The Girl who Chased Away Sorrow: The Diary of Sarah Nita, a Navajo Girl

This historical fiction novel, part of the 'Dear America' series, presents the harrowing 1864 forced removal of the Navajo people from their ancestral lands to Fort Sumner, known as the Long Walk, through the diary of 13-year-old Sarah Nita. The story begins with an elder Sarah Nita recounting her story to her granddaughter, who then writes it down, providing a framework for the historical narrative. It vividly portrays the suffering, fear, and resilience of the Navajo, offering a child-friendly entry point into a difficult chapter of American history. While praised for its clarity and detail in depicting the events and emotions, it has also faced criticism from Native organizations for potential misrepresentations of Navajo culture and storytelling traditions. Parents should be aware of these critiques and consider them when using the book as a historical resource.

The diary of Sarah Nita, a thirteen-year old Navajo girl, which describes the Navajos' forced 400-mile walk from their ancestral homeland to Fort Sumner in 1864.