Mystery at Shildii Rock.

Twelve-year-old Robin Harris has a vivid imagination that sometimes gets him in trouble. He lives in a largely native community in the Northwest Territories with his mother and his father, a corporal in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This northern setting offers plenty of opportunity for adventure. While on a boat trip, Robin spots a mysterious stranger atop the legendary Shildii Rock, so he and his friend Wayne Reindeer begin a secret investigation.

They befriend Timothy Parch, the new prairie boy in town, and introduce him to some of their favourite local activities: snowshoeing and dogsledding. He also assists them with their exploration. They soon find themselves in over their heads when they come face to face with the gun-wielding stranger, and Robin’s life is again threatened by a crazy Dutch trapper. When the trapper is murdered, the boys’ fathers become involved. They head out on a journey that includes a trip by dogsled, an investigation of the crime scene, and a shootout near Shildii Rock.

This book seamlessly integrates an exciting storyline with lessons about life in the North and Gwich’in customs and lore. Descriptions of the dog teams and of the “honey bucket”—a northern version of a chamber pot—would definitely appeal to young boys. Highly recommended.