I had to read this book twice to see everything there is in it... I love this book, and I love Zia, but it is very sad. Zia is veyy strong and determined, but she doesn't care for anything but Karana. She closes her heart to everyone but Karana - even before she actually meets her, she only thinks of her and only wants her. And then... she finds herself all alone. Even her younger brother, who loves her so much, leaves her, because seeing that there is no place for him in Zia's heart, he gives his heart to the sea. It's also sad that Father Vicente's good intentions don't work out because they are not practical, and that means there is no way at all for the Indians. They can never become what the Europeans want them to be - and in the way they are there is just no place for them in the new world the Europeans have created.