Kutub

The main character is a girl named Karana, and that is her secret name. Wonapalei is her common name (everyone in the village has a secret name). Her people lived in a village called Ghalas-at, gathering roots and fishing to supply the tribe. One day, a ship of Aleuts, led by a Russian named Captain Orlov, arrived and persuaded the natives into letting them hunt sea otter in return for other goods. However, the Aleuts attempted to swindle the islanders and leave without paying. When they are confronted by Chief Chowig, Karana's father, a battle breaks out, and lives were lost on both sides. The tribe was annihilated by the battle and the Aleuts left the island, leaving little payment for the otters they hunted. Karana's father and many other men in the tribe died during the battle.
Later, the "replacement chief", Chief Kimki, left the island on a canoe for new land in the East. Eventually, he was able to send a "giant canoe" to bring his people to the jujjiand, even though he himself did not return. The white men came to Karana's village and told them to pack their goods and go to a ship. Karana's brother, Ramo left the ship to retrieve his fishing spear. Although Karana urged the captain to wait for her brother Ramo to return, the ship must leave before a storm approaches. Karana jumped off the ship and swam to shore, and the ship departs without them.
The siblings lived alone on the island,hoping the ship will return. Ramo was eventually killed by a pack of feral dogs (some of the dogs joined the feral pack after the Aleuts killed their owners). Alone on the island, Karana must take on traditionally male tasks, such as hunting, making spears, or building canoes, in order to survive. She vowed to avenge her brother's death and killed several of the dogs, but has a change of heart when she encountered the leader of the pack. She tamed him and named him Rontu, meaning "Fox eyes" in her language.
Over time, Karana made a life for herself. She built a home made of whale bones and even stocked a cave with provisions in case the Aleuts ever came back, so she could hide from them. As she explored her island, Karana discovered ancient artifacts and a large octopus (which she called a devilfish). As time passed, she decided to hunt the devilfish. She also tamed some birds and an otter; she fets a close kinship to the animals, the only inhabitants of the island beside herself. She thought of them as her children.
One summer, the Aleuts returned, and Karana took refuge in the cave. She observed the Aleuts closely, and soon realized that there was a girl named Tutok among the Aleuts who took care of the domestic duties, including getting water from the pool near Karana's cave. Despite Karana's precautions, she and the young Aleut woman met and befriended each other. They exchanged presents with each other when possible. Karana realized how lonely she had been without other people. Later the Aleuts left with Tutok; the men were none the wiser of Karana's presence, but their departure also deprived her of her newfound friend.
More time went by, and Rontu dies. She soon found a young dog that looked like Rontu and took him in, naming him Rontu-Aru ("Son of Rontu"). One day, Karana saw the sails of a ship. It docked at the shore, but it then leaves. Two years later, in the spring, the boat came back, so she dresses in her finest attire and went to the shore to meet the boat. Her rescuers realize her attire would not be appropriate for the mainland, and they had a dress made for her. Although she did not like the dress, Karana realized that it was part of her new life. The ship sailed away, and took Karana and Rontu-Aru to the mission in Santa Barbara, California.