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

Reach for this book when your child is starting to ask difficult questions about American history, fairness, and the treatment of Indigenous peoples. It provides a humanizing lens through which to view systemic injustice, focusing on the strength and dignity of a family forced to leave their home. Through the diary of thirteen year old Sarah Nita, the story explores the Navajo Long Walk of 1864, emphasizing how culture and family bonds can provide light in the darkest of times. It is a poignant tool for building empathy and discussing the resilience required to survive displacement. While it handles heavy themes of grief and fear, it serves as a bridge for middle grade readers to understand a complex and painful chapter of the past. Parents should be aware of critical discussions regarding the book's cultural authenticity, which can serve as an additional learning opportunity about who tells historical stories.