Annie Boochever Livres

“No Natives or Dogs Allowed,” blared the storefront sign at Elizabeth Peratrovich, then a young Alaska Native Tlingit. The sting of those words would stay with her all her life. Years later, after becoming a seasoned fighter for equality, she would deliver her own powerful one that helped change Alaska and the nation forever.In 1945, Peratrovich stood before the Alaska Territorial Legislative Session and gave a powerful speech about her childhood and her experiences being treated as a second-class citizen. Her heartfelt testimony led to the passing of the landmark Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act, America’s first civil rights legislation. Today, Alaska celebrates Elizabeth Peratrovich Day every February 16, and she will be honored on the gold one-dollar coin in 2020.Annie Boochever worked with Elizabeth’s eldest son, Roy Peratrovich Jr., to bring Elizabeth’s story to life in the first book written for young teens on this remarkable Alaska Native woman.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Bristol Bay's salmon fishery, a thirteen-year-old girl grapples with her parents' divorce and the challenges of adolescence during a transformative summer in Alaska. The story captures the essence of teamwork and resilience in a remote lifestyle, where familial bonds are tested and the struggle for survival becomes a central theme. Zoey's journey reflects the complexities of growing up amidst the beauty and harsh realities of nature, making for an authentic and compelling narrative.