Step into another world with this wonderful book about a scientist, a young woman shaman, and her native family who bridge cultural divides in far northern Alaska. The narrative is told as a memoir from the point of view of Kayugtuq (Gretchen), a young woman in a small Alaskan village near the Arctic. She encounters Leif, teaches him the ways of her Inupiac culture, and falls in love with him. Interspersed within Gretchen's memoir are the journals of Leif, an ornithologist studying the habitats of the northern goose and many other birds, and the ecological effects of demon petroleum. His observations capture his passion for his work, his causes, and his feelings for Gretchen.

With rich, illuminating prose that displays a quiet respect for nature even in this harsh and forbidding climate, Lesley Thomas takes us on a unique journey to find what we all seek: human compassion, trust, a sense of belonging, and of course, love. I hope that this important and touching story makes it to the big screen, and soon.