As a young Navajo girl takes part in a coming-of-age ceremony called the Kinaalda+a7, in which she runs, grinds corn, and bakes a cake in the earth, she learns about her traditional culture and way of life.
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From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. Celinda McKelvey looks like a typical 13-year-old American, and most of the time she lives like one, but her roots are deep in the Navajo nation, and she returns to the reservation to solemnize and celebrate her change from girl to woman. The ceremony, called Kinaald{ }a, marks the coming-of-age for a Navajo girl. Celebrated outdoors and in the family hogan, it is composed of two days of prayer, ritual, feasting, running, and rejoicing. Celinda wears a new dress woven like a Navajo blanket. She blesses her relatives and is blessed by them. She mixes a huge cake, made in part from cornmeal she has ground herself, dedicated to the sun god, and shared with all who attend the Kinaald{ }a. Roessel's text describes Celinda's preparations and the ceremony itself and relates the ancient myth that gave rise to it. The photographs, which are sharp and beautiful but not slick, are reminiscent of candid shots taken by a very good photographer at a family gathering. Because the subject is unusual, this book may need a little promotion, but it could complement either a Native American collection or a women's studies unit. Sheilamae O'Hara
From Kirkus Reviews
By ``a Navajo photographer and writer who specializes in contemporary Native Americans,'' a clear, strikingly photographed account of 13-year-old Celinda McKelvey's coming-of-age ceremony, set in its historical context (such traditions, nearly lost in the 1950s and -60s, are coming back along with renewed Navajo pride). Described are specific details of costume, the making of a corn cake that's cooked overnight in the ground, the gathering of the extended family to help and share the celebration, and the ceremony's symbolic meaning. In glowing color photos, the reservation's natural beauty is represented by such sacred sites as Shiprock, while Navajos are depicted using a mix of new (store-bought clothing) and traditional items (Celinda's hand- woven dress). Unusually authentic and attractive; an interesting comparison to Seymour's The Gift of the Changing Woman, which depicts the similar Apache ceremony. Also just published in the ``We Are Still Here'' series: Sandra King's Shannon: An Ojibway Dancer (ISBN: 0-8225-2652-2). Bibliography. (Nonfiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Tracy Robert
Format:Library Binding
It is a topic that many use slang and euphemisms to describe,or avoid talking about at all. Mother's pass along factual books and try to bravely discuss it with their daughters, who approach it with mixed feelings. "It" has been called many things in American culture, but in Navajo culture, it is celebrated at a Kinaalda.
A young woman's Kinaalda is celebrated around the time of her first menstrual cycle. She celebrates the time when she is being shaped into a woman in a ceremony that lasts two to four days. Photographer and writer, Monty Roessel, allows us to be privledged viewers of 13 year old Celinda McKelvey's Kinaalda. During the ceremony, Celinda wears a traditional blanket dress, takes on the adult role of grinding corn to make a huge corn cake, is literally molded into a woman by the hands of others, and runs a race for blessings of health and longevity. It is a trial of endurance, as growing up often is.
This book presents a view of menstruation that can be difficult to convey to the newly initiated and to those who are still waiting. This book tells us that it is a time to celebrate. It is a time to acknowledge becoming a woman. Celinda is both honored and validated in her new status. She finds support and positive attention during her Kinaalda. Even though many young women outside of the Navajo culture may not want a ceremony for their special time, this book is an asset to own. It is a wonderful way to see this experience across cultural beliefs.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Talking About It
Jun 26 2002
By Tracy Robert
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Library Binding
It is a topic that many use slang and euphemisms to describe,or avoid talking about at all. Mother's pass along factual books and try to bravely discuss it with their daughters, who approach it with mixed feelings. "It" has been called many things in American culture, but in Navajo culture, it is celebrated at a Kinaalda.
A young woman's Kinaalda is celebrated around the time of her first menstrual cycle. She celebrates the time when she is being shaped into a woman in a ceremony that lasts two to four days. Photographer and writer, Monty Roessel, allows us to be privledged viewers of 13 year old Celinda McKelvey's Kinaalda. During the ceremony, Celinda wears a traditional blanket dress, takes on the adult role of grinding corn to make a huge corn cake, is literally molded into a woman by the hands of others, and runs a race for blessings of health and longevity. It is a trial of endurance, as growing up often is.
This book presents a view of menstruation that can be difficult to convey to the newly initiated and to those who are still waiting. This book tells us that it is a time to celebrate. It is a time to acknowledge becoming a woman. Celinda is both honored and validated in her new status. She finds support and positive attention during her Kinaalda. Even though many young women outside of the Navajo culture may not want a ceremony for their special time, this book is an asset to own. It is a wonderful way to see this experience across cultural beliefs.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very interesting
July 22 2008
By Alyssa A. Lappen
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Cultures celebrate children's coming-of-age in many different ways, but one of the nicest (at least for girls) is the Navajo Kinaalda ceremony, celebrating the girl's maturing into womanhood.
In this real-life story, readers watch as Celinda McKelvey, at age 13, celebrates her maturity over several days at the family's traditional Hogan, used mostly for ceremonies.
In a Navajo blanket dress and buckskin moccasins, specially made for her celebration, and decorated with turquoise and silver necklaces, Celinda grinds corn for a cake large enough to feed the entire family, and she is "molded" into the woman she is becoming, after which she runs into the sun---first at daybreak (since for Navajos, all things begin in the east) and sunset---a way of asking for long life and good health.
The book also explains the resurgence of Navajo tradition after long decades during which the U.S. government forcibly removed Navajo children from the reservation and tried to teach them Western culture, language and job skills.
Learning Western culture and English are of course critically important for success, but not at the expense of children's family lives and destruction of centuries' of tradition.
Growing up is difficult, particularly for girls reaching puberty. The Kinaalda is a beautiful native American way to celebrate the hopes and successes along with the future opportunities too often expressed by fear.
In this real-life story, readers watch as Celinda McKelvey, at age 13, celebrates her maturity over several days at the family's traditional Hogan, used mostly for ceremonies.
In a Navajo blanket dress and buckskin moccasins, specially made for her celebration, and decorated with turquoise and silver necklaces, Celinda grinds corn for a cake large enough to feed the entire family, and she is "molded" into the woman she is becoming, after which she runs into the sun---first at daybreak (since for Navajos, all things begin in the east) and sunset---a way of asking for long life and good health.
The book also explains the resurgence of Navajo tradition after long decades during which the U.S. government forcibly removed Navajo children from the reservation and tried to teach them Western culture, language and job skills.
Learning Western culture and English are of course critically important for success, but not at the expense of children's family lives and destruction of centuries' of tradition.
Growing up is difficult, particularly for girls reaching puberty. The Kinaalda is a beautiful native American way to celebrate the hopes and successes along with the future opportunities too often expressed by fear.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for anybody.
Oct 19 2010
By Preston Davis
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
My wife and I recently made friends with a Navajo woman with a thirteen year old daughter preparing for this major event in her life. I, like most, had never even heard of this ceremony. I was fascinated and wanted to find out more. This book, even though designed for young, preteen readers, was fun to read and very informative. After reading, I gave it to our friend to give to her daughter. They both enjoyed it as well. There are numerous pictures that follow along with the character in the book as she goes through different parts of the ceremony. Bottom line: a great book, just as described and fast shipment. Very happy with my purchase.
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Go to Amazon.com to see all 4 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
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