A Yellow Raft in Blue Water

Introduction

“A Yellow Raft in Blue Water” is an intriguing novel written by Michael Dorris, which explored the complex issues of biracial tensions, family conflict, and tragedy. This book led the readers to reflect on appropriate approaches to racial and familial tensions. While all individuals have unique experiences, perceptions, and characteristics, often multiple individuals can find unity in their differences. Michael Dorris insightfully illustrates this truth in A Yellow Raft in Blue Water. Told from the perspectives of three women from the same Native American family (Peck, pp. 129), Dorris' story communicates how age, race, childhood, and other characteristics can separate individuals from one another. However, while dealing with their individual trials, each narrator goes through the same struggles with love, shame, death, identity, and forgiveness. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water filled the readers with hope in human commonality.

Discussion

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water depicts the lives of a daughter, mother, and grandmother from a Native American family. The book opens with the frustrations of Rayona, a fifteen-year-old girl dragged through different events at the whim of her free-spirited and alcoholic mother, Christine (Dorris, pp. 84). One night, only hours after her mother sneaks out of the hospital, Christine packs up her things and moves her and Rayona from their home in Seattle to the Indian Reservation in Montana where Christine grew up. At the reservation, Christine abandons Rayona, leaving her in the care of her grandmother, Aunt Ida. Meanwhile, Christine escapes to the home of her late brother's best friend, Dayton who learns that Christine is dying of pancreas failure. Her mother, Aunt Ida learns of her daughter's fate, but hardened by her childhood and the death of her son, Lee, she and Christine only make small strides towards reconciliation (ibid). However, after Rayona returns from her venture ...