Rating: 
Summary: Moving and Powerful
Review: A Yellow Raft in Blue Water is a powerful novel that examines the relationship between a daugher, a mother, and a grandmother. Dorris starts the novel through the perspective of the daughter, Rayona, then to the mother, Christine, and finally to the grandmother, Ida, where it all began. As you read A Yellow Raft In Blue Water you learn and feel the struggles of each woman. Often I found myself thinking, 'that's why' as I progressed through each woman's story and connecting the three. Dorris describes this journey as "...bonding and braiding the three strands of their shared past - and future." Michael Dorris created a novel far more powerful than the struggle of the three women. He illustrated the need for family and how the connection to kin, no matter the circumstance and time lapse, is of great importance. He displayed that in time of need you always go back to the familiar...home. This was a very moving and thought provoking novel to read. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!
Rating: 
Summary: Overly sentimental exaggeration of poor people's lives
Review: Currently I am reading this book in my ethnic literature class. I don't like it a single bit. Don't get me wrong, I do like to read books, but this book is about nothing. It describes lives of three women and how they struggle with the problems they face because of their ethnic background and gender. Too many sentimentalities in this book simply bore me. Like a soap opera.
Rating: 
Summary: A saga
Review: I really liked this book because it exemplifies the women being able to face the misconception and challenges of being an individual. The three characters of the book; Ida, Christine and Rayona symbolizes independence and bravery in facing trials brought about by hidden family secrets and mistakes from the past, and they used this vices to improve their individuality and their relationship with each other. The book also gives us a taste of Indian history that flows through three generations, which divides the book into three stories, based on each perspective. I liked how the author present the facts and mysteries of their lives because it all started from the present and back tracks to Ida's point of view. The story is also amusing because it is straightforward and the language used is colloquial. Over all, the book casts a spell on the reader making it a part of the story itself.
Rating:
Summary: A yellow raft in blue water, a novel like no other.
Review: A yellow raft in blue water by Michael Doris is without a doubt one of the most unique books I have ever read. The novel was magnificently separated into three parts, Rayona an American Indian teen, Christina Rayona's mother, and Ida Christina's mother, with each of the three characters telling a little about their lives. I think this makes this book exciting because each character leaves readers with their nose in the books while the plot slowly unveils itself. A yellow raft in blue water realistically illustrates the love and hate between the broken down relationship of three women, and it captures your imagination and your heart. I strongly recommend this book to everyone and anyone who can read.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: This was the best book I have read during my 9th grade year. It shows how a family can be so different yet so much the same. I don't know how anyone could rate this as a 2! This is a really great book.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, Unoriginal, and Dull
Review: I was not at all impressed by this book as I read it during my 9th grade English class. I did not feel any attachment to any of the characters at all. At times the ordeals of the characters seemed like over-dramatized cliches. I found myself getting frustrated with the characters and bored by their stale attempts to grapple with their personal situations. The symbolism and the frequent metaphors were too obvious and uninteresting. And as a 9th grader, this book was at times much too explicit, a sentiment similarily expressed by my English teacher- it is definitely NOT for younger audiences. I overall did not enjoy this book. If you are looking for a book that captures the essence of the female psyche, I would recommend Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye instead. Sometime I may want to re-read this book, as it has been four years now, but I rather would spend my time on a classic. I would recommend against reading this one- it leaves a lasting unpleasant feeling without offering an insightful new perspective or idea. It certainly lacks the brilliance and impact of a true classic read.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story
Review: I couldn't believe while reading this book that the author was a male! His insights into the female psyche was extroadordinary. I know the book is good when I audibly gasp at the twists & turns of the characters. Enjoyed this book tremendously. His wife, Louise Erdrich, also writes beautifully about the Native Americans. Strongly recommend to anyone, any age. Can appeal to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Three
Review: This book was one of most notable books I have ever read. The number 3 had such great significance. The book was separated into three sections: Rayona, Christine, and Ida. It started on page 3. Also, it takes 3 strands of hair to braid it. Braiding has been a trait among the three generations. The three viewpoints of each woman emphasizes the different viewpoints of a story like the phrase "There's always to sides to a story." Because of the different viewpoints, you can have different opinions. Some may think that each woman was courageous and strong enough to climb over their suffering. Others may think that each woman deserved their suffering and that it is just another chick book. Whatever the opinion is, I recommend that you should read it.
Rating:
Summary: I reaaly liked this book
Review: A Yellow Raft In Blue Water was very heart compiling story, I explore many subjects such as teenage life and how hard it is to grow up without a support system, death and regret, it even talked about adultery, and having to deal with others people's mistakes. This story was written in a unique style, I've never read a book so good like this. There were many themes in this book. Like love and loneliness, and in another way the themes sort of tied the stories together as well as the ending. Rayona narrates the first part of the book, and she talks about her loneliness mostly in this section. In the second section Christine is Rayona's mother, who shares her regret and her feelings of loneliness. In this book they even use profanity very similar language that we use today, I think that when you read this book it really makes you think what's going on in your life and who you really are. And I knew how it will fell if I put my self in other people's shoes. If you've ever had to deal with loneliness, love, or the lost of a loved one, then this book if for you, because you'll know what will happen to you.
Rating:
Summary: Reading it again
Review: I have recently read this book for the second time. The first time I read it was when I was in the ninth grade, just for pleasure. This second time around I had to read it for my Modern Literature class. The second time I read it I was able to understand the three parts of the book much more clearly. The book is split into three parts, one for each character. I can honestly say that, to me, only two of the three were interesting. The first part of the book is Rayona, the second Christine (Rayona's mother), and the third Ida (Christine's mother). To me, Christine and Ida's were interesting because they explained, in different ways, the reason why Rayona had so many problems. The first time I read the book I honestly thought Ida did not love Christine, but now that I have read it again I am able to understand the coldness Ida gave Christine. The form this book is writen in is very unique. It is jdivided into three parts and it tells the story going from the youngest to the eldest. The book had an odd ending that left me in a "What, this is it?" Eventhough it had an odd ending it was a interesting book and I recomend it to anybody mature enough to read it.
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