
Synopsis
Summary
In 1944, thirteen-year-old Ilse Schweder got lost in a snowstorm while checking her family’s trapline in northern Canada. This book tells the harrowing story of how a young Indigenous girl defies the odds and endures nine days alone in the unforgiving barrens. Ilse faces many challenges, including freezing temperatures, wild animals, snow blindness and frostbite. With no food or supplies, she relies on Traditional Indigenous Knowledge passed down from her family and uses her connection to the land and animals, wilderness skills, and resilience to find her way home.
Notable Achievements
Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection 2024, Commended; TD Summer Reading Club Recommended Reads 2025, Commended; The Globe and Mail children’s books gift guide: The best reads for every age 2024, Commended Ontario Library association (OLA) Best Bets 2024, Commended
Reviews
School Library Journal: "Colorful illustrations in classic comic-book style help readers explore the challenging landscape... An excellent choice for a book report and a good addition to a children’s nonfiction collection."
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Educator Guide
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