The Freezing Moon

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian Studies at
Concordia University and an avid outdoor recreationist. She is the
author of several books, including The Mountain Is Moving: Japanese
Women’s Lives, Kurlek and Margaret Laurence: T

This sequel to Ellie’s New Home (1999) is set in 1835 in the rugged
wilderness of northern British Columbia, where Ellie lives with her
little brother Max and their father in a shanty. Ellie is a spunky girl
with heavy responsibilities that include looking after Max, whenever
their father is away hunting, and tending to their cow Nettie, who is
essential to the family’s survival. When Papa fails to return home
from a hunting trip, Ellie and Max set out to find him. With the help of
some Native people, Ellie locates her injured father and gets him back
to their shanty. While he recovers, they make plans to build a fine new
cabin in the spring; their neighbors have offered to help.

Becky Citra is a primary school teacher and writer who lives on an
isolated ranch in the same area, one where conditions have changed
little since the days of the pioneers. The Freezing Moon is an exciting
and inspiring tale of difficulties overcome as a young girl moves slowly
but steadily towards maturity. The few, full-page interior illustrations
by Stephen McCallum are excellent. Highly recommended.