Whats your name? Is it Susie or Sam? This line from an early rock song can aptly describe the question that is the driving force for the young boy in this book. He is taken to a residential school, where his name and identity are stolen from him. In this school, he is given a name that is not his own and is forced to forget his native language and culture. In this school, however, he is contacted by a spirit who helps him learn the language of the stars. She tells the boy her name is Alice. The stone people said: In the beginning of my peoples story The first creation was stone The Great Spirit with mystery in mind Impregnated this stone with life Knowing full and well that water, Music, and muse Would crack open the stone And set Great Spirits fire free winterhawk