In this book set on Gabriola Island off Vancouver, British Columbia, 14-year-old Nick Price, the son of a local environmentalist, and Allison McKeghnie, also 14, daughter of a lumber magnate, join forces to conquer a villain threatening people on both sides of the logging issue. Despite their parents' differences, Nick and Allison come to like each other a lot. They use an Amazon Basin shaman's medicine stick (a gift to Nick from his father) to help solve the growing mystery, which includes the wrecking of a bulldozer, arson, telephone threats, a vandalized scarecrow, poisoning, and even a kidnapping. Finally, the malefactor is unmasked, the abductee saved, and all ends well.