Trina Rathgeber is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and grew up in the northern community of Thompson, Manitoba, where she did all the things that northern kids do, from playing hockey and fishing to building forts in the woods. She enjoys writing for children and is the author of French Fries Are Potatoes: A Food Poem and Little Cookbook and The Bunnies Talk Money. Trina lives in Calgary with her family.

Alina Pete (they/them) is a nehiyaw artist and writer from Little Pine First Nation in Saskatchewan. They grew up urban but spent summers wandering in the Qu'Appelle Valley with their cousin from Cowessess First Nation. Alina is best known for their Aurora Award-winning comics, but they also write short stories and poems, and their work has been featured in several Indigenous comic anthologies. Alina lives on unceeded Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen land with their partner.

★"Colorful illustrations in classic comic-book style help readers explore the challenging landscape. An excellent choice for a book report and good addition to a children's nonfiction collection."

-- "School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review"

"This graphic novel was impossible to set down. The details of the story, found in fascinating side notes about the people, animals, and wilderness, give the reader a well-rounded introduction to the immense beauty of this remote way of life. It delivers a powerful message to young readers about how determination and a thorough understanding of life's interconnectedness can make you stronger than you might believe possible."

-- "The Historical Novel Society, Historical Novels Review (HNR), Editor's Choice"

"This riveting account draws from the author's extensive research to honor the story as her grandmother had lived it."-- "CCBC Choices"

"The author mixes folklore, cultural notes, and history into this biography that reads like an adventure story. The illustrations do a good job of showing the clothes worn, the food eaten, how Ilse's family camped in the snow, and other details that shine a light on a way of life few readers today will have experienced. It's good to finally have [Ilse's] story reclaimed and retold by her family."-- "Booklist"

"Young readers will love reading about Ilse's adventures of surviving in the north with no modern conveniences. Especially notable are the fun facts and survival skills that Rathgeber peppers throughout the storyline. Adding to the book's appeal are Alina Pete's highly detailed and colourful illustrations that really bring to life the Canadian barren lands...a captivating true-life survival story. Highly recommended."

-- "CM: Canadian Review of Materials"

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pub date: 2024-10-15

Length: 96 pages