Bright Morning is one of the strong, resourceful and independent young Indian women that O'Dell creates in his novels. She has a fierce desire for freedom which makes her refuse to give up and adapt to the ways of her Spanish captors. Instead, she stubbornly bides her time and takes the first chance to escape. This independent streak also characterizes her relationship with Tall Boy who later becomes her husband.

Critics of O'Dell have mentioned the stoicism and absence of emotion in Bright Morning, but this is not quite true. Although the girl does not express her emotions easily, something considered inappropriate among her people, she has a deep bond with the young man and understands his feelings. When he is crippled by a bullet during his attempt to help her escape from the Spaniards, she carefully rebuilds his self-esteem, knowing that his pride is deeply hurt by...