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The story of Monkey Beach is relayed through the eyes of Lisamarie Hill, a feisty young woman with supernatural abilities. Lisamarie's brother, Jimmy, has gone missing at sea under questionable circumstances. Lisamarie reflects on profound events in her life, as she waits on news of her brother. Perhaps in reflecting on these formidable events, a new light will be shed on the ominous circumstances in Lisamarie's life, and within the community of Kitamaat. Lisa's supernatural abilities, the ability to see and to communicate with other worldly beings, will guide her in understanding the disappearance of her brother and her identity.

Symbolism is a very important part of Monkey Beach as well as the Haisla culture. Throughout the story crow are used as a symbol of luck and warning for Robinson’s characters. The first introduction to the importance of crows in this story is Jimmy’s belief that they are a symbol of luck for him. This comes after feeding them before his swim meet leads inevitable win. Following this it becomes Jimmy’s goodluck charm for his following competitions. Luck is not the only symbol that the crow carries, in another section of the novel Spotty Jimmy’s favorite raven alerts Jimmy to the danger his sister is in during the middle of the novel. Lisamarie had several encounters with crows playing a part in her spiritual visions. Coming along with the Redman who was a sign of death, the crows appearing with Jimmy were a sign of the impending threat to Jimmy’s life; a foreshadowing of what was to play out through the rest of the novel.