Trail of Lightning

Trail of Lightning

• Genre: Fiction; post-apocalyptic fantasy; climate fiction (cli-fi); Indigenous Futurism
• Originally Published: 2018
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile HL700L; grades 8-12; college/adult
• Structure/Length: 38 chapters; approximately 287 pages; approximately 8 hours, 58 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Maggie Hoskie, a 20-year-old Diné (Navajo) monster hunter, navigates a post-apocalyptic world teeming with mythological creatures. The central conflict involves Maggie’s quest to unveil the truth behind a series of brutal murders while dealing with her demons and complex relationships.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Graphic violence; death; reference to past trauma and abuse; direct and indirect portrayals of colonization, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and police brutality; elements of horror; emotional distress. Please note: For traditional Diné students, discussing and sharing Coyote stories may be restricted to winter months.

Rebecca Roanhorse, Author

• Bio: Born in 1971; American speculative fiction writer and lawyer; of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and African American descent; holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale, a master’s degree in theology from Union Theological Seminary, and a juris doctor degree from Stanford Law School; work often features Indigenous characters and mythology; known for her unique blend of fantasy and science fiction
• Other Works: Storm of Locusts (2019); Black Sun (2020); Race to the Sun (2020)
• Awards: Locus Award for Best First Novel (2019); Hugo Award Finalist (2019); Nebula Award Finalist (2019)

CENTRAL THEMES noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Trust and Betrayal in Relationships
• Fear of the Other
• Climate Change and Environmental Destruction
• Familial Ties and Obligations

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Guide, students will:

• Deepen understanding of how literary Indigenous Futurism confronts past and present colonialism, undermines stereotypes, and applies Indigenous cultural knowledge to anticipate, inform, and improve conditions for the future.
• Discuss and analyze textual elements such as symbolism, characterization, and structure and construct essay responses tying these elements to the novel’s themes.
• Through paired texts, explore aspects of Diné culture and history and analyze how they inform Trail of Lightning.
• Research important cultural aspects of the story to determine where Roanhorse is borrowing ideas and to analyze how she transforms them to support themes within the novel.