This is a fictional myth of the Inuit people which is based on some of the traditional beliefs and lifestyle of the Inupiaq people. It follows a girl whose people are starving because the caribou herd has disappeared. After she has a dream about the caribou, her grandfather gives her an amulet that once belonged to her shaman great-grandmother; she has a spiritual journey during which she becomes part of the caribou herd and learns their ways. She returns to her people to teach them about the caribou, and becomes the new shaman. Despite the great potential for this story, it falls short because of the choppiness of the plot and the awkward tone of the narrative. The facial expressions of the characters in the watercolor and colored pencil illustrations are odd, and do not look entirely realistic. Overall, a disappointing book. Appropriate for ages 6-8; does include a short bibliography/suggested reading section. ( )