Description
★“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
It takes courage and bravery to survive in the barrens.
In 1944, thirteen-year-old Ilse Schweder got lost in a snowstorm while checking her family's trapline in northern Canada. This is the harrowing story of how a young Indigenous girl defies the odds and endures nine days alone in the unforgiving barrens. Ilse faces many challenges, including freezing temperatures, wild animals, snow blindness and frostbite. With no food or supplies, she relies on Traditional Indigenous Knowledge passed down from her family. Ilse uses her connection to the land and animals, wilderness skills and resilience to find her way home.
This powerful tale of survival is written by Ilse Schweder's granddaughter.
Author Bio
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.
Jillian Dolan grew up in Europe, which is a long way to go to grow up. Her family comes from Kapawe'no Cree First Nation and she is also a proud member of the Metis Nation of Alberta. Jillian enjoys bright colors, little dogs, and foreign movies that make her cry. She has illustrated for the games Coyote & Crow, Thirsty Sword Lesbians and 7th Sea: Land of 1000 Nations, as well as for Owl Kids magazine and the City of Calgary. She lives where the Elbow meets the Bow, with her partner and one chubby dog, and goes to school at the Alberta University of the Arts.
Prizes
- CCBC Best Books for Kids & TeensCommended 2025
- Young Readers' Choice Book Awards of British Columbia (YRCABC) Red Cedar Book Awards - NonfictionNominated 2026
- Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard SelectionCommended 2024
- The Rural Assembly on English Language and Literacy Education (TRAELLE) - Whippoorwill Book AwardCommended 2025
- Surrey Schools' Book of the YearNominated 2026
- The Globe and Mail children’s books gift guide: The best reads for every ageCommended 2024
- 49th Shelf Kids Top Grade: Canlit for the ClassroomCommended 2025
- Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards - Diamond WillowNominated 2025
- Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children’s Non-FictionShort-listed 2025
- TD Summer Reading Club Recommended ReadsCommended 2025
- Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) ChoicesCommended 2025
- Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Books of the YearCommended 2025
- Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award (MYRCA) SundogsNominated 2026
- We Are Kid Lit Collective Summer Reading ListCommended 2026
- International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Canada - From Sea to Sea to Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture BooksCommended 2025
- The Egghead - The Doug Wright Award for best kids’ bookWinner 2025
- Children’s Book Council & National Council for Social Studies Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young PeopleCommended 2025
- Indigenous Voices Awards (IVA) - Published prose in EnglishShort-listed 2025
- FOLD Kids Winter Reading ListCommended 2024
- Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book AwardShort-listed 2026
- Ontario Library Association (OLA) Best BetsCommended 2024
- First Nation Communities Read Awards (FNCR) - Young Adult / AdultShort-listed 2026
- American Indian Library Association (AILA) American Indian Youth Literature Award (AIYLA) - Middle Grade Honor BookCommended 2026
Review Quotes
“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“If you are looking for something that will help our young people feel proud of our traditional knowledge this book is a great resource. It should be in all PBCN schools as part of the curriculum. It is well written, beautifully illustrated. This story does not disappoint.”
— Prince Albert Grand Council Tribune★“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“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 MaterialsBiographical note
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.
