Spirit Quest

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Someone has stolen the sacred box that belongs to the Salish people. The
box contains all the virtues of the Salish community: love, kindness,
truth, honesty, gentleness, and generosity. Teen twins Kaya and Tala are
asked to find the sacred box and bring it home. Although their
grandfather warns them that their mission may be dangerous, nothing
could have prepared them for what lies ahead. To test their bravery and
good intentions, wild animals and supernatural creatures lead them on a
bewildering journey through the British Columbia wilderness. Even in the
rainforest, they are not alone; when they are in danger, a wise medicine
man and a strange little eagle jockey named Yaket come to their aid.

Move over Nancy Drew. First Nations sleuths Kaya and Tala add a new
dimension to the venerable genre of preteen detective fiction. Native
author Diane Silvey has combined traditional Salish spiritual beliefs
with modern adventure to produce a refreshingly different kind of action
tale. The plot is fast-paced, with plenty of twists and turns, but the
young protagonists are also challenged to learn something about
themselves as they go about fulfilling their mission. Highly
recommended.