The Totem Casts a Shadow

222 pp. Color frontispiece by Louis Darling. "This is the second book in a series about the Monroe family, pioneers in Alaska in 1887. It's light historical romance for young adults. In this book Florence now lives with her mother in their new home in Klinkwan, where Ma tries to keep everything as genteel as it was in Victoria. But they are the only white people on Prince of Wales Island. The Haida Indians have a village nearby and Pa has forbidden the Monroes to cross over a line and have anything to do with them. It's okay to sell them blankets in his store but no fraternizing. Brother Greg, who is not meant for such a life, learns to speak Haida. Pa is away when the old Indian Chief dies. Greg warns the family that there will be a power play for rulership of the tribe but older brother Alec, the head of the family in Pa's place, plays down the danger. The wailing goes on for days until everyone is on edge. When the Indian girl Nakatla comes to warn them at peril to herself, Greg does the only honorable thing he can do regardless of what happens to him."--Good Reads