1. Tall Boy's loss of the use of his right arm can be interpreted as a significant symbol. Examine how the injury occurs, the implications of losing the arm, and Tall Boy's remarks regarding the wound. Write an essay exploring how the injury serves as a symbol within the novel. What insights does Tall Boy gain from Bright Morning's reaction to his injury?

2. O'Dell has stated, "I'm not interested in the Navajos particularly—they're not my favorite tribe even. They were marauders—they rode in and took the crops of other Indians, after harvest sometimes." Does this perspective on the Navajo people reflect in his narrative? Compose an essay analyzing the flaws in Navajo culture that appear to shape the storytelling.

3. Consider the married life of Bright Morning and Tall Boy. Write a depiction of how their life might have unfolded if they had married as originally planned—she being wealthy in sheep and he a successful hunter and warrior. Discuss and elucidate the most intriguing similarities and differences between this imagined scenario and their actual circumstances.

4. Use an encyclopedia and other resources to research the culture or history of the Navajo. Write a report on how O'Dell integrates this information into his novel. Highlight any new and surprising facts you discover.

5. Use an encyclopedia and other sources to investigate the Navajo's long march to Fort Sumner in 1864. Outline the differences between the historical account and the version presented in Sing Down the Moon.

6. O'Dell briefly mentions one of the most heinous acts of violence by white settlers against Native Americans: the nighttime massacre, led by J. M. Chivington, of an entire village of three hundred Arapaho and Cheyenne. Research the historical events that culminated in this massacre.