At the Edge of the Ice

by Carolyn Armstrong

Readers' Favorite Winner for Grades 4th-6th (2024)
SCBWI, Spark Award for indie pub excellence
Mom's Choice Awards, Gold
National Indie Excellence Awards for Juvenile Fiction (2024)
Green Earth Book Awards, Recommended Reading List
Northern Lights Book Award, Environmental Category Winner



Sydney Cabella talks to animals. Big animals. Wild animals. Endangered animals. They never talk back. Until one day, they do.

An intuitive eleven-year-old Sydney, her brainiac twin sister Sierra, and her photojournalist parents arrive at Svalbard, a tiny group of Norwegian islands near the North Pole. As the family explores the Arctic ecosystem, Sydney accidentally hits her head and when she wakes up, the impossible has happened: she can talk to animals and the animals can finally talk back!

The first animal who speaks up is a ringed seal named Ringo who needs her help big time. What Ringo tells Sydney is alarming. Loss of habitat and global warming have pushed this ecosystem to the brink of collapse. What in the world does the seal expect Sydney to do about it? With just 72 hours before they leave the Arctic, the twins must put their squabbles aside to decipher Ringo’s clues, messages, and sea ice antics. When he leads them back to the elusive polar bear, Sydney realizes just how interconnected their lives really are. One depends on the other. And both are depending on her.

Genres: Science, Adventure

216 pages, Paperback

Published July 4, 2023

About the author

Carolyn Armstrong is the award-winning author of Earth-friendly middle grade fiction. A former educator and now an imperfect environmentalist, she blends her love of travel and animal well-being into her stories. She encourages everyone to become advocates for Planet Earth. It’s as easy as picking up trash and refusing a plastic drinking straw! Head to www.ckabooks.com for free activities, monthly newsletters, and blogs about writing, books, and sustainability.

Reviews

[Ben Gartner]

AT THE EDGE OF THE ICE is perfect for the armchair traveler and conservation enthusiast, especially for younger middle grade readers. Eleven-year-old twin sisters Sydney and Sierra are uniquely realized characters that clash as siblings do in a realistic way, but they also have an endearing support of one another that makes you want to root for them both. Their mom is an environmental photographer looking to capture moments in the lives of polar bears and ringed seals on a trip to the Arctic. Sydney has a special talent (no spoilers) related to the animals they find during their trip, and she enlists her highly intelligent and research-loving sister Sierra in accomplishing a mission with a global impact. The writing is crisp; you’ll feel the cold in your bones, and also experience the beauty. The details of the adventure around Svalbard are so fully realized that you can tell the author is drawing on personal experience, which makes you feel like you’re there too. With giggle-inducing moments and cliffhanger endings, young readers will be swept away with this adventure-with-a-message and be yearning for book two, I’m sure. For those who want to learn more about conservation and climate change, there is an extensive section with notes at the end, suggestions for how you can help fight climate change, as well as a glossary and reader discussion questions. Highly recommended for younger readers who love animals and are interested in conservation efforts. Great for teachers too!

[Allison]

don’t know what to rate it bc I read this from a teacher perspective not as a fun little read

It’s cute and can definitely be used in the classroom. I think the intended audience would relate with it but writing wise sometimes it was info overload and the writing was a little jumpy and all over the place - the overall message was good and important but how we got there was just like “meh ok”.

[Kathy Evertsberg]

I loved the story of 11 year old twins Sydney and Sierra on their adventure to the Artic with their world traveling environmental photographer parents! The author totally understands the dynamics between twins and between twins and their parents. The descriptions of the Artic and the danger due to global warming that it is in, will not only inform the reader but call the reader to action. There is humor, suspense, and at least for one twin, the ability to communicate with two animals everyone loves-- a polar bear and a ringed seal. I loved it as an adult, and wish I had an 8-12 year old grandchild with whom to share it. It would be very fun to read this aloud. There is a great section at the end for further reading, more information, a glossary, and a list for those who want to do more! The best news is the announcement of another Eco Warriors adventure to come!

[Shirin Shamsi]

This timely novel is an arctic adventure that brings the urgency of Climate Change to the fore. Readers will care about endangered animals and the melting polar ice-caps. Readers will hold their breath as twin sisters, Sydney and Sierra, urgently seek ways to help save the polar bear and seals.
When Sydney and Sierra become a team, they are brilliant. This heart warming eco-adventure will inspire young readers to action. It is today’s readers who will become the eco-warriors of tomorrow.
A powerful first book in a series I look forward to reading.

[Laurie Lohr]

At the Edge of the Ice is an action-packed, exciting, and fun story, as well as a timely and extremely relevant book. Young readers will thrill to a realistic "trip" to the artic through the eyes of eleven-year-old Sydney Cabella. They'll discover awesome beauty in this ice-covered land and experience thrilling encounters with its wild animals, but they'll also learn, alongside Sydney, that this fragile ecosystem is changing fast. It's a real call to action for the characters in the story and readers alike.
A great story. An important story. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

[Rebecca Weber]

At the Edge of the Ice was a fun, informative adventure to the Arctic! Twins Sydney and Sierra met some memorable animal characters and decoded a secret mission to help save the Earth! I enjoyed the educational aspects of this book and loved learning about the different animal species (and our beautiful blue planet). There were moments the plot felt a little scattered, and I didn't like the way Sierra treated Sydney much of the time, but overall I felt it was a thoughtful story and one I would recommend to anyone interested in becoming an eco-warrior!

[Michelle]

If you or anyone you know loved The Magic Tree House Series, then this book is for you! At The edge Of The Ice, is the first book in what I hope will be a series of many adventures to come. A must read for animal lovers and budding eco-conscious thinkers of all ages. Get yourself a copy immediately.

[Lisa Reid]

This was our children book club pick this month. My boys love books about the environment and conservation. This was ok, I was going for some more action or information about conservation or climate change. The story spent a lot of time focusing on the sisters’ differences and on their parents work.

[Chris White]

Wonderful message of environmental awareness. This story has a thoughtful and relatable approach to climate change and conservation. The fun sibling rivalry and character development adds a lesson of acceptance and appreciation. Great glossary and notes in the back make this a perfect pick for young readers & classrooms! I’m excited to read book 2 of the Eco Warrior series.

[Katie K.]

Middle grade readers won’t be able to resist the sister twin environmentalists, incredible Arctic scenery, and exciting mishaps all while learning amazing facts about climate change and the threat to wildlife.

[Lyndsay-ann]

Book was ok, but the 2 main characters were very unlikeable, so that lowered the rating. This is apparently the first of a series but I won't be reading more because I didn't enjoy this one. The animal information and discussions about protecting nature was interesting though.

[Sydney]

Loved learning about a part of the world I was unfamiliar with, in a very fun and engaging story. Great read for kids and adults!

[Nancy]

Loved the story and the way it was written. Great voice and learned a lot.

[Emily]

This is a cute middle school novel that shares a lot of information about how climate change is impacting the Arctic. It is a fun way to learn a lot about this habitat.

[Sara Shacter]

Climate change can be a scary topic, but approaching it via talking animals and optimistic kids helps. Any middle school reader who needs to feel empowered will appreciate this story.

[Kathryn]

Thoroughly enjoyed this middle school adventure. Great story, with not only an educational bend (climate change, saving animals, global warming) but also twins and talking animals 😊😊😊
It introduced me to a part of the world I am unfamiliar with, Svalbard.

[Debbie De Salvo]

As an educator and parent, I highly recommend this novel. It has everything you want for an upper elementary-middle school student to gravitate to when looking for a novel.
Interesting and realistic three dimensional characters on a mission to help animals in the arctic that includes a plot that will pull readers in. It’s also coupled with educational information regarding the North Pole that lends itself well with science education. The author deftly weaves important scientific information into a family’s journey north. I really enjoyed the sisters varied and funny personalities as well as their sisterly conflicts. A really fun exploration with adorable animals and a mystery to solve.