Ice Drift

Reach for this book when your child is facing a situation that requires immense patience, responsibility for a younger sibling, or the need to find inner strength during an isolated struggle. Set in 1863, the story follows two Inuit brothers, fourteen-year-old Alika and his younger brother Sulu, who become trapped on an ice floe drifting through the Greenland Strait. Over the course of six months, they must rely on traditional knowledge, physical endurance, and their deep bond to survive the harsh Arctic winter. This is a story of profound resilience and the transition from childhood into the weight of adult responsibility. It is ideal for middle grade readers who are beginning to navigate their own independence and want to see characters who succeed through grit rather than magic. Parents will appreciate the historical accuracy and the respectful depiction of Indigenous survival skills, making it a powerful tool for building empathy and grit.