Lost at Windy River: A True Story of Survival
When thirteen-year-old Ilse is separated from her brothers while routinely checking on winter traps in northern Canada, she must face the toughest challenge of her life: survival. Alone and lost in white-out conditions, Ilse and her neophyte team of sled dogs flounder, while her brothers and their stronger team of dogs manage to make it to the safety of their home, Windy River Post. A member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Ilse knows many things about the Land of the Little Sticks, a barren tundra where sparse but tough trees survive the winter. She decides to abandon her sled, free the dogs, and move on foot to stay warm in the subfreezing temperatures. With no food or supplies, she has to rely on the wisdom passed on by her elders to avoid falling through thin ice into lakes buried by snow, and navigate encounters with hungry wolves.
This riveting true story is told by Ilse’s granddaughter, who interviewed Ilse extensively about her 1944 ordeal. It was important to Ilse that the story be told from her own truthful perspective, reclaiming it from Farley Mowat, who included his version in his book People of the Deer. Beautifully illustrated by Alina Pete of Little Pine First Nation and colorist Jillian Dolan, 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. Middle grade.
