Praise for The Great Death:

"An amazing story."--Frank McCourt

"Gripping and poignant. . . . An unforgettable survival tale."--Horn Book

"A beautiful, poignant story."--Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner

"Graphically illustrates the effects of a plague on isolated peoples."--School Library Journal

"An engaging tale of survival."--Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Trap:

"An unforgettable story. Brilliant!"--Ray Bradbury

"A gripping example of talented storytelling. Unforgettable."--Tony Hillerman

Praise for The Edge of Nowhere:

"More psychological depth than Robinson Crusoe."--Frank McCourt

Praise for Alaskan:

"Smelcer is Alaska's modern-day Jack London."--W.P. Kinsella

"A celebration of the diversity of cultures. Undeniably important!"--James Michener

"An indispensible contribution to Alaskan literature."--JD Salinger

"This writer speaks from the land, and for the land, and the people who belong to it."--Ursula K. Le Guin

Deneena Yazzie's love of the woods and trail come from her grandfather, who teaches her their all-but-vanished Native Alaskan language. While her peers lose hope, trapped between the old and the modern cultures, and turn to destructive behaviors, Denny and her mysterious lead dog, a blue-eyed wolf, train for the Great Race--giving her town a new pride and hope.

John Smelcer is poetry editor of Rosebud and the author of more than forty books. He is an Alaskan Native of the Ahtna tribe, and the last surviving reader and writer of Ahtna. John holds degrees in archeology, linguistics, literature, and education, and formerly chaired the Alaska Native Studies program and the University of Alaska (Anchorage).