On Thin Ice

Darleen R. Golke is a high-school teacher-librarian in Abbotsford, B.C.

Soon after 16-year-old Ashley Anowiak and her family settle into their
new home in the fictional Arctic community of Nanurtalik (Inuktitut for
“place with polar bears”), she begins to experience disturbing
dreams about a “tall man dressed head to toe in polar bears
skins”—a figure her grandmother identifies as a bear shaman.
Ashley’s French-Canadian mother and Inuk father encourage her to
sketch the dream visions in order to better understand their
significance.

Life in the northern village reflects the environmental changes
occurring throughout the Arctic: freak thunderstorms, hailstorms,
floods, a six-day blizzard, and strange wind patterns that force the
emergency landing of an Air France jetliner. No polar bears have
appeared in Nanurtalik for more than 30 years, but when the mauled body
of a popular local teenager is discovered, the suspected culprit is a
polar bear presumably drawn to the area by the diminishing food supply
associated with changing environmental conditions.

The disturbing impact of climate change on the Arctic and its
traditional culture form the bedrock of this intriguing and stunning
novel of the North, which is divided into three parts: Ashley’s dream
journal, the polar bear’s perspective, and Ashley’s regular journal.
Her connection with Nanurluk, the giant polar bear of legend, is
explored as it evolves from confusion and fear to understanding and
acceptance.

Bastedo was awarded the Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee medal for
“conservation and promotion of northern nature.” On Thin Ice
includes a “Glossary of Inuktitut” and “The Bear Shaman’s
Song.” A companion novel guide can be accessed online at
www.onthinice.ca. Highly recommended.