The Call of the Rift: Flight

Gr 9 Up—First in a fantasy series set among the First Nations of Canada, this is the story of Kateiko, 17, a member of the Rin tribe who can shapeshift and possesses the ability to hear voices from the dead. Kateiko is not satisfied with life in her tribe and is annoyed with what she feels to be her culture's antiquated belief system; the Rin hold the elder spirit world in greater regard than our tangible world. Tired of this conflict, Kateiko decides to leave her people and journey across a rainforest to another tribe. On her journey, Kateiko is wounded in a skirmish where she kills a soldier and wounds a high-ranking political leader. Her distrust of those who have taken her in is matched only by their mistrust of her. While convalescing, she meets Tiernan, a mentor and potential love interest. It is only once the auspicious and powerful wind spirit Suriel threatens the Rin and the people she loves that Kateiko's fearlessness and courage shine and her transformation occurs. Waller puts a great deal of thought into her world-building, including maps, cultures to know, slang, a glossary, and a time line. This work exemplifies the hero's journey and the enormous role fate and destiny play.