Synopsis
Two young Inuit brothers struggle for survival on an ice floe adrift in the Arctic Ocean.
Tim Brennan - VOYA
Author of The Cay (Doubleday, 1969) and Timothy of The Cay (Harcourt, 1993/VOYA December 1993), Taylor makes a solid contribution to the survival genre with this heartwarming story of two brothers trapped on a drifting ice floe off the Greenland Strait deep inside the Arctic Circle at the onset of winter in 1868. The cold and brittle setting contrasts nicely with the warmth and kindness shared by fourteen-year-old Aliki and ten-year-old Sulu as they battle intense cold, high wind, constant darkness, hunger, polar bears, and ultimately the melting of the floe from underneath them. Aliki is a born hunter, but the gentle-spirited Sulu loves birds, is a gifted sculptor, and finds killing distasteful at best. Aided by their trusty sledge dog, Jamka, the boys successfully hunt seals and construct an igloo for shelter and feel pretty good about their situation. Very soon, however, the boys watch horrified as a polar bear snatches up a baby walrus, dragging it away squealing in its powerful jaws into the frigid water. They will need all of their courage, ingenuity, and faith to survive. Although this tale lacks the high energy and action of a Will Hobbs or Gary Paulsen adventure, it holds up well. Overall it is a good pick, particularly for adventure lovers. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2004, Harcourt, 240p., $16. Ages 11 to 15.