What I’m working on: Journey to the High Arctic
Published by: DiscoverRemotePlaces
Release Date: TBA
Series: Discover Remote Places
Pages: TBA
ISBN: TBA
Dear Friend, Come visit us in Ausuittuq, the “Village That Never Thaws”!
I'm Suluq, and I see the world a bit differently than most. My feelings come with colors that dance across my vision. When I'm not in school, I'm learning our most sacred skill, the way of the harpoon. Each throw connects me to four thousand years of hunters before me. Our dad, Ataata, says mastering the harpoon is how we keep our ancestors’ wisdom alive, even as we adapt to new ways.
Our elders say there's nothing but ice all the way to the North Pole. And the ice is changing. These days, the ringed seals we hunt are harder to find, the caribou herds have shifted their migration routes too, and even the Arctic foxes seem confused by how early spring comes. When I think about these changes, my world edges with worried green, but Ataata reminds me that our people have always adapted.
I’m Suluq’s twin sister Anusha. Suluq's too serious sometimes. Sure, things are changing, but you should see how we celebrate! Nunavut Day is our next festival. Every one of the 144 people in our village has an important role to play during all of the summer months, when the sun circles the sky for four straight months without setting. I tell stories outside Sila Ivalu's house. Just ask for the true ones, as I have quite an imagination!
Join us where the Challenger mountains meet the sea ice, where stories are told under the midnight sun, where our traditions adapt but never fade, and where, if you're like my brother, you might just see the world in unexpected colors.
Qujannamiik (thank you) for visiting,
Suluq and Anusha
In the Arctic's vast expanse, where the median temperature is -16° Celsius, and where sun can either dominate the sky (April to October) or remain absent for extended periods, these teens’ lives are a blend of age-old traditions and modern influences. With its authentic voice, timely themes, and strong market positioning, ON FRACTURED ICE offers a unique opportunity to bring an important perspective to middle-grade literature while addressing crucial contemporary issues. The book's dual focus on cultural preservation and environmental awareness makes it particularly relevant for today's young readers and the educational market.
Pre-publish Praise from a sympathy reader:
ON FRACTURED ICE transported me to a world I've rarely encountered in literature, our very own Inuit village where the Arctic landscape isn't just a setting but an unforgiving character unto itself. Karin's descriptions of ice floes, hunts, and the rhythms of village life are so vivid I could feel the bite of the cold and hear the crunch of snow underfoot. There were moments where my breath caught: during the seal hunt, the dangerous ATV trek across an ice crevasse, the confrontation with dangerous rumors, and a heart-stopping whale hunt, are some of them. They created a narrative tension that balanced perfectly with the more contemplative aspects of the story. For anyone seeking a fresh perspective on coming-of-age stories or hungry for immersion in a culture rarely centered in literature, ON FRACTURED ICE is not just recommended reading, it's necessary reading. Katie Qamaniq