Russel Susskit is a 14 year old boy who
is trying to find his place in his Eskimo village. He is not sure if he should go the way of the
“white man” or stick to the tradition that has slowly been lost over time. Not being able to rely on his father,
Russell looks to Oogruk, an Eskimo shaman who helps him to find the tradition
that he is seeking by sending him on a journey that will help Russel to
discover the boy that he is, and the man that he will become. Russel begins a quest that leads him across
the frozen tundra, and teaches him to learn to depend on himself
and his surroundings in order to survive. He uses Oogruk’s snow dog team, and
finds himself dreaming about an Eskimo man’s trials and tribulations that he
faces to find food for his family.
Russel believes that this many have been part of his former life, and
takes what he dreams and applies it to his survival skills. His new knowledge is put to the test when he
has to save a young Eskimo girl who has been banished from her village because
of her unwanted pregnancy. Russel must
do what the Eskimo man could not, save the young girl and himself. This book truly shares the triumphs, losses,
and learning moments that Russell experiences while trying to find himself.
