Kaya's Story Collection

American Girl: Kaya #1-6

by Janet Beeler Shaw

Kaya is troubled by a terrible nickname. Her friends call her "Magpie," after an untrustworthy bird that thinks only of itself. Kaya earned her nickname because her little twin brothers wandered off when they were in her care-while Kaya competed in a daring bareback horse race. Although Kaya finds the boys safe, she still must face a punishment. All her friends must, too, since one person's actions affect everyone's safety. The sting of the switch hurts less than the sting of her friends' teasing. A nickname is a strict teacher, and Kaya is fiercely determined to become a better person, one who thinks of others before herself-a girl no one will ever call "Magpie" again.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Native American

407 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this series to my children and I was surprised to find out how much I didn't know about Native Americans. I think I also just put all Native Americans into one category not realizing how different each tribe is. For instance, I thought all tribes lived in animal skin tepees, but this is not the case.

Also, I think either my teachers only taught me respectful facts of United States history, or my mind only remembers the positive, because I never realized, or pondered on the realities of how unfair these Native Americans have been treated by "the white people" and what we have done to destroy their traditions and their native land.

[Alice4170 🌙 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐

[Amanda Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Kaya. These are still adorable, even at 22. Kaya was the last American Girl that was truly well done (a 1974 doll? really?). Her stories speak of respect for oneself, along with family and friends. These are well researched and well written for young girls, including phonetic pronounciation of Nez Perce words. This edition is simply stunning, and looks wonderful on a collector's shelf.

[Alicia Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows just how hard life was way back when. It also relates to a girl's life now. Kaya has problems that a girl in this era could relate to: she just wants to play and have no chores, has twin brothers that are younger and drive her crazy, and a boy that she cant' stop thinking about!

[Kirstin Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ rounded up.

This is the first AG series that was new to me that I hadn't read as a kid. Kaya's books are beautifully done; they balance telling stories appropriate to the life of a little girl with sharing the rich life of the Nimiipiuu/Nez Pierce people.
Kaya is an endearing lead character - not perfect, but very real. The story is occasionally a bit rambling but I did like that the series had a wider overarching storyline rather than being six fully self contained stories.

The author clearly leaned heavily on the tribal nation historians to paint a clear and accurate picture, and while the story is pre-colonial the Looking Back sections don't shy from the truth of the treatment of indigenous people by the US government.

Reenie's Review: baby's first DNF

" I like Kaya, but I REALLY don't like the way they treat the kids. It's not okay for me."

(She chose to stop reading at the description of the children being switched. She had a very hard time with it, in a way she did not when reading the Addy books - maybe because in this story it was described as a normal part of childhood rather than as something described as clearly wrong/cruel.)

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in my thirties and loved this American Girl story collection! I grew up with AG’s but wasn’t familiar with Kaya. The native glossary in the back of the book was quite helpful throughout the story, and the “Peek into the Past” was a much appreciated added touch as well. A great introduction to Native American stories.

[Nicole Szpila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading these with Annie, and plan to read through the whole American Girl series with her. Oddly enough, I think these Kaya books came out after I had read the AG series myself as a girl, so this is the first time I'm reading these!

This is a gentle but fascinating way to learn about the history of this particular tribe. The language is a bit advanced sometimes, especially if A is trying to read it aloud on her own, and sometimes the story is a bit long-winded. But she follows along well, has connected with the characters, and overall we've enjoyed our time reading these together.

*Finished Update*
Annie really loved this series - it got better and better with each book. We had so many moments of joy and wonder and laughter reading this together. So excited about reading all these books with A!!

[Shimmywith4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first American Girl series, and if they are all this good, then I am hooked. I felt the author was true to the beliefs these people would have had and that all the books had interesting, yet believable story lines

[Leilani · Rating 4 out of 5]

She lives in indea, and one american family moves in, they teach tem about religous how to build there house... but what if they do somthing horrible like gain there trust and steel food?

[Melissa -Crazy Lucky Book Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learn the wisdom of the natural world through Kaya.
Kaya is a young native American girl who lives with her father and mother two sisters and two brothers in the Nimipuu tribe. Kaya shows a lot of pride in her ability to ride her horse Steps high. However it's that pride that gets into trouble sometimes leading to her retaining the nickname magpie a thieving bird that thinks of itself. Kaya hates that nickname and wishes to be rid of it and to prove to her tribe that she is selfless and giving for that is the Nimipuu way. kaya goes through a lot during the span of the book. first she gets captured by a rival tribe including her blind sister Speaking Rain. her beloved horse also gets taken away. then she managed to escape with a boy named two Hawks. throughout the book she meets new friends and loses old ones all the while hoping that one day she'll see her horse again. we get to see the culture of kaya's tribe and how they go from place to place in order to survive. during the winter months they'll go up to the mountains to hunt for elk then during the spring months they'll go to the valley to dig up for roots and then later in the summer they'll go to the Salmon River to get salmon and also to trade with other tribes. it is a really good way to introduce students to a world that they may not be familiar with.
While I did grow up reading American girl books, I don't think I ever got a chance to read about Kaya. I'm not sure if the library just didn't have her books or maybe she hadn't come in before I got older. but I think as a kid I would have loved to read this book and even now as an adult I got to read it and I got to enjoy it. I kind of really wish that the American girl company had given Kaya more activity books. the majority of the other girls got to have cookbooks and craft books but sadly Kaya is one of the few American girls who don't have many reference books for her. I really do hope that Kaya gets some more love in the future we get more stuff about her. Time will tell.

[Samantha Bartley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t until I started reading these that I realized that I had actually never read this series before. So with that in mind, the ratings may be lower due to the lack of nostalgia. Carry on.

Meet Kaya: This book was pretty good. It shows the personality, mostly negative, hinting that this will be changed and tested over the series.
3/5 Stars

Kaya’s Escape!
This book was pretty exciting. I liked the new characters introduced in this book and how unlike most in the American Girl series, the story wasn’t resolved at the end of the book. I liked that they dragged this specific storyline through the entire series.
4/5 Stars

Kaya’s Hero
I really liked this one. Swans Circling was such a cool character, and this one was for sure the most emotional one in the series. You can start to see Kaya maturing and learning what really is most important in life.
5/5 Stars

Kaya and the Lone Dog
I love animal stories! This one was very sweet, and again deals with making new friends and learning to say goodbye. Once again it’s clear to see that Kaya has matured so much since the first book and I love that kind of progression.
5/5 Stars

Kaya Shows the Way
This book was alright. I like that some of the storylines from earlier books begin to resolve themselves by the fifth book. It seemed pretty short, and I felt like there could have been more added to this one. But it was pretty good.
3/5 Stars

Changes for Kaya
Again, this one seemed very short. It was nice to see her get her horse back but it was only four chapters long, which most of the books in this series are usually six chapters. I thought it ended kind of abruptly. I was hoping to see the resolution of Brown Deer’s wedding which was hinted at, but never actually seen. I think that would have been a nice way to end it.
2/5 Stars

Final Rating: 3/5 stars

[Kourtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaya: An American Girl: 1764 by Janet Beeler Shaw is a historical fiction novel that provides an intimate look into the life of a Native American girl during the late 1700s. The story is set in the Pacific Northwest and follows Kaya, a member of the Nez Perce tribe, as she navigates the challenges of growing up in a rapidly changing world.

One of the most notable aspects of the book is the richly drawn setting and culture. Shaw does an excellent job of capturing the essence of Native American life in the Pacific Northwest, from the customs and traditions of the Nez Perce to the beauty of the landscape. The author also does a great job of bringing historical events to life, such as the arrival of European settlers and the changing relationships between Native American tribes and settlers.

Kaya is a well-developed and relatable protagonist who readers will come to love and admire. She is brave, determined, and kind-hearted, and her struggles to balance her traditional Nez Perce values with the changing world around her make her an engaging and compelling character. The supporting cast of characters is also well-crafted and adds depth and complexity to the story.

In conclusion, Kaya: An American Girl: 1764 is a fantastic read for anyone who loves historical fiction and is interested in learning more about Native American culture and history. The book provides a unique and engaging look into a fascinating time and place, and the characters are sure to stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

[Abby S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember loving Josefina’s books as a kid but never learned much about Kaya, so I read this collection for the first time as a 22 year old and loved them. They’re surprisingly violent, which I suppose I should have expected from American Girl (Kaya’s story has nothing on Addy’s), but Josefina’s gentle ambitions of wanting to become a healer and overcoming the grief of losing her Mama lulled me into a sense of false complacency. Not that Josefina didn’t also go through it, but Kaya is literally abducted in the second book and faces the very real threat of never seeing her family again. All this to say, these books are a wild ride start to finish, the illustrations are great, and I definitely suggest those of you who grew up on American Girl to revisit these stories with fresh eyes.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember if I read all six of these books as a child. I think I might have missed some. Overall, enjoyable stories, but there are a few things they describe about Nez Perce culture that I would have to double check with other sources. (I'm particularly skeptical of the existence of a signed language used for communication between tribes, but I suppose it's possible that's real and not just plot convenient.) I think the Looking Back sections did a pretty good job of not sugarcoating colonizers' treatment of Native Americans, but they also made it clear that this tribe still exists and maintains aspects of their culture from centuries ago.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve finally begun my chronological read through of the American Girl Historical Character series! My main focus is going to be the core series, but I’ll also include short stories and mysteries when I can.

I don’t remember reading Kaya’s books as a kid. Maybe the first book? Honestly, I think a couple of plot points would have scared me back then, so I guess it’s good that I’ve decided to read them as an adult. Of course, the writing is geared toward children, but I found that the books held up well. I enjoyed the stories very much, some repetition aside. I appreciated the glossary of Nez Perce/Nimiipuu words at the back of the book.

[Mimsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard for me to rate these stories as an adult since they're clearly written for a much younger audience. I appreciate the work they put into them for historical accuracy and for discussing hard themes in ways that aren't overwhelming but also not inauthentic. The stories weren't incredibly engaging for an adult, but I think they would be for a younger reader, and it was good to read them again twenty years later and not just leave them sitting on a shelf. I'll be reading the rest of my American Girl story collections as well.

[Geordie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaya's Story is set in the 1700s, Kaya is a Nez Perce girl (about 10). I'm really impressed with this book. Kaya faces a lot of challenges; internal, natural, and conflict with others. The Nez Perce culture is illuminated well and respectfully. And I'm outright impressed with the prose, especially the descriptions of nature. This might be a bit simple for an adult, but I'd highly recommend it for an adolescent or teen.

[Erica Lizza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The other AG horse girl, Kaya was my first American Girl doll, and I loved her adventures. The illustrations in Kaya’s books are some of the most beautiful in the entire AG series. Kaya’s stories are intense, and I didn’t love Kaya’s Escape, but I do like the series. Her stories do a great job of situating the reader in the geographic and social context of Kaya’s Nez Perce culture, and I liked the emphasis on Kaya’s extended family and community, especially her relationship with her maternal grandmother and her mentor Swan Circling. My strongest criticism is that the Changes for Kaya doesn’t include Kaya’s name change or vision quest, both of which are alluded to earlier in the series.

[Cassidy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this as an adult, I was rather impressed with the amount of research that went into this to tell a culturally appropriate story. I started reading this with a critical lens to see what they got right and what they got wrong and ultimately finished the books satisfied. I’m glad Kaya has not yet been retired, her story is very important for girls to understand.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily my most read 'American Girls' book of my childhood; felt a pull to read it after unearthing all my AG books to display on a new bookshelf. Obviously targeted at kids but hit a certain nostalgia in me. These collections were what first inspired my love of reading, so I'll always view them fondly.

[Catherine]

I will never get over Swan Circling and neither will Kaya.

Anyway, Debbie Reese’s review is the only one anybody needs: https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...

[Brandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these in preparation for the upcoming school year. I think it will be a fun take on history to use the American Girl books as a launching point. I appreciate that AG went through the effort of getting approval and insight from current tribal members to write this series.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids (10, 7, 6) and I enjoyed listening to these on audio. They were quite a bit more intense and sad than the other AG books. We all learned a lot and felt like we got a glimpse into the life of an average girl during that time.

[Bethany Feustel · Rating 4 out of 5]

We loved this series, a great addition to our living history repertoire. I did have a few conservations about the Native American culture and practices in the book that differ from our beliefs as Christians.

[Sarah Wienke · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Looking Back” section at the end of the books, I love how multiple times the US gov was called out for their treatment of Native Americans. Especially considering when these books were published. Well done AG!

[Lady Brainsample · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember getting these from the library when I was a kid but never owned them until the past few months. I have to say, I'm really impressed. I didn't love the first book because of one particular scene, but the rest were very good.

[Christine Cumberbatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and educational about one of the groups of the first peoples of United States of America.

[Becca! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad we listened to the Kaya books. We all really enjoyed learning more about how the Native Americans lived long ago.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid childhood read, but not super nostalgic. I have the doll though!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good