Robbie Daniels' dream is to leave Port Protection, Alaska to work on a salmon troller. But he wants a lot more than a glass fishing float for his younger sister Matty—he seeks the experience, money, and glory that come with being on a real commercial boat at the height of king salmon season. When he crawls aboard the Storm Petrel, he hopes to find just that—but ends up getting more than he bargained for in the form of burly highliner fisherman Tor Torsen. Amid Torsen's brutish mood swings, Robbie stumbles upon Russian plaques and relics that Torsen has secretly collected. When his anger at Robbie's discovery subsides, Torsen provides him with a wealth of historical information regarding the relationship between Russians and Alaskan natives. But when Torsen is not regaling him with stories, the man's boorish nature has Robbie planning an escape off the Storm Petrel, and back home to Port Protection and his family. But as they hit a threatening storm, Robbie begins to realize that not everything is as it seems, and that Torsen's motives for selling the plaques may lie less in profit making and more in the king salmon fishing industry's changes. Charlie Thurston provides good narration with distinct, believable characters. Though the dialogue and storytelling between Tor and Robbie tends to slow the plot a bit, the historical content will be useful for students interested in how the Russian colonization of Alaska changed the course of its history. Reviewer: Karen McCoy

Gr 7 Up—Robbie, 16, grew up on Alaska's Prince Wales Island. To earn money for his family, he wants to work as a deckhand during the short and very risky king salmon season to help his family. Robbie signs on with Tor Torsen and gets off on the wrong foot with the secretive and moody captain. Tension abounds, some created by Robbie's mistakes, some by the fact that he knows that Tor is searching for valuable historic metal plaques buried along the coastline by early Russian explorers. The descriptions of the Alaskan scenery, fishing, and the raging storm near the end of the story will draw listeners in and hold their attention. Charles Thurston's first-person narration of Will Hobbs's novel (HarperCollins, 2004) seems clipped at the beginning, but listeners will soon become accustomed to it and be drawn in by his voice changes and inflection as he alternates between Robbie and the gruff, moody, and enigmatic Tor. In addition to enjoying an exciting story, listeners will also learn a great deal about Alaskan history and salmon fishing. Gary Paulsen's fans will enjoy this tale.—John R. Clark, Hartland Public Library, ME