Kiska

Gr 8 Up—This historical novel is the story of Kisha, a 14-year-old Aleut Alaskan girl, her family and other Aleuts who were forced to relocate to a United States Army internment camp (1942–1945). It opens with an elderly Kiska sharing the story with her granddaughter. The dialogue between the grandmother and granddaughter is not realistic in terms of an indigenous worldview. The grandmother Kiska prefaces her tale by emphasizing an apology to her granddaughter for sharing a story that has caused her much heartache. Elders seldom give apologies for sharing the truth of experiences. The story describes Aleut villagers who were taken from their homes by force. And everyone but Kiska's rebellious brother Peter makes the best of a harsh and cold environment. The people were malnourished, lacked medical care, and suffered abuse; many died. Fragments of information about their lives before internment are briefly described. Indigenous words appear in awkward places in the narrative and distract rather than enhance the story or enrich understanding of the Aleut culture. The shaman Agafon is a key character who befriends Kisha against her father's instructions. He teaches her to catch seafood in order to help her feed the people. Agafon is shrouded in stereotypes. He speaks in typical "broken English" dialogue laced with pithy phrases. Discussion questions and period black-and-white photos are provided. No additional resources are included.