Moraline

by Cintia Alfonso Fior

Overview

A young girl receives a special message from a sacred Lakota leader about her power to change the world ...

Twelve-year-old Moraline is about to run away from her problems ... again. Since moving from New York to San Diego with her family, Moraline tends to push against a hot dry wind whenever trouble happens. But a chance encounter with a mysterious Lakota spirit in the woods of Northern California puts Moraline on the path toward understanding her power to fight injustice.

Moraline is an impactful story of social justice education, environmental awareness, and racial literacy.

PRAISE FOR MORALINE:

"Moraline is a thought-provoking story that will inspire a new generation of movers and shakers."

-The Children's Book Review

"Fior has skillfully created strong, complex, relatable characters in her racially diverse cast. Her descriptions of Amani's disquietude about being discriminated against are powerful and sensitive."

-The BlueInk Review

"With its helpful list of social justice resources, Moraline is a gentle, empowering novel in which young advocates find their work enhanced by moments of magic."

- Foreword Clarion Book Review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781959963004
Publisher:	Rising Advocates Press
Publication date:	12/07/2022
Edition description:	Large Type
Pages:	230
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.52(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Children's fiction author Cintia Alfonso Fior first realized she wanted to be a writer after working with diverse underserved populations in South America, North America, and Africa. The perception of injustices and the great need to advocate for underserved populations, particularly children, inspired her to write her magical realism novel for young readers, Moraline. Fior has a MA in Peace and Justice Studies from the Kroc Institute of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego and serves as the current chair of the American Family Therapy Academy's (AFTA) Family Policy and Human Rights committee. Fior's goal is to use storytelling to facilitate conversations about racism, earth stewardship, and social justice. Originally from Argentina, she lives with her family in San Diego, California. Moraline is her debut novel.

Editorial Reviews

2023-02-20
In Fior’s middle-grade debut novel, a young girl of Native American ancestry stands up for herself, her friends, and social justice.

Twelve-year-old Moraline Reed has recently moved from New York City to San Diego. Moraline is compulsively fidgety, which draws her teachers’ ire and makes her a target for bullying. The bullying comes to a head during a school camping trip to California’s Portola Redwoods State Park. Running away from her classmates, Moraline takes refuge beneath a sequoia tree. Here she encounters a Native American spirit—Mahkah of the Lakota tribe. He whispers to Moraline of her heritage and strength—and of the need to restore balance between the four winds. She realizes that when bad things happen to her they are accompanied by hot winds and that a cool breeze blows if she stands against injustice. Moraline makes friends—bookish Serenity Wilson, who has brown hair and brown eyes, Congolese refugee Amani Nkulu, and Mexican immigrant Edmundo Rivera—she learns that other people have problems, too, and that everyone deserves understanding and support. When Moraline and her friends adopt a stray fox cub, they bond as its caretakers and start to truly look out for one another. But can they take their dynamic a step further, transforming it into community activism? Fior writes primarily from Moraline’s perspective but also sometimes from those of her friends. The prose is simple but elegant: “Sometimes standing tall meant bending a little when the wind blew, just like the sequoia trees.” The story moves at a good pace, infused with the vivacity and inquisitive spirit of its protagonists. Moraline is a relatable character, strong but insecure, more confident in defending others than in standing up for herself. Her friends also are well-drawn, each proving to be distinct and multidimensional. Moraline discovers that when you look beneath the surface, anything is possible. Many middle-graders who read this book will find themselves in agreement.

Powerful but not preachy middle-grade fiction that speaks from the heart and invites readers to share in a better future.

Kirkus Reviews