As John Borne closes in on the doe he's been tracking for two days, he comes to believe she has the mysterious power to cheat death and save the life of his beloved grandfather, who is dying of cancer. ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

As John Borne closes in on the doe he's been tracking for two days, he comes to believe she has the mysterious power to cheat death and save the life of his beloved grandfather, who is dying of cancer. ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

For John Borne's family, hunting has nothing to do with sport or manliness. It's a matter of survival. Every fall John and his grandfather go off into the woods to shoot the deer that puts meat on the table over the long Minnesota winter.

But this year John's grandfather is dying, and John must hunt alone. John tracks a doe for two days, but as he closes in on his prey, he realizes he cannot shoot her. For John, the hunt is no longer about killing, but about life.