1 of 1 copy available
to her they are nameless,
they are fading and growing light,
the warming of weather.
On this day, she wakes,
and begins to walk.
It’s a summer of firsts for twelve-year-old Leila: her first time traveling alone, first time apart from Amma and her cousin Mona, and first time seeing her mother, a climate scientist in Norway, since war forced their family from Syria six years ago.
Together, Leila and her mother’s research team follow the migration of a tiny Arctic fox, Miso, across ice floes and international borders, hopeful the midnight sun will illuminate how to adapt to a constantly changing world.
The Arctic Circle is nothing like Leila has ever imagined—so bright and brutal and undeniably wild. It tests her in every way: her understanding of home and what it means to belong, her determination to do what’s right, and her belief in how much is possible in even the most impossible of situations.
Inspired by an Arctic fox’s real 2,000-mile trek across continents, Miso's and Leila’s entwined journeys offer hope in the face of an uncertain future and reinforce that even the smallest voices can make the biggest impact.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
April 2, 2024 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781454954361
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781454954361
- File size: 167732 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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February 15, 2024
Grades 4-7 Leila is filled with strong emotions as she travels from London to Troms�, Norway, to spend the summer with her mother, Amani. She feels excitement over seeing her mother for the first time in six years as well as confusion and anger over why Amani chose a job in another country over staying with her. The trip itself dredges up frightening memories of her family's escape from Damascus when Leila was only five. Her inner turmoil is thoughtfully woven into the unexpected adventure ahead of her: accompanying Amani on a research trip to the Arctic to follow a young Arctic fox's epic journey over sea ice. Leila's narrative is intercut with glimpses of the fox's thoughts and experiences as she searches for a safe home. These sections incorporate de Freston's cyan-toned, mixed-media artwork, which captures the vast icy environs. Without being heavy-handed, Hargrave folds in observations about climate change and draws parallels between animal and human migrations. Fans of the creators' Julia and the Shark (2023) will happily find a similar reading experience in this character-driven Arctic adventure.COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Starred review from May 15, 2024
An Arctic fox leads a mother and daughter back to one another. Twelve-year-old Leila Saleh lives in London with her aunt and cousin. When she was 5, she, Mum, Amma, and Mona fled war-torn Syria; Leila has flashes of memories of life in Damascus and their harrowing departure. Mum's the director of the Troms� Arctic Institute, and for the six years they've been apart, the pair have grown emotionally distant, making their summer reunion tense. Leila barely arrives in Norway before they set off on an expedition on a chartered fishing boat along with divorced scientist Liv Nilsen, whose own young daughter is visiting from her father's home in Bergen. Miso, the blue fox Mum and Liv have been tracking since her birth on Svalbard, is moving much faster and farther than is usual for her species over shifting sea ice toward Greenland. Her journey offers critical data about the impact of climate change. The pursuit of Miso includes awe-inspiring vistas and wildlife as well as painful schisms and quiet moments of repair and reconnection among the human travelers. Segments from Miso's perspective evoke empathy without anthropomorphizing the wild creature, and striking artwork in blue, black, and white vividly conveys the remarkable setting. This novel lightly, compassionately, and subtly prompts reflection on the interconnectedness of all beings as we navigate life's challenges and the importance of sharing stories and transcending borders. A reverent, wondrous feast for the senses and a balm for bruised souls. (creators' note) (Fiction. 9-13)COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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