Based on an actual experiment by wildlife biologists, The Foster Crane is a coming-of-age adventure story about a whooping crane who is raised by a foster pair of sandhill cranes in the central plateau of the Rocky Mountains. Confronted by prejudice and greed, and accused of being a spy for the humans, Cinny sets out on a quest to find her biological parents. She experiences life-threatening encounters with man, beast, and Mother Nature before learning the true meaning of parental love and the true purpose of her quest. Environmental, humanitarian, and multicultural themes, along with educational information about migrating birds, endangered species, and the geography of North America are integrated into the storyline. The characters include the lesser sandhill cranes from Mexico, American bald eagles, Canada geese, and the mysterious Great White Buffalo.