To the Native American princess Lelewala, the river isn't called the Niagara. It will be many years before the river and its famous falls become a tourist attraction. It will also be many years before Lelewala herself becomes a legend for Native Americans and European settlers alike. In this famous legend, Melissa Franckowiak narrates The Maid of the Mist based on Native American legend, oral tradition and fiction.Courageous Lelewala is a young girl living along what is now the Niagara River. When she loses her mother suddenly, she decides that carrying on the oral tradition of storytelling is her calling. She weaves fantastic tales that capture the attention of the villagers in her tribe. But as the children come of age, a sudden tragedy befalls them, and Lelewala blames herself. After exiling herself from the village, a mysterious creature convinces her to live out her story in another, more dangerous way. She braves the rapids of Niagara Falls, setting into motion a chain of events that will change the lives of her people forever. Both she and her tribe have a powerful enemy that soon makes its presence known. As Lelewala moves closer to her destiny as the Maid of the Mist, she will have to rely on her own skills to save her village from the mortal danger it faces.