Great American Read: Laughing Boy by Oliver La Farge

This book centers on Laughing Boy, an exemplary young member of his Navajo community. Steeped in traditional teachings, highly skilled in silver craftsmanship, and distinguished for his success in wild horse races, he brings honor to the people of T’o Tlakai. The world around him, however, is undergoing rapid change. It is 1914, and the arrival of the first automobile signals a new era. When Laughing Boy encounters Slim Girl, he becomes captivated by her, and despite her “American” education and his family’s cautions, he chooses to marry her.

As the couple settle away from the established villages, they struggle with the tensions arising from their vastly different backgrounds, as well as the increasing influence of outside culture. Their lives become entangled in a profound conflict involving love, identity, duty, and the preservation of cultural heritage.