This is a coming-of-age story set in the early history of Michigan while logging of the forests was the main industry. The daughter of parents from two different cultures, Marie is unique in many ways. Ostracized and bullied in school by her peers, Marie finds solace in the relationship she develops with an abandoned wolf pup as she tries to navigate the challenges of adolescence. The story transports the reader to a time and place that is both unfamiliar and exciting. Through the wisdom of folklore from Marie's Indigenous heritage as well as that of her French immigrant grandfather, the reader is invited to view their own place in the world in a new light.

Both painful and sad as well as joyful and uplifting, the relationship and adventure of Marie and the wolf invite the reader to consider what it means to be both fearful and brave. Through the eyes of the main characters, the story explores the impacts of marginalization and belonging, offering the reader a new lens through which to observe and understand their own feelings and actions, borrowing from and blending the best of diverse cultures. Ultimately the reader is asked to recognize what sacrifice it may take to truly love.