Narrated by 19 year-old Lisa Marie Michell Heil from Kitimat village on the west coast of BC., the novel offers insight on loving families, sibling rivalry, scapegoating, fear, aggression, alcohol and drug abuse and the connection between grief and anger. As the story opens, the boat Lisa’s 18-year-old brother, Jimmy, works on is late. Both Jimmy and his boss are missing and feared drowned. Lisa and her parents wait for news. Her parents fly out to be nearer the search site. Impatient, Lisa takes an outboard and travels the coast to join them. Her brother’s predicament triggers Lisa’s memories about her brother and other loved ones lost. Lisa is gifted with spiritual powers. While her parents focused on her brother’s swimming ability, her grandmother Ma-ma-oo helped her come to terms with her gift. In effect, she teaches Lisa the ways of the shaman. However, over the years, as Lisa lost her favourite uncle in a fishing accident, Ma-maoo in a house fire and a friend to suicide, she found herself floundering in her anger and grief. She ran to the city, nearly killing herself with alcohol and drugs, trying to numb her pain and escape her gift. Her boat trip along the coast becomes a spiritual journey as she seeks assistance from spirit helpers to find her brother or rescue his drowned soul. She finally understands the truth of his death, a jealous rage over a girl Jimmy was intent on marrying. She also comes to terms with her spirit helpers.