Across the Tides

By Mary Nixon

In the 1920s, a battle rages between a spunky, half-Native American woman and a successful timber man, neighbors across the tides in Washington State's Puget Sound. Their backgrounds represent different races, cultures, spiritual beliefs and plans for the future. The teenaged girl Lilliwaup lives on the mainland with Blossom, an eccentric Indian grandmother who clings to memories of longhouses and potlatch give-away feasts. Blossom shapes Lilliwaup's beliefs with legends of the salmon people and Mt. Rainier. Lilliwaup also belongs to her father's Indian Christian Shaker church; she develops a powerful connection with the spirit world and relies on Jesus, her spirit guide StarBird, and shaking trances to overcome obstacles. Jack Brenner, a married timber executive, lives on a nearby island. He's come from Germany with a secret past and an uncanny ability to acquire what he wants. For several years, Lilliwaup and Brenner try to outfox one another. Lilliwaup goes after the Brenner's island, a place to restore Blossom's heritage. Inevitably, the two clash, come together and clash again. Eventually Ellie is born, a child who is determined to cross the tides and discover the truth. Untangling the truth threatens to undo them all.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595300030
• ISBN13: 9780595300037
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An original, emotional, compelling story featuring strong, driven characters

Across the Tides is a novel about a titanic battle of wills. Set in the 1920s, it follows the a half-Native American woman with ties to both her Indian grandmother's customs and potlatches, and her father's Indian Christian Shaker church, through which she develops strong bonds with the spirit world and with Jesus. Her enemy is a married timber executive from Germany, hiding a secret past and skillful at obtaining what he wants. Their tangles up truth itself, and resolving it may come at a steep price - for the life of the child born of their love/hate relationship lingers in the balance. An original, emotional, compelling story featuring strong, driven characters.

Good Read for a Book Club

I finished this book in just a few days and really enjoyed it! I thought it was very interesting and found myself thinking about the plot and characters even when I wasn't reading the book. I loved Lilly's character. It would be nice to be as carefree as she had started out to be. I would definitely recommend this book to other avid readers and think it would make a great book club topic.

Amazing Story of Scandal, Strength, and Sacrifice

I laughed and cried throughout this amazing story of scandal, strength, and sacrifice. The writing was beautiful and readers will feel swept away with the characters emotional journeys. I especially enjoyed the way religion was introduced and then intertwined with historical indian rituals and beliefs. It was an interesting look at the way peoples lives often crash together but eventually swirl into one. This book is worth the read!