This was an excellent little story about a 14 year old who crashes in Alaska and learns about the native culture. This was written based on the author's own memories from the late 1970s and is very descriptive of how Native Alaskans live(d). It is sad to see the culture in such decline and I can't believe too much has changed for the Natives. I am not sure if it's because I grew up in Alaska, but I really loved this book and would recommend it strongly for the age group (8-14 I would guess). The heroine is 14, but the book is short and easy to read. It does deal with alcohol use and there is a scene of rather violent spousal abuse, but I don't believe it would be hard for a younger child to process. An interesting kid's book about a 14 y.o. girl whose plane crashes in Alaska in the 1970's, where she is rescued by an Inupiat (Eskimo) hunter and spends several weeks in small villages before being re-united with mother. It's written in a rather flat style, and the story is rather adult for kids under 10 (divorce, alcoholism, domestic violence, death, a deaf and lame village outcast, and culture shock all play a role) and yet it's rather short and simply written for older kids/young teens. I think it's a more realistic look at Native Arctic people than most kids will encounter elsewhere, though, and it's probably a good adjunct to "Julie of the Wolves" or other kid's books about the Arctic. Recommended for older kids looking for something short that might make them think a bit.
What do You think about I Am The Ice Worm (1994)?
Californian mall rat gets stranded in Alaska with Inuit and becomes enlightened.
—jenny
Alone in the ice world, its an amazing book to say the least.
—JAG
