THE CASE OF WINDY LAKE

Calling themselves the Mighty Muskrats, a team of cousins from
Windy Lake First Nation in Canada set out to solve the mystery of a missing
person.

Hired by a mining company to study the cultural value of
potential prospecting sites on the reserve, the “bone-digger” archaeologist,
Dr. Troy Pixton, has seemingly vanished while out conducting fieldwork.
Chickadee and her cousin Samuel overhear Uncle Levi, a member of the Windy Lake
police force, tell Grandpa about the disappearance, and the two enlist Samuel’s
brother, Atim, and their other cousin Otter to help in the search. With very
little information regarding Pixton’s last whereabouts to go on, the four kids
race to their makeshift fort, a broken-down school bus parked in the community
junkyard, to formulate a plan. As they interview community members, follow
leads, and tail Uncle Levi, it soon becomes apparent that anyone—from elders
concerned about desecration of sacred sites to environmental warriors dedicated
to protecting water—could be involved. It will take teamwork and Indigenuity
for the Mighty Muskrats to solve the case. The third-person narrative
economically informs unfamiliar readers regarding Indigenous/First Nation
politics, family dynamics, and concerns in an entertaining manner without
detracting from the plot. Additionally, Chickadee’s rez-tech savvy pairs well
with her cousin Otter’s bushcraft skills, and, along with Atim’s brawn and
brother Samuel’s leadership, the four make a fine team.