, Cynthia Leitich Smith presents Native characters as individuals with different personalities, interests, and family backgrounds. The novel reminds readers that Native Americans live modern lives while continuing to value their traditions and communities.

The story takes place in a small Kansas town and reflects the everyday lives of contemporary Native families. The setting includes homes, schools, local businesses, and the annual Indian Camp, showing that Native traditions continue alongside everyday life. One of the strongest messages in the novel is that Native identity cannot be judged by appearance or stereotypes. Rain's experiences show that being Native is connected to family, community, and culture rather than how someone looks. Throughout the story, Smith challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about Native Americans by showing that Native cultures continue to grow and thrive today.

Smith also addresses stereotypes and prejudice through conversations between the characters. At one point, Galen asks Rain whether she would date a Black person. Although the question may seem surprising, it reflects some of the misunderstandings people can have about different cultures. Instead of avoiding these conversations, Smith uses them to encourage readers to think about race, identity, and the assumptions people often make about others. This conversation also serves as foreshadowing for Queenie, an African American character who later discovers her Seminole ancestry. Queenie's participation in Indian Camp surprises some people, and Smith uses her story to challenge assumptions about who "looks Native." She reminds readers that Native identity is diverse and cannot be judged by appearance alone.

Unlike some multicultural books, this novel contains very little code-switching. Instead, Smith naturally includes Native traditions, family relationships, humor, and cultural references throughout the story without stopping to explain every detail. This allows Native culture to become a natural part of the story instead of making it feel like the reader is being taught a lesson. Although the book does not contain illustrations, Smith's descriptions help readers picture both the setting and the close-knit Native community.

Overall, I think this book does an excellent job of showing Native Americans in a contemporary setting while exploring themes of grief, friendship, family, identity, and healing. One thing I really appreciated is that Rain is not simply "the Native girl." She is a teenager experiencing many of the same emotions and challenges that other young people face. Her culture is an important part of her identity, but it is not the only thing that defines her. I think this makes the story feel authentic while helping readers move beyond stereotypes and better understand contemporary Native American life.

Review Excerpts

• “Tender, funny, and full of sharp wordplay, Smith’s first novel deals with a whole host of interconnecting issues, but the center is Rain herself. What’s amazing here is Rain’s insights into her own pain, and how cleanly she uses language to contain it.”  — Kirkus Reviews

• “There is a surprising amount of humor in this tender novel. It is one of the best portrayals around of kids whose heritage is mixed but still very important in their lives. It’s Rain’s story and she cannot be reduced to simple labels. A wonderful novel of a present-day teen and her ‘patch-work tribe.'”  — School Library Journal 

• “…readers will feel the affection of Rain’s loose-knit family and admire the way that they, like the author with the audience, allow Rain to draw her own conclusions about who she is and what her heritage means to her.”  — Publishers Weekly

Awards and Recognitions

• American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) Best Books of 2021

• Book Riot 30 Most Influential Children’s Books of All Time

• Recommended Title, THE CHILDREN’S LITERATURE LOVER’S BOOK by Joanna Sullivan (Jossey-Bass, 2003)

• Recommended Title, DOES ANYBODY ELSE LOOK LIKE ME? A PARENT’S GUIDE TO RAISING MULTIRACIAL CHILDREN by Donna Jackson Nakazawa (Da Capo Press, 2004)

• Featured Title, GREAT BOOKS FOR GIRLS by Kathleen Odean (Ballantine, 2002)

• Featured Title, National Book Festival

• Native Ways of Knowing Book List

• School Library Journal’s Top 100 Books by Indigenous Masters

• Recommended Title, SEVEN CHOICES: FINDING DAYLIGHT AFTER LOSS SHATTERS YOUR WORLD by Elizabeth Harper Neeld (Warner Books, 2003)

• 2020 Teaching for Change: Social Justice Books Selection

• 2023 Teaching for Change: Social Justice Books Selection

• Writer of the Year (Children’s-YA), Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers

State/Tribal Awards

• Book of the Month, Red Tales, Aboriginal Voices Radio

• Dishchii’Bikoh High School Reader Award (DHS is on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in eastern Arizona)

• Finalist, Oklahoma Book Award

• Suggested Title, Recommended Native Literature for Youth Reading Circles from American Experience: “We Shall Remain,” PBS

City Awards

• “You Gotta Read This Book” Club, St. Petersburg Times

Connections

• Cynthia Leitich Smith’s authors website gives several lesson activities. Here is the link: https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/kidbooks/kids_index/rain/