Monkey Beach
In one of Lisamarie's childhood trips to Monkey Beach, the setting comes to life with descriptions of "crabs skittering sideways over discarded clam and cockleshells," kelp the color of "brown beer bottles" (13), and the pure, clear water. This establishes Monkey Beach as a magical and special place for Lisamarie and for the entire plot of the novel.
Oolichan
Lisamarie often describes different types of native plants and animals found in the Haisla territory. Ma-ma-oo takes her on trips to cultivate these wild foods. One such food is the oolichan fish which is portrayed in its smell and flavor so the reader can practically taste it: "Silvery, slender oolichans are about as long as your hand and a little thicker than your thumb... The best way to eat fresh oolichans is to run them through with a stick and roast them over an open fire, then eat them while they're sizzling hot and dripping down your fingers" (85).
Seedy Vancouver
When Lisa spends several months in East Vancouver as a party-girl, she comes to enjoy walking past the "abandoned warehouses, boarded-up stores and closed industrial shops" and hearing the "occasional wail of sirens." The imagery of the seedy urban neighborhood makes a big contrast from the gentle and beautiful landscapes of her hometown Kitamaat.
Barry's Letter
After Uncle Mick dies, his old friend Barry meets with Lisamarie, telling her stories of Mick's younger days. He writes her once and his handwriting is described as "packed tightly together and jittery on the page" (146). This paints the picture of a man who is not necessarily good at writing letters but conveys himself with a degree of enthusiasm, almost as if his words are alive. His stories are important to Lisa as they connect her to Mick.
