"What is the body for, If not to hide red shiny things" This book tells two stories. 15-year-old Eli navigates a difficult home life after the loss of his mother, protecting his younger brother from bullies and his alcoholic father, while navigating the difficult terrain of his failures at finding love and happiness. 17-year-old Eli, having lost everything in a devastating fire, including a good portion of his skin and sanity, moves in with his only living relative, his estranged uncle named Riley. Starting life anew in the quiet town of Hay River, about as far north as one can get, he befriends an eccentric cat and a clever crow. As time goes on, he starts to suspect things are not as they seem, and with the help of his new friends, they embark on a mission to get to the bottom of it.