Ice Island

A heart-stopping adventure that exposes the reader to the fascinating culture of the Yupik people and to life-threatening elements of nature that I feel grateful to read about from the comforts of my own home. Tatum and Cole are richly developed characters from opposing worlds who come together to experience the challenge of a lifetime, each in their own way, with their universal love of dogs as their bond. Unlikely friendships are born in this thoughtful and well-crafted story. ICE ISLAND is completely unique, and the author's own passion for life and gigantic heart are evident on every gripping page.

Review is by my ten year old.

Cover: Pretty!Rating: 3 StarsOverall: Exciting and detailedCharacters: Well WrittenPlot: What started as a game, becomes life and death when two friends become stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a freak storm hits.Page Turner: YesSeries Cont.? N/aRecommend: MaybeSource: LibraryShort review:While I really enjoyed this story, it has one of those endings that leave you with more questions that answers, which I hated. It was a fun read, and a quick in-between for me. It's nice to get away from the usual, and I have always loved stories about dog-sleds, and the adventure they promise. In that this story did not disappoint! A fun story about two children who have only each-other and their dogs to survive. While this is a middle grade read, it was detailed and well informed both about dog-sleds, and about life in Alaska, a great educational aspect that makes this book even more valuable to young readers.

This is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventure story. Tatum dreams of the day she will race in the Iditarod. When a friend asks her mother to look after a lodge for her, Tatum and her mom head to an Alaskan island to help. There she meets a local boy, Cole, who is training for a race. Tatum joins Cole and his team of sled dogs for a practice run. An unexpected blizzard plays havoc with their plans and the pair find themselves trapped by the blinding storm. The afternoon run turns into a multi-day race to survive as Tatum and Cole struggle with sub-zero temperatures, white-outs, dwindling supplies, and hungry dogs. Along the way, readers get a peek into the Yupik culture and into the relationship mushers have with their dog teams. This is a truly engaging read.

As an educator, I think it is important that children have the opportunity to experience dangerous situations from the safety of a good book. Ice Island is a terrific read-aloud and offers many opportunities for follow-up discussions such as "What would you have done? Did you think Tatum and Cole made the right decision? Why?" These discussions help young people develop problem-solving skills and anticipate possible outcomes. It should be on recommended reading booklists for middle grades.

As she did in her award-winning novel Frozen Stiff, Sherry gives us a satisfying & very real Alaskan experience. The action is authentic and the human-human relationships and human-dog relationships give us a fascinating look into the lives of two budding mushers. When I read an excerpt of Ice Island for friends, Anne r. Allen (Ghost Writers in the Sky, The Gatsby Game, & How to be a Writer in the E-Age...), commented, "I started to feel cold, just listening to it." D. August Baertlein (Synapse) noted, "Wow! Fantastic reading of a thrilling novel..."

I love stories that take place in Alaska and especially ones that detail the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. ICE ISLAND is set on a remote island off the coast of Nome in teeth-chattering winter. Shahan brings the wilderness to life and shows how much mushers love their dog teams. I fell in love with Cody's lead dog Bandit!

We shared this as a family and the kids wouldn't let us put it down. Not that we wanted to.Shahan has a remarkable knowledge of the terrain, the animals, and human nature.We all loved it and are going to read her other books too.