Tiktala

McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award

Parents' Choice Honour Award

Tiktala looked out at the black churning waters. She dreaded the sea, but she was more afraid of being left alone. She closed her eyes and heaved forward. "I am Tiktala," she cried, as she entered the ocean.

Tiktala looked down at what should have been her mittens and saw silver-grey fur, black claws-flippers. She tried to get away, but the flippers-her flippers-scratched and scrambled on the rock. Tiktala was a harp seal.

"Spirit!" her cry rang out. "Change me back!" But no spirit answered.

Reviews:
"Shaw-MacKinnon introduces children to the demands of the creative spirit while increasing their awareness of the needs of nature and the role humans play in protecting wildlife"
-- School Library Journal