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by Da Ka Xeen Clark (Author)
In a coastal Tlingit village where every tide has an old name and every cedar carries memory, twelve-year-old Kaasteek is gifted a copper drum that refuses to sing. The elders expect visions. The children expect magic. Kaasteek expects to fail quietly, the way she always does. But when Raven begins appearing at the edge of her dreams-and the land itself starts humming back to her-Kaasteek realizes the drum isn't broken. It's waiting.
As new rules and changing worlds press in on her community, Kaasteek must find the courage to speak her language aloud before silence takes its place. Guided by humor, grief, ancestors, and the land she belongs to, Kaasteek discovers that Lingít is not a "lost art form," but a living magic powerful enough to reshape the world-if she is brave enough to use it.
Kaasteek: The Silent Drum is the opening book in a sweeping Tlingit fantasy saga that follows one girl through childhood, adulthood, and elderhood. Written by Da Ka Xeen, this story blends epic fantasy with cultural grounding, offering Indigenous readers a mirror and all other readers an invitation to listen with respect.
All author proceeds from this first edition support Tlingit & Haida's Language Department, creating a perpetual revenue stream for revitalization efforts.
A book for quiet kids, brave kids, Indigenous kids, and anyone carrying a language forward.
