Sable has spent her whole life in a tight-knit community on a remote island. With support from her parents, she's trained for years to take up her position as the next Kerpathic, a messenger who travels through the dangerous forest to share news, medicine, and culture. When her father, the current Kerpathic, has an accident, Sable must step into her pre-destined role. As her first mission goes awry, she wonders if she's ready for this important but dangerous work. When a young naturalist arrives on the island to capture a mysterious animal. Sable realizes that she can use her skills as a Kerpathic to defend the island's animals and their way of life. In Survival of the Goodest, Marianne Boucher explores ideas of animal sentience, interspecies communication, and environmental preservation.