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North of Ordinary: How One Woman Left It All Behind for Wilderness and Wonder in Alaska's Frozen Frontier
When the wild strips everything away, what's left is who you are.
In the raw, untamed wilds of Alaska—where the wind howls, predators hunt, and the sun disappears for months—only a rare few figure out how to survive. Sue Aikens, the breakout star of National Geographic's long-running TV show Life Below Zero, is one of them. At her remote outpost 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, she weathers more than just brutal winters and hungry bears. Sue battles isolation, injury, and the ghosts of a turbulent past, forging a life in a place most people wouldn't last a day.
Left to fend for herself as a child, Sue's fight to survive began long before she ever set foot in Alaska. In North of Ordinary, she tells the unforgettable story of abandonment, grit, and fierce independence—from navigating deadly storms and surviving a horrific bear attack to learning how to build a life, a home, and a sense of self where most would see only desolation. With her trademark wit, fearless honesty, and an indomitable spirit, Sue proves that the toughest terrain isn't always on the map. It's the one we conquer inside.
Unflinching and inspiring, North of Ordinary is a memoir of resilience, reinvention, and the extraordinary power of choosing your own way through the world.
In the raw, untamed wilds of Alaska—where the wind howls, predators hunt, and the sun disappears for months—only a rare few figure out how to survive. Sue Aikens, the breakout star of National Geographic's long-running TV show Life Below Zero, is one of them. At her remote outpost 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, she weathers more than just brutal winters and hungry bears. Sue battles isolation, injury, and the ghosts of a turbulent past, forging a life in a place most people wouldn't last a day.
Left to fend for herself as a child, Sue's fight to survive began long before she ever set foot in Alaska. In North of Ordinary, she tells the unforgettable story of abandonment, grit, and fierce independence—from navigating deadly storms and surviving a horrific bear attack to learning how to build a life, a home, and a sense of self where most would see only desolation. With her trademark wit, fearless honesty, and an indomitable spirit, Sue proves that the toughest terrain isn't always on the map. It's the one we conquer inside.
Unflinching and inspiring, North of Ordinary is a memoir of resilience, reinvention, and the extraordinary power of choosing your own way through the world.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published March 10, 2026
153 people are currently reading
4974 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
October 31, 2025
“It’s all too easy to get mired in the tragedy of life. But if we only focus on what’s wrong, we’ll never see what’s right.”
This was such a compelling memoir!
I chose it because it was set in Alaska. I didn’t know who Sue Aikens was, nor had I ever heard of the National Geographic series ‘Life Below Zero’.
My heart went out to childhood Sue as she faced a horrific family situation and events. I read on with tears falling, hoping that she found her way out and found a place where she was accepted. I read in awe of the choices and sacrifices she made to be her authentic self and realized that my bad day is nothing compared to what this amazing lady has faced.
Sue’s resilience and endurance echo through the book, and her love of the Alaskan wilderness is forefront.
Three things:
I’m searching for heart-shaped rocks.
I can endure more and for longer than I think I can.
I will not miss an opportunity to tell my tribe what they mean to me.
If you have ever wondered what makes people choose to live in extreme places or what it’s like facing down a bear or living in isolation, this is one you won’t want to miss. If reading about self-reliance and resilience inspires you, this one is a must-read.
I’m off to discover the ‘Life Below Zero’ series now!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This was such a compelling memoir!
I chose it because it was set in Alaska. I didn’t know who Sue Aikens was, nor had I ever heard of the National Geographic series ‘Life Below Zero’.
My heart went out to childhood Sue as she faced a horrific family situation and events. I read on with tears falling, hoping that she found her way out and found a place where she was accepted. I read in awe of the choices and sacrifices she made to be her authentic self and realized that my bad day is nothing compared to what this amazing lady has faced.
Sue’s resilience and endurance echo through the book, and her love of the Alaskan wilderness is forefront.
Three things:
I’m searching for heart-shaped rocks.
I can endure more and for longer than I think I can.
I will not miss an opportunity to tell my tribe what they mean to me.
If you have ever wondered what makes people choose to live in extreme places or what it’s like facing down a bear or living in isolation, this is one you won’t want to miss. If reading about self-reliance and resilience inspires you, this one is a must-read.
I’m off to discover the ‘Life Below Zero’ series now!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I've never felt more touched by a memoir than this! I cried (yes, really)--Aikens's writing and storytelling was profound, I found myself moved to tears. What Aikens has experienced also brought me to tears, and shocked me. Aikens is badass, and this memoir will be held dear for me. It has changed my life.
January 27, 2026
Wow what an incredible life. I’ve never watched Life Below Zero, but I did watch The Last Alaskans and I read about Heimo so I was curious to learn about Sue. Her life was incredible, she underwent so much from an early age and it’s amazing to see how resilient she is. Reading about everything was excruciating and this was a fascinating story. I definitely want to watch Life Below Zero now.
March 30, 2026
I received a copy of North of Ordinary from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I love reading memoirs from women adventurers, and this one was excellent. Raised in Chicago in a volatile family situation, the author left home for the wilderness of Alaska. Her difficult upbringing prepared her for a life in the wild, and in this book, she shares stories of the challenges she faced. Her encounter with a grizzly bear nearly left her for dead. Her resiliency and tenacity are remarkable--I can't imagine anyone surviving such a brutal attack. I've never heard of the author's TV show Life Below Zero, but I'm going to check it out. Sue is another inspiring woman hero to add to my list!
I love reading memoirs from women adventurers, and this one was excellent. Raised in Chicago in a volatile family situation, the author left home for the wilderness of Alaska. Her difficult upbringing prepared her for a life in the wild, and in this book, she shares stories of the challenges she faced. Her encounter with a grizzly bear nearly left her for dead. Her resiliency and tenacity are remarkable--I can't imagine anyone surviving such a brutal attack. I've never heard of the author's TV show Life Below Zero, but I'm going to check it out. Sue is another inspiring woman hero to add to my list!
March 23, 2026
I did not care for this book. There are too many “questionable” scenarios that appear to be highly embellished or believable. I’m not saying they didn’t happen. I’m just saying they most likely didn’t happen the way they are told. Also there’s a lot of animal killing from a year of animal trapping to bear shooting. The author constantly tries to justify all of the killing she does but that made it even more disgusting. I listened to the audiobook up to chapter 10 which is about 1/2 way through and then quit. After hearing about she was literally mauled by a bear, had her scalp torn open, her hips and legs broken and bleeding all over, she manages to walk back to her cabin, sew her own wounds, walk back out and shoot the bear who wasn’t even threatening her at the time. Yea. Ok. I had enough.
November 17, 2025
I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC. The Arctic seems like a desolate place, but Sue brings it to life with her love and highlights its beauty. A fast-paced book that will pull you in and that you won't want to put down. I have been watching Sue on the TV show Life Below Zero for years. She was always a favorite, and I was excited to learn more about her backstory. This book would appeal to anyone who feels lost, enjoys the outdoors, is a fan of Life Below Zero, someone's life journey, and wants to learn more about Alaska. This book is one of my favorite books of 2025. Thank you, NetGalley. Below are some of my favorite parts from the book.
They remind me- as they've done every day since- that as dark as the world may seem at times, life persists with grace and tenacity, shaped by land and light.
Nature, like always, was my respite from a world of people and institutions I had a hard time navigating.
Eventually, I thought, nature will always take back what is hers.
I'd lived my life largely feeling like an outsider, but in that singular moment in time and space, I was exactly where I was meant to be: not separate from the wilderness, but within the wilderness and of the wilderness.
At night I watched the northern lights dance overhead in silent waves of green and purple, but everything else around had slowed, like the beat of a bear's heart in its winter den, to almost a complete stop.
Every bird that flew by, every patter of a fox's paw on the snow, every wisp of wind that carried the scent of the tundra across my face reminded me of the precious, delicate balance of life in the sacred place.
And when the moment comes, I'll leave like the wolves do: not looking back, just moving forward, slowly and deliberately, into the unknown.
They remind me- as they've done every day since- that as dark as the world may seem at times, life persists with grace and tenacity, shaped by land and light.
Nature, like always, was my respite from a world of people and institutions I had a hard time navigating.
Eventually, I thought, nature will always take back what is hers.
I'd lived my life largely feeling like an outsider, but in that singular moment in time and space, I was exactly where I was meant to be: not separate from the wilderness, but within the wilderness and of the wilderness.
At night I watched the northern lights dance overhead in silent waves of green and purple, but everything else around had slowed, like the beat of a bear's heart in its winter den, to almost a complete stop.
Every bird that flew by, every patter of a fox's paw on the snow, every wisp of wind that carried the scent of the tundra across my face reminded me of the precious, delicate balance of life in the sacred place.
And when the moment comes, I'll leave like the wolves do: not looking back, just moving forward, slowly and deliberately, into the unknown.
March 27, 2026
DNF'd at page 221. I'm so disappointed, I really thought I'd love this book. I have never DNF'd a book so far in.
Here's my takeaway:
Sue is *incredibly* selfish. To the point that she abandons her children just as she had been abandoned, but it's harmless in her eyes because she waited until they were in high school(?) or because she's trying to live her best life(?). Throughout the entire book she's trying to convince herself and us that she's a good person despite the way she treats her family like they're disposable. She constantly uses the excuse that she has the "emotional intelligence of a 7 year old".
Sue mentions Alaskan pipelines and oil drilling with a distinct lack of criticism, which is interesting considering her entire life revolves around the nature that these pipelines destroy. The nature that she so flippantly says screw everyone else for.
Page 221 confirms my suspicions as Sue describes hitting it off with Sarah Palin and how similar their personalities are.
The worst part about this is, Sue won't be alive once the place she so loves is completely destroyed by those she "hits it off with". It will become her children's and grandchildren's problems, who she so obviously does not give single crap about.
Here's my takeaway:
Sue is *incredibly* selfish. To the point that she abandons her children just as she had been abandoned, but it's harmless in her eyes because she waited until they were in high school(?) or because she's trying to live her best life(?). Throughout the entire book she's trying to convince herself and us that she's a good person despite the way she treats her family like they're disposable. She constantly uses the excuse that she has the "emotional intelligence of a 7 year old".
Sue mentions Alaskan pipelines and oil drilling with a distinct lack of criticism, which is interesting considering her entire life revolves around the nature that these pipelines destroy. The nature that she so flippantly says screw everyone else for.
Page 221 confirms my suspicions as Sue describes hitting it off with Sarah Palin and how similar their personalities are.
The worst part about this is, Sue won't be alive once the place she so loves is completely destroyed by those she "hits it off with". It will become her children's and grandchildren's problems, who she so obviously does not give single crap about.
February 9, 2026
Many thanks to Sourcebooks for the chance to read this book early!
Such a great example of the resilience of the human spirit and what can be accomplished when a person chooses not to be a victim of their circumstances. I had never before tuned into Life Below Zero, but I love reading or watching stories of people who live a transcendental existence. When I found this book advertised in an email, I knew I had to read it!
Sue’s story read like fiction in some areas because it was so gripping. I couldn’t wait to find out more and I honestly could have read a book about her life twice as long. With so many years covered in Sue’s story, many events were quickly glossed over in favor of the more interesting or traumatic events. Nonetheless, I didn’t want to put the book down, and it was all I could think about until I could read more. Sue is like the modern, female Hugh Glass!
I highly recommend reading this book if you’re a fan of people who live unconventional lives against all odds.
Such a great example of the resilience of the human spirit and what can be accomplished when a person chooses not to be a victim of their circumstances. I had never before tuned into Life Below Zero, but I love reading or watching stories of people who live a transcendental existence. When I found this book advertised in an email, I knew I had to read it!
Sue’s story read like fiction in some areas because it was so gripping. I couldn’t wait to find out more and I honestly could have read a book about her life twice as long. With so many years covered in Sue’s story, many events were quickly glossed over in favor of the more interesting or traumatic events. Nonetheless, I didn’t want to put the book down, and it was all I could think about until I could read more. Sue is like the modern, female Hugh Glass!
I highly recommend reading this book if you’re a fan of people who live unconventional lives against all odds.
March 30, 2026
I found Sue like many from Life below Zero. A show I started nearly a year after I’d made the move from Texas to Washington state. The nature and beauty around me drove me to watch all the nature and mountaineering documentaries I could find and then one day I started life below Zero not sure I’d be interested. Sue quickly not just my favorite person on the show but someone ai was awestruck by. A powerful woman living a life that defies what our society says any woman is capable of AND she was doing it alone in one of the most Northern and severe climates. So when I saw her book I knew I 110% would be read it. I made the decision to listen to the audio book after learning she was the narrator. Best decision ever!
I’m even more awestruck at Sue than prior. Her story of survival, love, forgiveness and unity with nature is one I think all should read!
If I could give it 10 stars I would!
I’m even more awestruck at Sue than prior. Her story of survival, love, forgiveness and unity with nature is one I think all should read!
If I could give it 10 stars I would!
March 20, 2026
Easy 5 star for me. It was a heartfelt, inspiring, totally candid story that had me in tears by pg 30. Rough childhood, but as a child she was doing mental gymnastics to move forward and deal with trauma with mental health strategies I’ve taught in group therapy.
I love that she’s tough as nails but also able to just cry when frustrated or sad. This is how one should live, rather than pent it up and ruminate.
This entire story felt very personal, like a close friend was sharing it. Beyond the mental emotional parts of this book, I loved the info on the camp she lives on, and some of Alaska’s amazing history.
Maybe one of the most inspiring books I’ve read.
I also had the great satisfaction of reading about this book before I picked it up, and the reason I picked it up was because it sounded like a good mix of mental emotional, physical strength. And it was exactly that. I love when a book turns out to be exactly what I wanted!
Also special thanks to NetGalley and Source Books for an advanced eARC.
I love that she’s tough as nails but also able to just cry when frustrated or sad. This is how one should live, rather than pent it up and ruminate.
This entire story felt very personal, like a close friend was sharing it. Beyond the mental emotional parts of this book, I loved the info on the camp she lives on, and some of Alaska’s amazing history.
Maybe one of the most inspiring books I’ve read.
I also had the great satisfaction of reading about this book before I picked it up, and the reason I picked it up was because it sounded like a good mix of mental emotional, physical strength. And it was exactly that. I love when a book turns out to be exactly what I wanted!
Also special thanks to NetGalley and Source Books for an advanced eARC.
March 23, 2026
One of my greatest pleasures in reading is to be able to “walk in different shoes”, to experience a life so completely different than my own. This book is that and I thank Sue for sharing her story with us. She has lived mostly alone in Alaska for much of her life starting as a preteen.
Sue had a truly horrific childhood, and the damage it caused resulted in her not being able to ever truly trust anyone but herself. The writing is a as unemotional as the landscape. There is no pity in this book- she asks for none, and the story quickly breezes past betrayals.
Despite being married and raising two kids, she spends very little time discussing that part of her life, as though suburbia was an aberration to be moved past as quick as possible.
Her “real” life is when she is at her camp in Alaska. Instead, she relishes the peace of living life on her own terms that comes with near absolute solitude, even when surrounded by danger. I never watched the TV show, but will need to look it up.
I feel inspired by her grit and determination. Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Sue had a truly horrific childhood, and the damage it caused resulted in her not being able to ever truly trust anyone but herself. The writing is a as unemotional as the landscape. There is no pity in this book- she asks for none, and the story quickly breezes past betrayals.
Despite being married and raising two kids, she spends very little time discussing that part of her life, as though suburbia was an aberration to be moved past as quick as possible.
Her “real” life is when she is at her camp in Alaska. Instead, she relishes the peace of living life on her own terms that comes with near absolute solitude, even when surrounded by danger. I never watched the TV show, but will need to look it up.
I feel inspired by her grit and determination. Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 27, 2026
If you’re a fan of below zero then you absolutely need to get this book. Sue is just amazing. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I had all the emotions while experiencing this book because it really is an experience. I’m so grateful she wrote it.
March 12, 2026
I appreciate the author mentioned she had a ghost writer. The writing was good. The stories were captivating and inspiring. I really enjoyed this book
Read
March 27, 2026audio
5
5
March 19, 2026
4.5 rounded up
March 20, 2026
DNF 67%
March 15, 2026
I cannot be nice about what I did read so I DNF.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2025
Absolutely not your typical memoir — but then again, Sue Aikens is not your typical human.
The narrative covers Sue’s tragic beginnings as a young girl, abused and unloved; to her mentors, loves, and children as her family life evolves; all the way to her eventual settlement on her own and in charge, running a base camp intended to service scientists, hunters, and eco-tourist visitors to the remotest regions of Alaska. Throughout it all, as the author shares her journey and her life philosophy, each feeding the other, this rendering of an utterly compelling life story is absolutely impossible to put down.
A fascinating character, Sue (the real Sue, whom we will come to know intimately between these pages), is a force to be reckoned with, combining grit, determination and an indomitable sort of ferocity, with a heart and soul held primal through her unshakeable connection with nature. Nature that in Sue’s case, includes not only the bone-chilling temperatures and topography of the Arctic tundra, but two angry grizzly bears, and predators including wolverines and the consistently prowling packs of hungry yellow-eyed wolves.
As Sue takes charge and “creates her own reality”, leaving “the world of people and institutions” behind, she becomes an “ active participant in her own existence”, relying on her own skills and actions to ensure not only her livelihood, but her own survival — as she lives essentially stranded in an inhospitable environment for several months of the year.
This terrific book is well worth a read, peppered with so many of Sue’s life choices, about-turns, and golden “opportunities” that it couldn’t help but inspire any reader who has ever found themselves wondering if they are out of options.
A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Note: there were some sections, easily recognizable, mainly dealing with hunting and or animal injury or trapping, which this reader skipped. This did not appear to detract from the author’s overall story.
The narrative covers Sue’s tragic beginnings as a young girl, abused and unloved; to her mentors, loves, and children as her family life evolves; all the way to her eventual settlement on her own and in charge, running a base camp intended to service scientists, hunters, and eco-tourist visitors to the remotest regions of Alaska. Throughout it all, as the author shares her journey and her life philosophy, each feeding the other, this rendering of an utterly compelling life story is absolutely impossible to put down.
A fascinating character, Sue (the real Sue, whom we will come to know intimately between these pages), is a force to be reckoned with, combining grit, determination and an indomitable sort of ferocity, with a heart and soul held primal through her unshakeable connection with nature. Nature that in Sue’s case, includes not only the bone-chilling temperatures and topography of the Arctic tundra, but two angry grizzly bears, and predators including wolverines and the consistently prowling packs of hungry yellow-eyed wolves.
As Sue takes charge and “creates her own reality”, leaving “the world of people and institutions” behind, she becomes an “ active participant in her own existence”, relying on her own skills and actions to ensure not only her livelihood, but her own survival — as she lives essentially stranded in an inhospitable environment for several months of the year.
This terrific book is well worth a read, peppered with so many of Sue’s life choices, about-turns, and golden “opportunities” that it couldn’t help but inspire any reader who has ever found themselves wondering if they are out of options.
A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Note: there were some sections, easily recognizable, mainly dealing with hunting and or animal injury or trapping, which this reader skipped. This did not appear to detract from the author’s overall story.
December 29, 2025
North of Ordinary by Sue Aikens was a fascinating read. The only other book I’ve read about Alaska is Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, which tells the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who ventured into the Alaskan wilderness in search of simplicity and meaning, only to tragically die there. This book, by contrast, surprised me. At first, I wasn’t sure, but before long I was completely drawn in.
Sue Aikens had a very tough upbringing, abandoned by her mother in the cruellest way at just 13, and that early hardship shines through in the strength of her character and resilience. Her story is filled with fabulous descriptions of the vast Alaskan wilderness, and I loved how she conveyed feeling so small and insignificant at times against the enormity of that landscape.
This isn’t a sugar-coated account of life in Alaska. It’s brutally honest: there are huge challenges, betrayals, back-breaking physical work, emergencies, lack of resources, and even a bear attack to survive. Yet through it all, Sue rises above, refusing to give up. She is incredibly resourceful, level-headed, and determined, and I found her journey both inspiring and empowering.
The book is well-structured and easy to read, and I flew through it quite quickly. I especially enjoyed learning about the different jobs she did to make a living, her relationship with nature and animals, and the risks and rewards of living in such extreme solitude. What also struck me was her contentment in a life away from the usual demands of society, marriage, and conventions.
I’m giving this book 4 stars, as there were moments where my interest dipped towards the end of the book, but overall I really enjoyed it. An inspiring memoir of survival, solitude, and strength in the unforgiving yet beautiful Alaskan wilderness. I received an advanced review copy from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.
Sue Aikens had a very tough upbringing, abandoned by her mother in the cruellest way at just 13, and that early hardship shines through in the strength of her character and resilience. Her story is filled with fabulous descriptions of the vast Alaskan wilderness, and I loved how she conveyed feeling so small and insignificant at times against the enormity of that landscape.
This isn’t a sugar-coated account of life in Alaska. It’s brutally honest: there are huge challenges, betrayals, back-breaking physical work, emergencies, lack of resources, and even a bear attack to survive. Yet through it all, Sue rises above, refusing to give up. She is incredibly resourceful, level-headed, and determined, and I found her journey both inspiring and empowering.
The book is well-structured and easy to read, and I flew through it quite quickly. I especially enjoyed learning about the different jobs she did to make a living, her relationship with nature and animals, and the risks and rewards of living in such extreme solitude. What also struck me was her contentment in a life away from the usual demands of society, marriage, and conventions.
I’m giving this book 4 stars, as there were moments where my interest dipped towards the end of the book, but overall I really enjoyed it. An inspiring memoir of survival, solitude, and strength in the unforgiving yet beautiful Alaskan wilderness. I received an advanced review copy from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.
September 14, 2025
Thank you for Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read North of Ordinary before release. Sue Aikens' story is amazing and at times unbelievable. She has incredible resilience which is showcased so well in this book. She is faced with challenge after challenge in her life from an incredibly young age (abandonment, surving a bear attack, death of loved ones, etc.) and somehow manages through and keeps going back to the coldest, most remote part of Alaska. I was floored that her experience was real life and that she made it through it all. This was a pretty easy and smooth read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about living in Alaska, experiencing a story of perseverance and knowing yourself and your calling above all else.
January 15, 2026
4.5 stars. The book’s portrait of Alaska is what stayed with me most deeply. Every chapter felt like stepping into a landscape that is both breathtaking and unforgiving, and the author captures that duality with a kind of honesty that’s rare.
What I enjoyed most was the way daily life is woven into the wilderness rather than set apart from it. The routines, challenges, and small triumphs of living in Alaska aren’t romanticized—they’re grounded, textured, and full of quiet resilience.
The choices Sue has made are certainly not for everyone but it evident she’s found peace & purpose in her life through those choices. What a strong woman she is.
Highly recommended for anyone who likes memoirs, travel or nature.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced copy.
November 13, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
I’ve watched Life Below Zero for years, and Sue Aikens has always been my favorite with her wit, humor, and no-nonsense attitude. I’ve long admired her strength and independence, so when I saw she had a biography, I couldn’t wait to read it.
North of Ordinary offers a fascinating look at Sue’s life, how she became who she is and what life at Kavik is really like. It’s honest, funny, and inspiring. I highly recommend it, especially for fellow fans of Life Below Zero!
I’ve watched Life Below Zero for years, and Sue Aikens has always been my favorite with her wit, humor, and no-nonsense attitude. I’ve long admired her strength and independence, so when I saw she had a biography, I couldn’t wait to read it.
North of Ordinary offers a fascinating look at Sue’s life, how she became who she is and what life at Kavik is really like. It’s honest, funny, and inspiring. I highly recommend it, especially for fellow fans of Life Below Zero!
August 15, 2025
North of Ordinary by Sue Aiken
This is definitely not my normal type of read but I was enraptured by the title! I absolutely love reading about others adventures so this one was a super cool read! This story details a story of bear attacks, horrible weather, and more! But that’s not all that is needed to be faced out there..a battle with loneliness, past memories, and so much more are also things one must learn to live with!
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is definitely not my normal type of read but I was enraptured by the title! I absolutely love reading about others adventures so this one was a super cool read! This story details a story of bear attacks, horrible weather, and more! But that’s not all that is needed to be faced out there..a battle with loneliness, past memories, and so much more are also things one must learn to live with!
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 23, 2025
An excellent story of a woman’s early abandonment, falling in love with remote Alaska and managing to make and thrive in a life there, Genuinely moving in places, and an incredible testament to her determination and strength. I’m glad I read it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
North of Ordinary by Sue Aikens is not merely a memoir; it is a meditation on extremity—of landscape, of circumstance, and of the human spirit pressed to its outermost limits. It is a book that inspires astonishment: at the austere grandeur of Alaska’s backcountry, at the unvarnished ferocity of the natural world, and, most profoundly, at the astonishing capacities of the human soul to endure, adapt, and prevail.
Aikens’ early life reads like the prologue to an epic. Born into a fractured family and never knowing her biological father, she was raised by a restless, often disparaging mother whose serial upheavals shaped a childhood devoid of permanence. At twelve years old, she was abruptly uprooted and transported to the Alaskan wilderness. With little warning and fewer provisions, mother and daughter arrived to live in a tent amid a landscape indifferent to human frailty. Then, in a moment as stark as the tundra itself, her mother departed for town and never returned. The child was left alone.
What follows is not a tale of sentimental survival but of radical self-reliance. That a young girl could endure such abandonment in one of the most unforgiving terrains on earth seems almost mythic. Yet Aikens does not cast herself as a victim. Instead, she reveals a temperament forged in solitude: disciplined, present-focused, and unsentimental. She learned early to inhabit the immediate moment, neither romanticizing the past nor fearing the future. In this, one perceives the germ of her extraordinary resilience—a resilience not born of bravado but of necessity.
The memoir traces her evolution from solitary adolescent to consummate wilderness woman. She attended school, worked whatever jobs would sustain her, and gradually mastered the skills required not merely to survive but to belong. She became a trapper, a dog trainer, and ultimately the proprietor of Kavik River Camp on Alaska’s North Slope—an outpost so remote it seems almost cartographic fiction. There she assumed every conceivable role: mechanic, logistician, cook, quartermaster, and sentinel against predators both animal and human. She ordered fuel and food across vast distances, repaired failing machinery in lethal cold, and faced down the daily calculus of risk that defines Arctic existence.
Her brutal mauling by a grizzly bear—rendered in harrowing detail—is one of the memoir’s most visceral passages. The attack underscores not only the physical peril of her life but the psychological tenacity required to continue afterward. That she returned to the wilderness rather than retreating from it speaks volumes about her symbiosis with the land. For Aikens, Alaska is not adversary but interlocutor; not wilderness to be conquered, but a presence with which to coexist. She is most fully herself in its immensity.
Later, the intrusion of modern media—when a crew from National Geographic arrives to document her life for the television series Life Below Zero—creates an intriguing tension. The camera’s gaze enters a world that had long been defined by privacy and elemental authenticity. Yet even amid this exposure, Aikens’ essential character remains intact. She is not fashioned by spectacle; she is simply revealed.
What lingers after the final page is not merely admiration, but awe. Awe at a woman who, abandoned in childhood, transmuted isolation into strength. Awe at a life lived without concession to comfort or convention. And awe at the reminder that fortitude is not loud, nor theatrical—it is quiet, daily, and relentlessly practiced.
To read North of Ordinary is to encounter a form of courage that feels almost archaic in its purity. It enlarges one’s understanding of what endurance truly means. I cannot recall the last time I closed a book feeling so humbled by another human being’s capacity for steadfastness. This is not simply a recommendation; it is an exhortation. Seek out this story. It will not disappoint—and that is a promise.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Aikens’ early life reads like the prologue to an epic. Born into a fractured family and never knowing her biological father, she was raised by a restless, often disparaging mother whose serial upheavals shaped a childhood devoid of permanence. At twelve years old, she was abruptly uprooted and transported to the Alaskan wilderness. With little warning and fewer provisions, mother and daughter arrived to live in a tent amid a landscape indifferent to human frailty. Then, in a moment as stark as the tundra itself, her mother departed for town and never returned. The child was left alone.
What follows is not a tale of sentimental survival but of radical self-reliance. That a young girl could endure such abandonment in one of the most unforgiving terrains on earth seems almost mythic. Yet Aikens does not cast herself as a victim. Instead, she reveals a temperament forged in solitude: disciplined, present-focused, and unsentimental. She learned early to inhabit the immediate moment, neither romanticizing the past nor fearing the future. In this, one perceives the germ of her extraordinary resilience—a resilience not born of bravado but of necessity.
The memoir traces her evolution from solitary adolescent to consummate wilderness woman. She attended school, worked whatever jobs would sustain her, and gradually mastered the skills required not merely to survive but to belong. She became a trapper, a dog trainer, and ultimately the proprietor of Kavik River Camp on Alaska’s North Slope—an outpost so remote it seems almost cartographic fiction. There she assumed every conceivable role: mechanic, logistician, cook, quartermaster, and sentinel against predators both animal and human. She ordered fuel and food across vast distances, repaired failing machinery in lethal cold, and faced down the daily calculus of risk that defines Arctic existence.
Her brutal mauling by a grizzly bear—rendered in harrowing detail—is one of the memoir’s most visceral passages. The attack underscores not only the physical peril of her life but the psychological tenacity required to continue afterward. That she returned to the wilderness rather than retreating from it speaks volumes about her symbiosis with the land. For Aikens, Alaska is not adversary but interlocutor; not wilderness to be conquered, but a presence with which to coexist. She is most fully herself in its immensity.
Later, the intrusion of modern media—when a crew from National Geographic arrives to document her life for the television series Life Below Zero—creates an intriguing tension. The camera’s gaze enters a world that had long been defined by privacy and elemental authenticity. Yet even amid this exposure, Aikens’ essential character remains intact. She is not fashioned by spectacle; she is simply revealed.
What lingers after the final page is not merely admiration, but awe. Awe at a woman who, abandoned in childhood, transmuted isolation into strength. Awe at a life lived without concession to comfort or convention. And awe at the reminder that fortitude is not loud, nor theatrical—it is quiet, daily, and relentlessly practiced.
To read North of Ordinary is to encounter a form of courage that feels almost archaic in its purity. It enlarges one’s understanding of what endurance truly means. I cannot recall the last time I closed a book feeling so humbled by another human being’s capacity for steadfastness. This is not simply a recommendation; it is an exhortation. Seek out this story. It will not disappoint—and that is a promise.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Although I've certainly heard of Life Below Zero and Susan Aikens, I sometimes think I must be one of the few Alaskans who has never watched even one episode of Life Below Zero. As a result, other than the well documented bear attacks, I knew very little more about her other than that she was living a rugged life. As such, I was instantly pulled in from the opening chapter. Aikens struggles began long before Life Below Zero. I'm not going to go into detail here because I don't want to dilute one word of this astonishing tale of struggling not just to survive against the odds but thrive and find her place in a sometimes inhospitable land. This is her story and although I lean toward thinking some sections were glossed over, it's an amazing one.
Alaska itself, of course, plays a starring role. I could instantly identify with how small and alone she must have felt as a child left alone here. Even in the best of times I have frequently pondered how, while we all need to be reminded at times that we're not the center of the universe, that there is life within the emptiness and grandeur and, yes, frigid cold where she lives north of the Arctic Circle. I've been to Fairbanks, south of her turf, in the winter and learned what -40 degrees felt like.... it wasn't great but was also amazing to realize one could survive it .... but I was surrounded by people and had a cozy, well heated cabin to retreat to that I didn't even have to chop and gather wood for. And, of course, surviving the harsh cold is only a small part of the battle of life. Loneliness, the unexpected, (an Alaskan specialty), vast emptiness, injury and sickness, wildlife who were there first, and, well, so much more, all play into just the survival mode, never mind finding yourself while surviving. The resilience of the human spirit can break or be strong. In Aikens, it is strong.
Bottom line, I could rattle on here endlessly but will try to restrain myself to saying that if you enjoy stories of not just surviving the elements but your past, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. If you are interested in it simply for the Alaska setting, that's okay, too. Alaska is vast and you'll find something to love, not to mention gasp over in astonishment of all she can throw at you in one of the most challenging areas of Alaska. Aikens faced not just the challenge of life in remote Alaska but one of overcoming her own past and haunting memories of never being enough. And, and, and....okay, I could keep going but it's tough not to want to detail specifics and I want to leave the readers to meet Aikens' Alaska fresh. Thanks #Sourcebooks for allowing me this early peek at Aikens. I think I may have to finally dive into watching a few episodes of Life Below Zero, or at least wonder if she's watching the same Northern Lights aurora display I am next time Lady Aurora dances above me.
Alaska itself, of course, plays a starring role. I could instantly identify with how small and alone she must have felt as a child left alone here. Even in the best of times I have frequently pondered how, while we all need to be reminded at times that we're not the center of the universe, that there is life within the emptiness and grandeur and, yes, frigid cold where she lives north of the Arctic Circle. I've been to Fairbanks, south of her turf, in the winter and learned what -40 degrees felt like.... it wasn't great but was also amazing to realize one could survive it .... but I was surrounded by people and had a cozy, well heated cabin to retreat to that I didn't even have to chop and gather wood for. And, of course, surviving the harsh cold is only a small part of the battle of life. Loneliness, the unexpected, (an Alaskan specialty), vast emptiness, injury and sickness, wildlife who were there first, and, well, so much more, all play into just the survival mode, never mind finding yourself while surviving. The resilience of the human spirit can break or be strong. In Aikens, it is strong.
Bottom line, I could rattle on here endlessly but will try to restrain myself to saying that if you enjoy stories of not just surviving the elements but your past, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. If you are interested in it simply for the Alaska setting, that's okay, too. Alaska is vast and you'll find something to love, not to mention gasp over in astonishment of all she can throw at you in one of the most challenging areas of Alaska. Aikens faced not just the challenge of life in remote Alaska but one of overcoming her own past and haunting memories of never being enough. And, and, and....okay, I could keep going but it's tough not to want to detail specifics and I want to leave the readers to meet Aikens' Alaska fresh. Thanks #Sourcebooks for allowing me this early peek at Aikens. I think I may have to finally dive into watching a few episodes of Life Below Zero, or at least wonder if she's watching the same Northern Lights aurora display I am next time Lady Aurora dances above me.
February 20, 2026
North of Ordinary by Sue Aikens is a highly recommended memoir covering the author's difficult childhood, coming-of-age alone in Alaska, starting a family in the Lower 48, and eventually life at Kavik River Camp in Alaska, 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Aikens was the star of National Geographic’s Life Below Zero.
There is no question that starting as a child Aikens's life has been a long fight for survival and her autobiography honestly covers it all. It was rather shocking when her mother abandoned her in Alaska at age twelve. The fortitude required to survive in Alaska on her own at that young age highlighted the personal strength and determination which is was evident throughout her life. Aikens resilience and self reliance are a strength which serve her well and reflect the harsh reality of living in the wilds of Alaska, while also cementing her love for and connection with the land.
She does head south to the lower 48 states, marries twice, and has two children. When her children were teens, she felt she was losing part of herself in the busy life around her and she craved solitude. She moved back to Alaska and eventually became the manager/owner of the Kavik River Camp in Alaska’s North Slope, 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. In this remote location she experienced brutal winters and the constant threat from wildlife. It is a harsh, unforgiving life of hard work and solitude that also provides a beauty of its own. The story of the bear attack is brutal.
Aikens was the star of National Geographic’s Life Below Zero which ran for 23 seasons from 2013-2025. Admittedly, I do not watch much TV and did not know who Aikens was before agreeing to read an advanced review copy of her memoir. Anyone who enjoys survival stories or tales of rugged, remote living circumstances, as well as fans of the TV show, will definitely appreciate this memoir. I, however, did question some of her choices which were never adequately explained.
North of Ordinary is a great choice for fans of the long running National Geographic TV series Life Below Zero. Thanks to Sourcebooks for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
There is no question that starting as a child Aikens's life has been a long fight for survival and her autobiography honestly covers it all. It was rather shocking when her mother abandoned her in Alaska at age twelve. The fortitude required to survive in Alaska on her own at that young age highlighted the personal strength and determination which is was evident throughout her life. Aikens resilience and self reliance are a strength which serve her well and reflect the harsh reality of living in the wilds of Alaska, while also cementing her love for and connection with the land.
She does head south to the lower 48 states, marries twice, and has two children. When her children were teens, she felt she was losing part of herself in the busy life around her and she craved solitude. She moved back to Alaska and eventually became the manager/owner of the Kavik River Camp in Alaska’s North Slope, 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. In this remote location she experienced brutal winters and the constant threat from wildlife. It is a harsh, unforgiving life of hard work and solitude that also provides a beauty of its own. The story of the bear attack is brutal.
Aikens was the star of National Geographic’s Life Below Zero which ran for 23 seasons from 2013-2025. Admittedly, I do not watch much TV and did not know who Aikens was before agreeing to read an advanced review copy of her memoir. Anyone who enjoys survival stories or tales of rugged, remote living circumstances, as well as fans of the TV show, will definitely appreciate this memoir. I, however, did question some of her choices which were never adequately explained.
North of Ordinary is a great choice for fans of the long running National Geographic TV series Life Below Zero. Thanks to Sourcebooks for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
February 26, 2026
North of Ordinary by Sue Aikens is a memoir by the star of “Life Below Zero” I have watched Sue since she first starting doing television and I was curious how her memoir would play out. As like Sue – her memoir is not a typical either.
The Memoir starts at the beginning. The story covers Sue’s tragic childhood. Her dysfinctional mother (who in my world should have been arrested) who abused, tormented and did not love her and leaves her all alone in the Alaskan wilderness at age 12. I am still amazed how a 12 year old has that much intestinal fortitude to say I can do this, I can take care of myself. It just reiterates what I had already learned about Sue – she is tough and she is resilient.
As a grown-up Sue is a force to be reckoned with. She is fierce, determined, stubborn, witty, gritty, and a deeply connected to the nature and the wilds of Alaska. Throughout the book Sue shares her life philosophy and her amazing journey. She leaves the lower 48 with all it’s people and institutions for the opportunity to create a life for herself. She was determined to learn all aspects of living in the frozen Alaskan tundra and build up skills she had along with acquiring those she would need to survive in one of the most remote regions of Alaska. If you know anything about Sue, she doesn’t sugar coat anything and this book is raw and unfiltered. There are betrayals, ginormous challenges, lots of physical work, little resources and a very determined woman.
The book was a very easy read, very well put together and left me feeling both awed and inspired.
The Memoir starts at the beginning. The story covers Sue’s tragic childhood. Her dysfinctional mother (who in my world should have been arrested) who abused, tormented and did not love her and leaves her all alone in the Alaskan wilderness at age 12. I am still amazed how a 12 year old has that much intestinal fortitude to say I can do this, I can take care of myself. It just reiterates what I had already learned about Sue – she is tough and she is resilient.
As a grown-up Sue is a force to be reckoned with. She is fierce, determined, stubborn, witty, gritty, and a deeply connected to the nature and the wilds of Alaska. Throughout the book Sue shares her life philosophy and her amazing journey. She leaves the lower 48 with all it’s people and institutions for the opportunity to create a life for herself. She was determined to learn all aspects of living in the frozen Alaskan tundra and build up skills she had along with acquiring those she would need to survive in one of the most remote regions of Alaska. If you know anything about Sue, she doesn’t sugar coat anything and this book is raw and unfiltered. There are betrayals, ginormous challenges, lots of physical work, little resources and a very determined woman.
The book was a very easy read, very well put together and left me feeling both awed and inspired.
November 21, 2025
I had never heard of Sue Aikens or watched her television appearances before I received this memoir. The idea of an ordinary woman choosing the life she did, with its dangers and hardships intrigued me. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. At several places in this book, I shook my head thinking “no, no, the author’s gone too far this time” and then remembered I was reading a true story. Ms Aikens is quite the survivor. She should be studied by science to find what she has and then how we can all develop it.
I won’t spoil the story but there are several episodes where you hold your breath. There’s one in particular when you have to remind yourself that the writer is still alive and writing the book. It’s that scary.
But the other surprise is how honest and well written the book is. There’s a flow to the narrative and you’re swept along through some horrendous hardships and betrayals into some scary times or surprising choices. I have not a single thing in common with the author but I thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography while flinching on many occasions.
Recommended if you like independent women living incredible lives but honest enough to know their own shortcomings.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
I won’t spoil the story but there are several episodes where you hold your breath. There’s one in particular when you have to remind yourself that the writer is still alive and writing the book. It’s that scary.
But the other surprise is how honest and well written the book is. There’s a flow to the narrative and you’re swept along through some horrendous hardships and betrayals into some scary times or surprising choices. I have not a single thing in common with the author but I thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography while flinching on many occasions.
Recommended if you like independent women living incredible lives but honest enough to know their own shortcomings.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
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