Maria Rigoni

Ekewane is a young girl on the brink of womanhood. For thousands of years her ancestors had lived on an island in the Pacific. However, due to years of drought many tribal members were forced to migrate in search of a new land in which to settle.

Ekewane is faced with fears of not only surviving on an unknown island, but her own feelings as she becomes a woman. On her quest she discovers powers within her that she has inherited from her ancestors. Ekewane forms a friendship with three other young people who are also faced with a fight for survival.

The story looks at the dangers and fears faced by islanders in their wooden canoes, as they travelled the vast unpredictable Pacific Ocean in search of new islands to settle. They take with them a culture embedded in magical beliefs, sorcery and mystical beings as they face unknown dangers with only their courage, and the belief in their gods and ancestors whom they pray to help them survive.