Kaya's Escape

[SPOILERS BELOW]
I definitely like this one better than the first one. It still has a rather abrupt ending, but otherwise, the plot arc is better. Contrary to my memory, I was expecting [Speaking Rain to be rescued by the end of this book, but I like that it's more realistic, with Speaking Rain and Steps High's plots continuing on through the series. (hide spoiler)] At the same time, I kind of wish these were one book instead of six. They're more satisfying if you think of them as one book. But I understand that they are shorter because of the age they were written for. I remember taking a couple of these with me when I had to go grocery shopping with my mom and finishing them both as I walked around with her. ^.^

A wonderful survival story about a young Nez Perce Indian girl growing up in the year of 1764, before America became a country. Kaya and her deaf sister are kidnapped from their village, Kaya tries to escape ,leaving her sister behind with their enemey captives to go find help. Great historical fiction to read and learn about Native Americans, readers will learn about the plight and struggles of Native Americans, can be used as a research tool. Suggested readers for grades 3 and higher. Can be used in the classroom for descriptive, narrative writing, can be used during writers workshop.

Kaya, a Native American girl, makes a choice that puts herself and her little sister in danger. To make everything worse, her sister is deaf. They are kidnapped by a warring tribe. Kaya eventually escapes with a young boy who was also kidnapped. She must get back to her people in order to get help to rescue her sister.

Grade: 3rd and up

Genre: Historical Fiction

Series: American Girl Kaya

Concept: U1.1 American Indian Life in the Americas
Describe the life of peoples living in North America before European exploration.
5 – U1.1.1 Use maps to locate peoples in the desert Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland peoples east of the Mississippi River (Eastern Woodland). (National Geography Standard 1, p. 144)

5 – U1.1.2 5 Compare how American Indians in the desert Southwest and the Pacific Northwest adapted to or modified the environment. (National Geography Standard 14, p. 171)
5 – U1.1.2 5 Describe Eastern Woodland American Indian life with respect to governmental and family structures, trade, and show more views on property ownership and land use.
(National Geography Standard 11, p. 164, C, E)

Summary: The American Girl Series usually pick a time period and creates a historical fiction story around a girl. In the Kaya Series, The chose a Nez Percae Indian as the main character. Kaya lives the life of a Nez Percae child and manages to get herself into trouble. It reflects the life of this tribe and also includes historical notes. This is the second book in a series. When enemies raid Kaya’s village, she is taken captive as a slave. She is with, Speaking Rain, who is blind and works with her to try and escape before they are sold again and moved even farther from their families and village. Can teach students about the culture and disabilities. May have scary concepts for some students like kidnapping. show less

In the fall of 1764, after Kaya and her sister are kidnapped from their Nez Percâe village by enemy horse raiders, she tries to find a way to escape back home.

Kaya and her sister are kidnapped, forcing Kaya to make hard choices.

Kaya is captured by an enemy tribe along with her sister, Speaking Rain. Kaya escapes with a boy from another tribe, Two Hawks, but must leave Speaking Rain behind. Kaya and Two Hawks make it all the way to her father in the woods.