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Ring-Rise, Ring-Set
This novel was a runner-up for the "Guardian" Award.A young girl living with a scientific colony in the Canadian arctic is caught between two cultures when she makes contact with the nomadic Ekoes, who are threatened by the scientists' work.Bored with city life, Liza stows away with a scientific expedition into the snow fields. The dark ring in the sky forecasts a new ice age, the scientists seek to avert worldwide disaster, and Liza faces deadly danger.
121 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
2 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Monica Hughes
581 books120 followersMonica Hughes was a very popular writer for young people, and has won numerous prizes. Her books have been published in the United States, Poland, Spain, Japan, France, Scandinavia, England, and Germany. She has twice received the Canada Council Prize for Children's Literature, and was runner-up for the Guardian Award.
She is the author of Keeper of the Isis Light, an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, which also received a Certificate of Honor from the International Board on Books for Young People; Hunter in the Dark, also an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Sandwriter, among many other titles.
She is the author of Keeper of the Isis Light, an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, which also received a Certificate of Honor from the International Board on Books for Young People; Hunter in the Dark, also an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Sandwriter, among many other titles.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 7, 2015
This is another book aimed at teenagers that has a message within it. It deals with the issue of science verses nature, of western cultures dismissing older native cultures, and the sacrifice of the few to benefit the many. All of these issues are seen and weighed by a teenage girl named Liza.
The book is set after a natural disaster, and the world is at imminent risk of the next ice age. Scientists have less than five years to prevent the ice sheet overrunning the last human outposts. This disaster happened when a comet skimmed earth’s atmosphere, leaving some of its debris behind. This debris has coalesced into a cloud of dust and tektites (glass particles) that has settled around the equator. This ring blocks out 80% of the sun’s rays in winter, creating severe freezing temperatures. This time is called ring set. When the earth has rotated enough for summer, the ring appears to rise, and more of the sun’s rays filter through.
Liza is part of the western science community, who have survived by building an underground complex inside a hill, where they completely shut themselves off during ring set. These people are called Tecks. Liza was born there, and has not known any other way of life, except from educational materials. Men and women live separately, on different floors, and children do not live with their parents. All women do household jobs such as cooking, cleaning, etc, on a massive scale, rotating each month. They work together as a floor group. Men work on machinery, and go out on expeditions for science research. This is meant to be the best way of advancing scientific knowledge and conserving resources etc. Liza barely sees her parents, and doesn’t really know them.
In contrast, those who were not included in the science bunker have found a way to survive by living like the native tribes of Alaska and Canada. These people are called Ekoes by the Tecks. They depend upon the caribou to survive. They live in extended family groups, and all sleep in one central shelter. They spend time with their families, and children grow up knowing their parents well. The Ekoes think that the Tecks are spirit people, and are afraid of them and anything associated with them.
Liza is unhappy with her life in the hill, and she wants to go on an adventure outside in ring set. She thinks it is unfair that only men get to go out during winter, and stows away on an expedition sled. Finding herself alone with spare supplies in the middle of the ice sheet, Liza begins to regret leaving. She is found by an Ekoe named Namoonie, and taken back to his family. They think that she is a long lost daughter, cousin to Namoonie, and take her in. she spends the whole winter with them, and learns about their culture. Liza feels loved, feels like she belongs in a way that the artificial hill settlement cannot provide. Ekoes believe in Paija, a goddess of the earth. They have created myths and stories that explain the ring, and believe that Paija has put it there after she was tricked by a wolf. This is strange to Liza as the Tecks only believe in science.
Things come to a head when the Ekoes discover “black snow” that smells bad, and is killing the caribou. Liza knows that this must have something to do with the Tecks, and asks Namoonie to take her back to “the spirit people”. Once there she tackles the director, and tries to persuade him not to endanger the Ekoes by killing off their supply of food for the winter months. She is disappointed when all the Tecks agree to do is allow the Ekoes to live inside the hill, something that the Ekoes would never do. The black snow is a mould produced by the Tecks to hold back the ice sheet from spreading. The idea is that it may buy them enough time to create a space net that will deflect all of the matter in the ring, putting the planet’s weather back to rights, and saving mankind from extinction. Tecks look down on Ekoes, and think that they are the true custodians of earth’s culture and knowledge. I lover her reply, that summed up my attitude nicely;
“I’m not that thrilled with a civilisation that won’t count people like Namoonie and his family because they don’t wash too often or clip their toenails”
Whilst Liza can be naive, impetuous, and even irresponsible at times, this is often because she is a fifteen-year-old teenager. Liza does show plenty of learning and growing throughout the novel. I like the way that her character is used as a focus for all of the differing viewpoints, and that she challenges established views, and wants everyone to come up with a solution for all. She is unable to accept that Ekoes are the lesser culture just because they don’t know about science, or read and write. She is also unable to reconcile herself to the idea that the Ekoes, the few, should be sacrificed for the many, the Tecks.
The solution is never found before the end of the novel, but it ends with Liza’s final challenge. She refuses to go back to the hill, choosing to live with the Ekoes and marry Namoonie. Liza reminds the Tecks that they can’t forget about Ekoes while she is with them, and that if they cause harm to the Ekoes they will also be arming her, one of their own as well. It is a neat solution even though it is temporary, and leaves the reader still wondering if the ring ever gets deflected.
I think that this novel touches on very worthwhile issues, which are eve more relevant today than when the book was first written. This is especially so for environmental and cultural issues. I really liked the way a book for teenagers looked at other cultures with a positive light, and that equally, it wasn’t afraid of showing weaknesses in modern western societies. The fact that this is all viewed through the lens of a teenager’s eyes helps other teenagers to understand and think about the issues involved. I liked this book a lot, and it was clearly well thought out and planned. I wonder if this author has written any other books? They might well be worth a read!
The book is set after a natural disaster, and the world is at imminent risk of the next ice age. Scientists have less than five years to prevent the ice sheet overrunning the last human outposts. This disaster happened when a comet skimmed earth’s atmosphere, leaving some of its debris behind. This debris has coalesced into a cloud of dust and tektites (glass particles) that has settled around the equator. This ring blocks out 80% of the sun’s rays in winter, creating severe freezing temperatures. This time is called ring set. When the earth has rotated enough for summer, the ring appears to rise, and more of the sun’s rays filter through.
Liza is part of the western science community, who have survived by building an underground complex inside a hill, where they completely shut themselves off during ring set. These people are called Tecks. Liza was born there, and has not known any other way of life, except from educational materials. Men and women live separately, on different floors, and children do not live with their parents. All women do household jobs such as cooking, cleaning, etc, on a massive scale, rotating each month. They work together as a floor group. Men work on machinery, and go out on expeditions for science research. This is meant to be the best way of advancing scientific knowledge and conserving resources etc. Liza barely sees her parents, and doesn’t really know them.
In contrast, those who were not included in the science bunker have found a way to survive by living like the native tribes of Alaska and Canada. These people are called Ekoes by the Tecks. They depend upon the caribou to survive. They live in extended family groups, and all sleep in one central shelter. They spend time with their families, and children grow up knowing their parents well. The Ekoes think that the Tecks are spirit people, and are afraid of them and anything associated with them.
Liza is unhappy with her life in the hill, and she wants to go on an adventure outside in ring set. She thinks it is unfair that only men get to go out during winter, and stows away on an expedition sled. Finding herself alone with spare supplies in the middle of the ice sheet, Liza begins to regret leaving. She is found by an Ekoe named Namoonie, and taken back to his family. They think that she is a long lost daughter, cousin to Namoonie, and take her in. she spends the whole winter with them, and learns about their culture. Liza feels loved, feels like she belongs in a way that the artificial hill settlement cannot provide. Ekoes believe in Paija, a goddess of the earth. They have created myths and stories that explain the ring, and believe that Paija has put it there after she was tricked by a wolf. This is strange to Liza as the Tecks only believe in science.
Things come to a head when the Ekoes discover “black snow” that smells bad, and is killing the caribou. Liza knows that this must have something to do with the Tecks, and asks Namoonie to take her back to “the spirit people”. Once there she tackles the director, and tries to persuade him not to endanger the Ekoes by killing off their supply of food for the winter months. She is disappointed when all the Tecks agree to do is allow the Ekoes to live inside the hill, something that the Ekoes would never do. The black snow is a mould produced by the Tecks to hold back the ice sheet from spreading. The idea is that it may buy them enough time to create a space net that will deflect all of the matter in the ring, putting the planet’s weather back to rights, and saving mankind from extinction. Tecks look down on Ekoes, and think that they are the true custodians of earth’s culture and knowledge. I lover her reply, that summed up my attitude nicely;
“I’m not that thrilled with a civilisation that won’t count people like Namoonie and his family because they don’t wash too often or clip their toenails”
Whilst Liza can be naive, impetuous, and even irresponsible at times, this is often because she is a fifteen-year-old teenager. Liza does show plenty of learning and growing throughout the novel. I like the way that her character is used as a focus for all of the differing viewpoints, and that she challenges established views, and wants everyone to come up with a solution for all. She is unable to accept that Ekoes are the lesser culture just because they don’t know about science, or read and write. She is also unable to reconcile herself to the idea that the Ekoes, the few, should be sacrificed for the many, the Tecks.
The solution is never found before the end of the novel, but it ends with Liza’s final challenge. She refuses to go back to the hill, choosing to live with the Ekoes and marry Namoonie. Liza reminds the Tecks that they can’t forget about Ekoes while she is with them, and that if they cause harm to the Ekoes they will also be arming her, one of their own as well. It is a neat solution even though it is temporary, and leaves the reader still wondering if the ring ever gets deflected.
I think that this novel touches on very worthwhile issues, which are eve more relevant today than when the book was first written. This is especially so for environmental and cultural issues. I really liked the way a book for teenagers looked at other cultures with a positive light, and that equally, it wasn’t afraid of showing weaknesses in modern western societies. The fact that this is all viewed through the lens of a teenager’s eyes helps other teenagers to understand and think about the issues involved. I liked this book a lot, and it was clearly well thought out and planned. I wonder if this author has written any other books? They might well be worth a read!
November 13, 2024
This was a high three star read for me.
Monica Hughes did some amazing things with this book. It's a sci-fi adventure about a girl who finds an entire world beyond the one she's used to. It touches on the topic of people taking over native land and expecting them to convert over to an 'English' lifestyle. I really enjoyed the writing in this book and the main character was a great person to experience this through. I definitely see myself rereading this several times throughout my life. It's something I would highly recommend giving a read.
Monica Hughes did some amazing things with this book. It's a sci-fi adventure about a girl who finds an entire world beyond the one she's used to. It touches on the topic of people taking over native land and expecting them to convert over to an 'English' lifestyle. I really enjoyed the writing in this book and the main character was a great person to experience this through. I definitely see myself rereading this several times throughout my life. It's something I would highly recommend giving a read.
November 28, 2017
It's not fair damn it! Monica set up a wonderful Kobayashi Maru, that tackled some hard hitting environmental questions, then just, well, stopped writing? You can't cop out like that Monica! I really wanted to find out what was on the other side of that end game. More importantly, I wanted to hear what you had to say on the subject. Now I have to use my own imagination and formulate my own opinion? I already know what I think, I would like to hear what you think.
March 15, 2019
I read this years ago as a teenager, but I know I thoroughly enjoyed it. I remember it leaving me with a twinge of nostalgia when the main character has to make a choice between two opposite cultures.
October 18, 2020
One of my favourite books as a child, I read this over and over.
May 28, 2021
Monica Hughes is such a great storyteller.
May 23, 2012
This was a pretty good book, though I would have liked a little bit more detail of her life. I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the other Monica Hughes books I've read. Re-reading it as an adult, I found the main character a little bit annoying, though she did grow through the book. Her tendency to act without thinking of the consequences put her and others in danger.
People who enjoy post apocalyptic and dystopian fiction would probably enjoy this one.
People who enjoy post apocalyptic and dystopian fiction would probably enjoy this one.
June 26, 2012
Set in Western Canada with the next Ice Age threatening, a story about a girl who discovers a different way of life, saved by the People and shown love, taught the ways of bending with nature and live with the land. Except that way of life is threatened (of course) my modern science trying to save the entire planet.
I liked how much immediate closure to the story there was, while still leaving the future to your own imagination.
I liked how much immediate closure to the story there was, while still leaving the future to your own imagination.
July 4, 2014
I love this book, and I first read it when I was a teenager. It probably started my love of dystopian fiction, and I found it profound and emotional. Reading it again as an adult it felt like very good teenage fiction, and still a great plot and idea for a dystopian world. It echoes the handmaids tale from a feminist point of view and additionally has some environmental insight too.
March 30, 2011
Liza was one of the more emotionally immature characters that I have read about in a long time and as a result I didn't find her very interesting.
January 30, 2015
I remember being scared and yet thrilled with the story at the same time.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews