Aurora is a brave and resourceful Inuk girl. When her family goes missing while on a hunting trip, she embarks on a perilous mission to find them. In her travels Aurora must face both the harsh Arctic elements and her own fears, but she does not do so alone: she finds allies in a mother polar bear, Mama Nanuk, and her cubs. Once she is home and reunited with her parents, Aurora’s story of grit and determination becomes an inspiration to the people in her village. Beautifully illustrated by the author, Aurora’s Journey is a celebration of individual resilience in the face of adversity.

All great stories written by Inuit authors have that quality of Inukness to them. Kayla Williams continues that fine tradition of weaving our archetypal truths for the world to see and marvel at our common humanity. Aurora, in setting out to find her family, befriends a mother bear, and remembers anâna’s and atâta’s teachings and learns about survival and comes to her own in the beautifully savage wilderness of Nunatsiavut.

—Jaypeetee Arnakak, author of The Woman and Her Bear Cub

Aurora’s Journey is a wonderfully illustrated book filled with beautiful depictions of Northern lifestyles and family bonds. Its celebration of cultural knowledge is a core practice within our communities and encourages Aurora’s bravery and strength. The unique story presents us all with the vital practice of examining the land and its ever-changing elements, only to challenge Aurora so that she must rely on the cultural knowledge and advice her ancestors have passed down to her. Kayla Williams has created an extraordinary work that I could read over and over again.

—Sharon King, author of Amik