Sing Down the Moon

Bright Morning is characterized as brave, independent, and outspoken. At times, however, she is frightened. Choose one of the moments in Sing Down the Moon when Bright Moon is afraid. What does that moment suggest about her character?

Compare and contrast the ways that Navajo men and women in the novel respond to being forced to make the Long Walk and live on the reservation in Bosque Redondo. Why do you think O’Dell wrote about how various characters responded differently to their fate?

Sing Down the Moon focuses on the experiences of Bright Morning, a Navajo girl. However, numerous other Native American tribes are mentioned in the novel, including the Kiowa, Comanche, Nez Percé, Zuñi, Apache, Hopi, and Ute. What is the effect of numerous tribes being mentioned? What does the novel state about relationships between tribes? Why do you think O’Dell included these details?

Sheep are a prominent symbol in Sing Down the Moon, but other animals are notably mentioned as well, including a variety of birds, a wolf, and Bright Morning’s black dog. Select one of these other animals and consider its role within the novel. How does the animal relate to one or more of the novel’s key themes?

Sing Down the Moon has a circular structure, starting with Bright Morning at home in Canyon de Chelly and ending with her return. Discuss details in the novel that emphasize this structure. How do you think the structure relates to the novel’s overall meaning?

The geography of the Southwest is a common presence in Sing Down the Moon. Aside from references to specific places like Canyon de Chelly, Fort Sumner, and Bosque Redondo, the novel offers details about the canyons, mesas, caves, and wilderness of the area. Discuss how this geographical setting influences characters’ actions and/or connects to key themes of the novel.

The novel ends with Bright Morning and Tall Boy escaping from the reservation and returning to Canyon de Chelly along with their newborn son. What do you think would happen to them next? Why?

Despite a series of traumatic events, including Bright Morning’s enslavement, Tall Boy’s injury, and the Long Walk, Sing Down the Moon has a hopeful ending. Why do you think O’Dell closed the novel in this way? What do the ending and O’Dell’s postscript suggest about how he views the history of the Navajo?