The Shaman and the Droll (The Travellers)
by Jack Lasenby
Category: Juvenile Fiction

A wise and extraordinary YA tale of great challenges, myths and folklore; the third title in the award-winning Travellers series. Lutha of the Floating Village helps Ish, the outcast boy, escape with his beloved dogs, Jak and Nip, but before long, they are swept away, hurtled down an underground river only to emerge in the harsh land of the Great White Bear. The Bear Man comes to their rescue and takes Ish under his wing. It's through their friendship, Ish discovers the Bear Man is a servant of the village people: he is their wise one, their healer, their shaman. In this timeless story by one of New Zealand's finest writers for children, Ish gains wisdom and a place. He learns the profound power of knowledge, the terrifying force of superstition, and witnesses first hand the mysteries of the human spirit. But in this land of blinding light there lurks a dark, menacing presence threatening all who may offend her. Ish, discovering he is to be blinded, escapes the Droll and her servant with the help of the Shaman, and finds his way back to Lake Ka and Lutha.