This intense and powerful first work by a promising young author tells the story of a young girl caught up in the harrowing world of urban violence and of the man who tries to save her.

A young Native American man in his first job after college encounters an amazing variety of people in his role as a social worker. Out of all these needy and desperate people he develops a strong bond with a young teenage girl named Nicki, one of the most unforgettable characters to walk off the page of a book. He becomes her role model and she becomes the one person he wants to save. The juxtaposition of these two characters creates the tension and the finale to this tough and tightly woven tale of contemporary urban life.

Keith Egawa was born in Seattle, Washington and is an enrolled member of the Lummi Indian Nation. He received his B.A. in English Literature with a Writing Emphasis from the University of Washington. This is his first novel.

Heartbroken over the loss of her beloved grandmother, Tani, a Native American girl of the Coast Salish people, remembers her grandmother's parting advice to journey into the forest to search for "the heart of all things." Not knowing if she will recognize the answers she seeks, but certain she must abide by her grandmother's wishes, Tani embarks on a quest through the wilds of the Pacific Northwest; unexpectedly finding her way into a world of Coast Salish legend, tradition and self-discovery. Struggling with self-doubt, Tani is helped through the challenging terrain of her homeland by the wise animals of the forest, such as Bear, Otter and Salamander, the guiding spirit of her departed grandmother, and the magical Stick Indian, whose presence on the shadowy fringes once inspired fear in Tani. Through each new encounter with the animals along the way, Tani moves closer to reaching her goal and revealing the answers she has always carried within. With each step toward discovering her special place and purpose in the world, Tani's courage grows in the face of uncertainty; awakening her unique gifts and the collective wisdom shared by her people through generations. As her journey finds her standing on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Tani comes to learn that the heart of all things can be found in the most unexpected places, from her front doorstep to the distant ocean, with very little space between the questions and the answers. Told in the style of traditional Native American storytelling, this richly illustrated novella shares a subtle environmental conservation message with the reader while exploring the connections between self-confidence, self-reliance and the strength that is found in trusting friendships. Tani's Search for the Heart reminds us of our valuable connection to our ancestors and the natural world; fostering a growing respect for the people, lands and waters that sustain us all.