Brainstorm 316: Some Chilly Reads for Hot Season

 Hot season has come with a full force steam sauna this year. One of the joys of reading is the ability to slip away from reality for a bit into another place, and right now, a bit of a colder place sounds vastly appealing. So today I bring you stories both real and imagined from the polar regions. Maybe a bit of time reading about ice, snow, and bitter cold will help. Click on the titles to see my full review of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings. Enjoy, and keep cool!

Ember and the Ice Dragons by Heather Fawcett

Ember is the last of the fire dragons. Or so she thinks. Her adopted Stormancer father found her as a baby and though fire dragons have a fierce personality, he couldn't bear to kill her. Instead he put a spell on her so she appears as a normal human child (with invisible wings that didn't fully cooperate with the spell). Though she can easily fool most people that she's a normal human, she doesn't like to get too close just in case. Also, she has a tendency to burst into flame, especially during the summer. And this summer, she is having a horrible time controlling her flames. Worried that she's going to burn her father to a crisp by accident, Ember gets her scientist Aunt Myra in Antarctica to invite her to stay for the summer. Ember arrives in Antarctica along with a whole crowd of dragon hunters eager to join Prince Gideon's hunt for ice dragons. Ember can't stand the idea of dragons being killed, so she and two other kids from the research station come up with a plan to join the hunt and sabotage it in as many little ways they can think of that won't get them caught. But can three kids really stop greedy adults from their prey?

A very fun Antarctic fantasy adventure with dragons, lightning-shooting penguins, and snarky talking cats.

Target Readers: Fantasy Fans, Mythical Creature Fans, Humor Fans, Adventure Fans, Antarctic Setting Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

Frozen in Time: an Epic Story of Survival, and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff

During WWII there were several bases on Greenland because the Allies were worried about the Nazis using it as a station for attacking North America. So the Allies patrolled a very inhospitable land and used it as a way station for transport to Europe. Greenland being the cold, nasty, death trap that it is, inevitably, some planes did not make it across on their missions. One such plane crash led to a whole string of other crashes, some miraculous stories of survival and heroism, but also more disasters. This is that story, but it is also the story of a modern team of people trying to find the wreckage of one of the planes buried in the ice and bring home the remains of the servicemen still stuck there.

Not always an easy read, but a well-written and riveting read.

Target Readers: WWII History Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Greenland Setting Fans, Rescue/Survival Story Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable for YA)

 

The Girl from Shadow Springs by Ellie Cypher

Jorie has lived all her life in Shadow Springs. Through her life, winter has taken more and more time and now it seems to be here permanently. Since her Pa's death, she's eked out a living for herself and her sister Bren by dragging lost souls off of the ice and selling anything worth reselling they happened to have on them. The latest man Jorie has found dead on the ice brings a heap more trouble with him than Jorie imagined. A Rover shows up and thinks Jorie has taken something he wants very badly off of the dead man. He doesn't believe she knows nothing, so he kidnaps Bren and takes her off as his hostage until Jorie can hand over what he wants. Jorie has no clue what the man wants, but Cody, the dead man's nephew may have an idea. Jorie thinks taking a soft Southerner with her into the wilds on her rescue mission is suicide for both of them, but he may be her only hope of getting Bren back. They set off into the ice and snow with a dog sled team and the supplies Jorie was able to hastily throw together.

This was a very unique blend of a hard ol' Western story (think True Grit) mixed with crazy polar expedition/survival story and dashes of The Snow Queen fairy tale (not the Disney version, the much creepier original fairy tale version). It is hard to tell from the description, but there are fantasy elements to the story.

Target Readers: Western Fans, Winter Survival Story Fans, Fairy Tale Rewrite Fans, Quest Story Fans, Fantasy Fans, Young Adult Readers

Journey to the Arctic photography by Florian Schulz, text by Florian Schulz and Emil Herrera-Schulz, preface by Greg MacGillivray

A collection of incredible photographs of Arctic wildlife accompanied by text by the photographer and his wife, explaining their travels and interactions with the animals in the photos.

Target Readers: Photography Fans, Animal Lovers, Adult Readers (but approachable for all ages)

Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter

Maddie is the daughter of a secret service agent assigned to the President of the United States. Maddie doesn't mind, as Logan, the President's son, is her best friend. At least they were best friends until one night when Russians invaded the White House and a number of things went wrong. Now, 6 years later, Maddie and her dad live in Alaska, and Maddie is over missing Logan. At least, that's what she's told herself. It is harder to convince herself of that when he shows up to stay with them for a while. Logan has given his secret service guys the slip one too many times, given the President and First Lady one too many headaches, and is paying for it by being shipped off to a place with no parties, no internet, and no trouble for him to get into. Maddie lets Logan follow her off into the woods to help with morning chores while her father flies off to help with some kind of emergency a plane flight away. A storm is moving in and Maddie knows they need to collect wood and get other chores done before it hits. But she has no idea that something worse than a storm has moved in to the area. The Russians are back, and they are after Logan. But they didn't bargain with Alaskan-hardened, secret service agent-trained Maddie being around.

An easily devourable mix of secret service thriller, estranged friends working things out, and Alaskan winter survival story.

Target Reader: Winter Survival Story Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Alaskan Setting Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Thriller Fans, Young Adult Readers

Race to the Bottom of the Earth by Rebecca E.F. Barone

A look at the 2018 efforts of Colin O'Brady and Lou Rudd to cross the Antarctica landmass unassisted. Every other chapter, the book also looks at the Roald Amundsen and Captain Robert Scott expeditions to be the first to the South Pole in 1910. The juxtaposition of the two challenges, over a century apart, reveals timeless challenges of surviving in Antarctica and getting anywhere in the cold, inhospitable climate.

Target Readers: Extreme Sports/Survival Story Fans, Antarctica Setting Fans, History Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Young Adult Readers

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage

Dr Morley sets out with a crew to find the elusive and possibly mythical giant Arctic jellyfish. Is it real? Can they find it?

Though a fictional, slightly fantastic picture book this gives readers a decent picture of what a scientific expedition can be like. And pay close attention to the absolutely stunning illustrations. Who is studying who?

Target Readers: Little Scientists, Art Lovers, Arctic Setting Fans, Sea Voyage Story Fans, Animal Lovers, Hide-n-Seek Fans, Picture Book Readers

The White Darkness by David Grann

A biography of former SAS officer Henry Worsley who idolized Ernest Shackleton and set out to follow in his footsteps in Antarctica three times. Twice Worsley went with teams and did treks to the pole. In his third time on the continent Worsley set out to cross Antarctica solo.

At just 146 pages including photographs, this is a quick dive into Antarctic trekking.

Target Readers: Biography Fans, Extreme Sports/Survival Story Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Quick Read Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable to YA)

Brainstorm 315: Ocean & Underwater Adventure Reads

Songkran Break is less than a week away for my school which means many students and teachers are headed to an ocean getaway soon. Seems like the perfect time to highlight oceanic and underwater adventure stories in this week's Braisntorm. Since I just highlighted Jules Verne rewrites not too long ago, I'm not including any of those underwater adventures here. You can check out Brainstorm 297 for those. Since I've missed a few weeks due to busyness in March, and since we'll be on break for the next couple Fridays, this Brainstorm is a little longer to make up for some of the ones missed. Click on the titles to see my full reviews of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings.

Atlantia by Ally Condie

Atlantia was a safe haven created below the ocean when things went catastrophically wrong Above. Now the world Above appears to be improving and Atlantia is starting to show its age. Rio had dreamed of going Above for ages, but only one family member is allowed Above, so her twin sister Bay's sudden choice seals Rio to Atlantia, the world Below. Bay made her promise to stay Below with her and then all of a sudden Bay ups and chooses to leave? The secrets in Atlantia seem to only multiply after Bay's departure. Rio is determined to make it Above some other way, even though everyone tells her it is impossible. As she seeks a way out and some sort of answer to Bay's choice, Rio just stumbles on more and more secrets: from the sister she thought she knew, to her mother's mysterious and sudden death, her aloof and odd aunt, the history of the sirens, the current Minister's plans, the origin of Atlantia and the gods, and even the truth about the Above, nothing is as clear as she thought it was. With the help of True, a young man also devastated by the choice of someone to go Above, Rio builds her plans to escape Atlantia and to find some much-needed truths.

This is a very hard book to summarize well, with a lot of layers and complexity, though well-resolved in just one volume.

Target Readers: Dystopia Fans, Stand Alone Fiction Fans, Mystery Fans, Young Adult Readers

 

Beneath the Waves by Lily Murray, ill. by Helen Ahpornsiri

Learn about creatures that live along the coast, in tide pools, near the shore, and in the deep ocean. 

There are lots of books on ocean life out there. This distinguishes itself because of Thai British illustrator’s Helen Ahpornsiri's amazing, beautiful, unforgettable artwork. She uses all natural materials (like seaweed and coastal flowers) to make collages that become the ocean life featured. 

Target Readers: Nonfiction Fans, Random Fact Sponges, Marine Life Studiers, Art Lovers, Middle Grade Readers (though the art can be enjoyed by any age) 

 

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs : the Story of Ken Nedimyer and the Coral Restoration Foundation by Kate Messner, ill. by Matthew Forsythe

A picture book biography of Ken Nedimyer. A man who grew up in Florida fascinated with the ocean and coral reefs. When he was older he started figuring out ways to grow and plant coral to replenish reefs.

An excellent break down of how coral reefs can be planted with stunning illustrations.

Target Readers: Picture Book Biography Fans, Coral Reef Studiers, Ocean Health Studiers, Art Lovers, Unique Occupation Studiers, Lower Grade Readers

Chirri & Chirra under the Sea (Chirri & Chirra) by Kaya Doi, translated by David Boyd

Chirri and Chirra take their bikes under the sea. They dine at a fancy restaurant, take in a concert, and find treasure.

An enchanting underwater adventure.

Target Readers: Underwater Adventure Fans, Imaginative Readers, Fantasy Fans, Fans of Japanese Books in Translation, Bicycle Adventure Fans, Picture Book Readers

 

Dark Life (Dark Life, #1) by Kat Falls

Thanks to an earthquake relocating most of the East Coast into the depths of the Atlantic, the oceans have risen drastically and now the most precious thing on Earth is space. What little dry land is left is built up to the max, and people are crammed in together. Of necessity, scientists quickly developed ways to farm and pioneer the ocean floor. But relocating to the Benthic Territories is still considered strange and risky. Rumors fly around about people who live under the water developing strange abilities, Dark Gifts. It doesn't help that those who have been down there for several years, like Ty and his family, have skin that shimmers and almost seems to glow in the dark thanks to a diet with plenty of phosphorescent sea life. It also doesn't help when outlaws are rampaging the Benthic Territories and making pioneers feel unsafe. The Seablite Gang is definitely a blight on the prospects of ever making the underwater territories self-sufficient. And now the Commonwealth is saying that the pioneers have to form a posse and help round up the gang before any more supplies can be brought down. Ty is determined to help bring in the Seablite Gang and make sure his parents can stay on their claim. He has his own eye on several acres he wants to claim as soon as he turns 18, so he'll do anything he can to make sure they don't have to relocate Topside. Gemma is a teen Topsider just come down to the Benthic Territories to find her older brother so she can finally be free of the Commonwealth's children's services. She runs into Ty, and he takes her home to his family's claim because she would obviously just turn into shark bait on her own. Between helping Gemma find her brother, keeping her alive in the underwater world, and trying to prove to his parents he can help save the homestead, Ty has his hands full. 

This duology feels like an adventurous post-apocalyptic Western set under the sea.

Target Readers: Scifi Fans, Dystopia Fans, Western Fans, Adventure Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

Eels (Superpower Field Guide) by Rachel Poliquin, ill. by Nicholas John Firth

A look at eels, their attributes and habitats. And how scientists uncovered some of the mysteries of fresh water eels while also challenging future scientists with mysteries that still elude us.

I know eels are freshwater and this is a Brainstorm on oceans, but it relates. I promise. And I’m not explaining why. It’s better if you read the book and find out that way. I will say, it’s a great weird but true fact.

Target Readers: Animal Lovers, Eel Studiers, Random Fact Sponges, Science Mysteries Uncovered Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

Field Trip to the Ocean Deep (Field Trip Adventures) by John Hare

A class is taking a field trip to the ocean depths. They are all in their special pressurized suits, but when one child gets separated from the rest he falls into an ocean trench. When his class leaves without him, he finds some unexpected new friends who help him out.

A wordless, imaginative, fun-filled underwater misadventure that ends happily.

Target Readers: Underwater Adventure Fans, Imaginative Readers, Ocean Myth/Legend Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Humor Fans, Fantasy Fans, Wordless Book Fans, Picture Book Readers

 

Manfish: a Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne, ill. by Éric Puybaret

A picture book biography of underwater explorer, conservationist, filmographer, and inventor Jacques Cousteau.

The illustrations in this are beautiful!

Target Readers: Picture Book Biography Fans, Inventor Story Fans, Conservationist Story Fans, Explorer Story Fans, STEM Story Fans, Art Lovers, Fish Lovers, Ocean Goers, Lower Grade Readers

 

Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy

Meet the sharks that hunt the seals of the Farallon Islands. Study their anatomy, learn about their annual treks, and find out why they are important to the local ecosystem.

Target Readers: Shark Lovers, Shark Studiers, Ecosystem Studiers, Award Winner Readers, Art Lovers, Nonfiction Fans, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Readers

 

Ocean Anatomy: the Curious Parts and Pieces of the World under the Sea (Anatomy Graphic Novels) by Julia Rothman with John Niekrasz

A reference guide to all sorts of things related to the ocean, from various critters that live there, to ocean landforms, to environmental issues. Every page is illustrated and includes bite-sized bits of informative text.

Target Readers: Curious Readers, Random Fact Sponges, Ocean Studiers, Ocean Goers, Nonfiction Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Illustrated Atlas/Almanac/Encyclopedia Fans, Middle Grade through Adult Readers

 

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea (Narwhal & Jelly, #1) by Ben Clanton

Jelly has never heard of a Narwhal and thinks he's imagining the new friend he just met. Narwhal has never heard of a jellyfish and thinks the same of Jelly. Together the two become fast friends, form their own pod, and discover the best book ever.

Narwhal and Jelly are like a graphic novel marine version of Elephant and Piggie for lower grades.

Target Readers: Graphic Novel Fans, Animal Lovers, Friendship Story Fans, Narwhal Lovers, Jellyfish Lovers, Humor Fans, Lower Grade Readers

 

Over and Under the Waves (Over and Under) by Kate Messner, ill. by Christopher Silas Neal

Messner and Neal take readers over and under the ocean this time with a family of three kayaking, exploring the organisms that live over and under the waves in the Monterey Bay area of California.

A wonderful exploration of this marine biome with further information in the back of the book about each organism mentioned.

Target Readers: Curious Readers, Biome Studiers, Animal Lovers, Ecosystem Studiers, Monterey Bay Setting Fans, Kayaking Adventure Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Picture Book Readers

 

Shipwrecked!: Diving for Hidden Time Capsules on the Ocean Floor by Martin W. Sandler

A look at the history and development of marine archaeology through the lens of key shipwreck discoveries and research into them. Sandler shares what discoveries at some of these sites have taught us about past cultures, technological development, and history.

An intriguing and engaging read with an abundance of photographs.

Target Readers: Archaeology Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Underwater Exploration Fans, Curious Readers, Award Winner Readers, Young Adult Readers

 

Solving the Puzzle under the Sea: Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor by Robert Burleigh, ill. by Raúl Colón

A picture book biography of Marie Tharp, a scientist who was the first to map the ocean floor.

A fascinating look at a little-known, but highly influential woman.

Target Readers: Picture Book Biography Fans, Geography Fans, Science Story Fans, Influential Women Bio Fans, Curious Readers, Lower Grade Readers