Born in the thaw of late winter when steam ravels from the dens of bears to signal their birth, Makoons is named for the Ojibwe word for little bear, or bear child. He and his twin, Chickadee, have moved with their family to the Great Plains of Dakota Territory, leaving behind the reservations—leftover land that the US government tried to give them. The Plains belong to the buffalo, and Makoons and Chickadee are eager to learn the ways of the bison hunters from their father and help their people make a home in this new land.But Makoons has had a vision, one that tells him that he and his family will travel toward the western stars, but also that their family will face great hardships—hardships that they may not be able to overcome.Set in 1866, this story of Makoons and his family is based on Louise Erdrich’s own family history.