"She stopped and forced herself to eat, because she wanted to walk to her father with her head up, strong and proud, not tottering as if exhausted from her long trek." —Chapter 1, Anna, p. 21.

"I remember saying, 'Dad, we did something bad. We stole candy and cookies from the store.'" —Chapter 3, Three Babes Alone, p. 40.

"It was clear that I still had trouble trusting anyone, and in my mind my dad had abandoned the three of us when my mother had died." —Chapter 4, Anvik, p. 50.

"I wanted to attend the Demoski potlatch, but one of the younger boys of the village told me, 'They don't allow halfbreeds from the Koyukuk in the hall.'" —Chapter 7, Nulato, p. 72.

"I knew that I had to keep moving because no amount of clothing would keep me warm if I stopped. Yet I moved slowly, knowing that...