Graves of Ice: The Lost Franklin Expedition, The Northwest Passage, George Chambers, 1845

I Am Canada

by John Wilson

George Chambers is a fourteen-year-old aboard HMS Erebus, one of two ships under the command of Sir John Franklin on his quest to discover the Northwest Passage. But when the Erebus and Terror are trapped in crushing ice, 129 men of the crew die from cold, scurvy, and starvation.

Only two remain alive when George begins to recount his story: himself and Commander James Fitzjames. As his strength dwindles and starvation weakens him, George recalls the events that led him to Canada's desolate North, and the expedition's failure — including gravediggers, a close call with a polar bear, standing up against sailors threatening mutiny, and his own impending death.

George does not know whether the story he tells will be all that survives of Franklin's doomed Arctic expedition.

Genres: History, Middle Grade, Childrens, Canada

194 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

John Wilson, an ex-geologist and frustrated historian, is the award-winning author of fifty novels and non-fiction books for adults and teens. His passion for history informs everything he writes, from the recreated journal of an officer on Sir John Franklin’s doomed Arctic expedition to young soldiers experiencing the horrors of the First and Second World Wars and a memoir of his own history. John researches and writes in Lantzville on Vancouver Island. There are many more details in his memoir, Lands of Lost Content, https://www.amazon.com/Lands-Lost-Con...

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The I AM CANADA series, written for 9-12 year old boys in mind as a companion set for the DEAR CANADA series written for girls of the same age, are written as fictional diaries of a boy set during a historical time period or event. Copies of actual photos, newspaper clippings, maps, etc. are included at the back of each book. Both of these series are written by several different authors.

Since I had so many books in my classroom library, I tried to read as many as I could. The subject of this particular book fascinated me, because up to that point, I was clueless about the lost Franklin Expedition. Needless to say, I did learn a lot about this disaster through this story (as what often happens when I read juvenile nonfiction.) I could feel the boy's anguish as he tells his story.

If you want to learn more about various Canadian historical events, but don't want to slough through a tedious text, then I recommend these series!

[Young Adult Historical Vault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alternately horrifying and fascinating, this book really grabbed me in a way I definitely did not anticipate. It blows through three years very speedily to avoid being too long, but still manages to pack in plenty of educational detail without seeming overwhelming. George is a great character, and it almost makes you not want to see it out all the way to the end.

For my full recap and review including spoilers, check out Young Adult Historical Vault. https://yahistoricalvault.com/2016/10...

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well-written, but very sad! :(

[Emily Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graves of Ice is not exactly targeted at a middle-aged reader such as myself, but as a Franklin Expedition obsessive I picked it up anyway. I'd already read author John Wilson's earlier FE work, North With Franklin, and thought this would be a good counterpoint. And it is! The book follows one of the four cabin boys on the expedition, young George Chambers of Erebus, from his beginnings as a lad "ready for adventure" to his ending as the last survivor of the doomed voyage. Despite being meant for young readers it doesn't pull punches-- there's mutiny and cannibalism and everyone dies. As with Wilson's earlier work, fast developments in the field of Franklin Expedition research have rendered points of Graves of Ice inaccurate since it was released in 2014. Erebus itself was located in 2014, sister ship Terror was identified in 2016, and George's beloved Commander James Fitzjames was identified via a jawbone in 2024. My advice is to roll with it; the book is a time capsule of what was known circa 2014 and does a skillful job of it.

[Michael Kitazaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsettling and sometimes disturbing. The author did a great job at writing a story out of the little evidence and history of the expedition and turning it into a book. Definitely brings to life, some lesser known parts of history.

[Lori Emilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good MG book, although definitely unsettling (even horrifying). A piece of Canadian history I knew little about.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written before the recent discovery of the two ships, but it is still a good read.

[kit]

sorry I'm like this

[rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

well. my goodness

[Katie Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book. I was learning about this in school and this was the best way to get information. This will reveal some unconfirmed mysteries and is in an interesting point of view

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2016 hackmatack award in the fiction category.
I have yet to be disappointed in any of the books from this series (I AM CANADA). They are rich in historical detail, featuring characters that are easily relatable. Reading the fictional diary of George Chambers - who was based on a real person - put me up in the northwest passage. I was glad to be reading this story on a bright sunny day, otherwise I expect I would still be shivering from cold! Wilson's descriptions of the difficulties faced the by the crew were harrowing, and by times disturbing (canibalism anyone?). Considering that there are no known survivors from this voyage I think the author did a fantastic job taking the historical details and imagining what it might have been like. Would definitely recommend to any fans of historical fiction or adventure stories.

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Chambers is a young British gentleman who makes friends with mud-larker, Davy Young. They have opposite personalities but still manage to become friends. Although George disapproves of Davy's ways, they finds themselves on Sir John Franklin's doomed expedition to find the Northwest passage. Survival seems assured and hopes are high as they leave, but after torturous weather and dreadful conditions, the crew's spirits take a dark turn. Recommended for teen fans of survival and historical fiction.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it was a Hackmatack nominated book and I wanted to be able to talk about it with my students. It is not my type of book - it seems true to what could have happened but I found it sad and somewhat graphic at times. That being said, I know of several students who would LOVE it!

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to the mysterious nature of the Expedition and the circumstances George finds himself in, he does come off as an unreliable narrator. The story is fairly engaging, even when you have a strong sense of how it’s going to end.

[Nathan]

this book is not good