Reading the North

By Janice J. Schofield (Eaton, $39.95)

The blurb: A compendium of information regarding nearly 150 wildflowers, trees, shrubs, berries, fungi and more, with photos, drawings and descriptions of traditional Native American and European uses.

Excerpt: "The Dena'ina Athabascans sip Labrador tea for disorders ranging from heartburn and hangover to tuberculosis, colds, and arthritis. Externally, the tea is used as a wash for sores.

Yup'ik natives in Toksook Bay in Western Alaska, says former resident, Marsha Million, boil the whole herb until a dark brew results. This decoction is given to individuals suffering from food poisoning. When troubled with digestive upset after a too-hearty Thanksgiving dinner, Million came to my rescue. She returned from a bog in dark of night armed with Labrador stems, roots, and autumn leaves. A few sips of the strong, dark decoction (made by boiling the plant for twenty minutes) effectively settled my stomach."

Locked Up Abroad: An Alaskan's True Story of Adventure, Incarceration, and Escape

By David Kunkel (Publication Consultants, $14.95)

The blurb: The story of a young drug dealer's escape from an island prison after a smuggling caper between Europe and Afghanistan landed him there.

Excerpt: "We had covered over 5,000 miles in two weeks. We were tired, in need of a good shower and a soft bed. The food in Turkey -- or maybe it was the water -- had caught up with us. It was coming out of both ends. We needed a break and soon. Up to this point we had pretty much existed on a shoestring. We owed ourselves a little pampering.

We checked into the Royal Tehran Hotel, an ultramodern, brand-new hotel. Our room had a view of the snow-capped mountains. The best thing of all -- it had hot water and room service. We ate mostly milkshakes, soft-boiled eggs, and liquids to help rehydrate our bodies. We each had lost about 15 pounds and counting. We wore a path in the carpet between the beds and the bathroom. It was time to call a doctor!"

Trapped Beneath the Ice

By Mary Wicks (Sid Harta Publishers)

The blurb: The Australian author's children's book tells the story of three gray whales that were trapped beneath the ice in the Beaufort Sea.

Excerpt: "Crossbeak, the largest whale, was about to surface once more when he heard a loud noise. He listened carefully. The noise grew louder and the ice rumbled and cracked open above him. With his lungs almost bursting for air he surfaced, and there to his surprise was a group of people, their bodies wrapped in fur, standing around the breathing hole. Crossbeak knew about these people, they were the Inupiat Eskimos."

-- Compiled by Matt Sullivan, Anchorage Daily News