People of the Lakes
 | |
| Author | Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear |
|---|---|
| Country | United States of America |
| Language | English/American |
| Series | The First North Americans |
| Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
Publication date | 01 June 1995 |
| Pages | 816 (Paperback 1st edition) |
| ISBN | 9780812507478 |
| Preceded by | People of the Sea |
| Followed by | People of the Lightning |
People of the Lakes is a historical fiction novel by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear. It is the sixth book in The First North Americans series.
The book is set in the North American continent during the Middle Ages and follows the plight of a group of natives trying to save their clan from a great evil and avoid a rival clan.
Plot
Clan fighting over a powerful totemic mask has brought the Mound Builder people of the Great Lakes region to the edge of destruction. It is up to Star Shell, daughter of a Hopewell chief, to rid her people of this curse. Along with her companions: Otter, a trader; Pearl, a runaway; and Green Spider, either prophet or madman, she braves the stormy waters of the lakes to reach the majestic waterfall known as Roaring Water. She is determined to banish the mask forever to a watery grave. But vengeful clan members are close on her heels, and they have a similar fate planned for her.
Explanation of the novel's title
"People of the Lakes" is a reference to the location and type of natives portrayed in the book. It follows the naming convention set forth by previous books in the series.