This book is about Mari, the daughter of the Moon Woman (the healer of the Earth Walker tribe). Mari has had to hide her whole life and camouflage herself from fellow Earth Walkers because she isn't a full Earth Walker. The rule of the tribe is to mate within tribes. But Mari is the product of an Earth Walker-Companions (a rival clan). To avoid being banished by the tribe, Mari has to dye her naturally fair hair, put paste on her face to hide how light her skin is and cover her arms at all times to hide the golden designs under her skin. Mari is next up to become Moon Woman until a canine changes her whole life. Nik, one of the other perspectives on the book has been waiting his whole life to be chosen by a canine. Finally at the ripe age of 24, a dog gives him a second glance and starts to head towards him. When suddenly the gaze is broken and he heads into the woods. Nik goes hunting down this dog because he is eager to finally be chosen. Long story short, the dog finds Mari. But to add in the running out of time element in the book, the Companions contract a deadly disease whenever their skin is broken. Even a tiny papercut is lethal. But Mari finds the cure in her mother's journal and Nik needs it to cure the tribe. So it's only a matter r of time before the tribe dies. Read the book to find out more.
- Mariela, 8th grade, Cambridge Street Upper School
