Cady's mother disappeared when Cady was only six. Now about to turn fourteen, Cady aches for her mother to be with her. In an attempt to curb her granddaughter's angry outbursts, Grandma Winnie takes Cady on a road trip throughout Wisconsin and Michigan. "We'll repeat the trip your mother took when she was your age and maybe you'll learn more about her," Grandma tells Cady. Adding to Cady's stress is the deadline for her essay entry in Barnesville's centennial celebration.

Through missing her mother and trying to find her, Cady is learning to see herself. Accompanying her on her adventures are her best friend, Irish; her "crush," John Ray Chicaug; and an ever-present blue jay.

"Ann Dallman gives the reader another heart-deep journey into the disappointments and hope-filled dreams of Cady, a modern Native American teenage girl. The mystery within the storyline adds the perfect touch of tension." – Sue Harrison, author of Rescuing Crash, The Good Dog

"Cady Whirlwind Thunder must draw on the strength of all her spirit helpers as she reluctantly follows a path into a mystery about her very identity. Ann Dallman invites the reader to share a worthy, modern story about Native American youth, family, values, and resilience." – Martin Reinhardt, PhD (Anishinaabe Ojibway), Professor Emeritus, NMU Center for Native American Studies

"A captivating continuation of Cady's journey while accurately portraying Native youth in Indian country." – Cassie Gill, Hannahville Potawatomi Tribal Member, Oneida Tribal Police Dispatcher