Explorers on Black Ice Bridge

The Explorers' Club #3

by Alex Bell, Tomislav Tomić (Illustrator)

In the third magical Stella Starflake adventure the explorers meet gargoyles, sea-gremlins, mermaids, red devil squids - even a Gentleman Flamingo!

Ice princess Stella Starflake and her father Felix are in trouble: President Fogg has expelled them from the Polar Bear Explorers' Club, and banned them from going on any further expeditions.

Stella's not going to be put off by rules and regulations though. She knows her friend Shay is in danger of turning into a witch wolf himself, since receiving a deadly bite on their last adventure. It's vital that Stella and her friends set out to find the spellbook that could save his life, even if it means travelling over the cursed Black Ice Bridge.

It's a formidable and dangerous task, and their journey takes them on a breathtaking, page-turning adventure!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure, Fiction, Audiobook, Childrens, Young Adult

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2019

About the author

Alex Bell signed her first book deal at nineteen and, since then, has written multiple books for both adults and young people. After completing a law degree, she now works for a legal advice charity. Alex lives in Hampshire with her husband, sons and Sphynx cats. She also writes as Alexandra Bell.

Reviews

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the Polar Bear Explorers' Club series was another thrilling and humorous part of the story that follows Stella who needs to cross the Black Ice Bridge - a dangerous bridge that has caused the death of many an explorer.

Loved the story and characters so much and I kept finding myself chuckling at a lot of the ridiculous moments in this (such as travelling on an inflatable hippo, and mermaids not drowning people when it's their birthday because it's mermaid law). Bonkers! But I loved it. And I always love the important messages that are embedded amongst all that humour, especially facing adversity and that girls can do ANYTHING!

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third instalment in The Polar Bear Explorers' Club series.

Stella Starflake has discovered she is an ice princess, but that means nothing when she, along with her father, are banned from the Polar Bear Explorers' Club and expressly forbidden from departing on any adventures or expeditions. When Stella discovers her friend's life is in peril, after a dangerous bite received on a previous adventure, she forgets all about this expulsion and journeys to the cursed Black Bridge to save his life, even if it means putting her own at risk.

This series has been full of middle grade magic and wholesome whimsy and I have adored every second with it. This instalment was no different. The adventure was well crafted and provided the right amount of jollification and peril, to keep it feeling fun yet with high tension. The humour was especially prevalent in this story and, as with every other aspect, despite it being aimed at younger readers I found myself enjoying it immensely.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stella Snowflake Pearl is off on another adventure, this time to save her friend and face a mighty foe, as she journeys to the infamous Black Ice Bridge. It's a journey that involves sea gremlins, gentlemen flamingos and giant snow dragons among other things - but will Stella also unlock the mysteries of her past?

Although I liked this marginally more than the previous book in the series, I think I'm finally admitting defeat with this series. All the stories follow the same formulaic pattern, with the same absurd storyline and zany collection of characters. There's just no real surprises left, and the moral messages are very heavy handed in their delivery too. I liked the slightly mysterious aspects of the collector's story, with the snowglobes etc. but other then that...I was bored.

I'm not the target audience, and my children will probably enjoy these for the light-hearted adventures they offer, but I personally won't be continuing.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked this up yesterday I was on page 49..I then finished the book. Lol I couldn’t put it down! These just kept getting better & better. This was such a fast-paced, page turning adventure. So much danger too, I stayed on the edge of my seat. I love these amazing characters so much. Stella is just an amazing character overall, so of course has my heart. Shay & Koa are my soul.🐺 Beanie & Ethan always kept me laughing. Love them. From the mermaid bday law, the flamingo(in a bowler hat, smart jacket, & a bow tie), to the floating hippopotamus..this book had humor along w/danger & excitement. This was their most dangerous expedition of all. There was also so much depending on its success too. So atmospheric to the point of “taking your breath away beautiful detailing” lol Again, great advice from Felix, even when he’s not around Stella hears it in her head. Just the best. Plus, always reminders for us to always be kind, treat others how you wish to be treated, be true to yourself, & cherish your friends. My favorite messages though are what to do in the face of adversity, & that girls are just as amazing as boys! Lol Highly recommend this whole series. Starting Ocean Squid Explorers today, & I’m so excited! Another stunning cover by Tomislav Tomić, w/more full page illustrations sprinkled throughout again that are so beautiful!💜

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

Loved this one too!
The perfect little polar fantasy adventure.

[Nadja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would put this one between book 1 and book 2. Many twists and turns.

[Dreximgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this series. Stella and her gang are amazing, the plot is thoughtful and smart. The illustrations are perfect. Highly recommend. One of the best middle grade series out there.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

100% the best book of this series so far!!!!!!! Wow! This one has the PERFECT set up for more books or another companion series and I seriously just need it nooowwww!!!!!

Once again I loved this group of characters as well as the new characters we got to meet! Melville is my FAVORITE. My new spirit animal for sure hahaha. I definitely did not see that ending coming and thoroughly appreciated the fact that it wasn't predictable.

I highly recommend this series for anyone who wants a quick and easy to read fantasy novel that will just lift up your spirits!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

And finally, in the third book, Stella's guardian, Felix, is put on trial for all he's done incorrectly in the Explorers Clubs and stripped of his membership, which means he can no longer mount expeditions. Officials then want to arrest Stella, just for being an Ice Princess. That simply can't be allowed to happen, as Shay and Koa are suffering from the Witch Wolf bite and don't have much time left.

To find the cure they must mount an expedition immediately to the Black Ice Bridge, where Beanie's father was lost eight years ago. Beanie has his father's journal, but the man was never heard from after his last entry. The bridge is an imposing and evil magic construction and was the roadway for another Ice Queen's escape after turning on her village and freezing the inhabitants. No one knows what lays on the other side.

There are subtle clues dropped along the way of a bigger, nefarious plan at work. In particular, pay attention to what areas on the "maps" disappear, completely, and just file them away for reference as you get closer to the end.

Stella conjures a sled and polar bears to whisk the exploring company, including herself, Felix, Beanie and his mom, Joss, Shay and Koa, and budding magician Ethan, into the freezing ocean. But Stella can't keep the magic going forever, and when the sled and bears fade, Ethan conjures…an inflatable hippo? Yes, which they ride until a band of mermaids finds them and very likely will drag them to their watery deaths until Beanie cures one with his elven healing magic.

That gets them a tow to the shore, and they walk to the village closest to the bridge -- the one that's inhabited by more than frozen statues. They push on to the Ice Queen's fortress, and as soon as Stella steps inside she brings it to life. They find a hidden staircase in the library and the queen's sleighs and gargoyles to pull them. The gargoyles try to warn them, but Stella comes face-to-face with an ice dragon, angry at being woken up, or so she thinks. She puts it back to sleep, but not before it conveniently walls the adults, Joss and Felix, behind a block of ice so they have to bow out of the expedition. The party that leaves for the Black Ice Bridge is all teen.

Once on the Bridge, the company encounters obstacle after obstacle, including a screeching red devil squid nest of eggs that splatters ink all over them and summons their mother! They next find Beanie's father's camp, and …right about here I'm going to stop, because if I say more, you might be able to put two and two together and figure out what's going on -- the bigger, evil machinations, I mean. I didn't see all the plot twists, just because the author's imagination is so fantastic, but you'll appreciate reading and discovering them all on your own.

Just know, it's a satisfying, imaginative end to this bit of the trilogy, and as is typical in middle grade, everything works out just fine in the end. Read and enjoy!

Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?

Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/

[Krista Kimball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better. This third book was so charming. I would have finished it faster if I didn’t get a migraine one day.

[Jessica Van Tassell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best one yet!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's fun how different and similar their world is to ours. Just discovering planes, and being on a flat world.
I enjoyed this just as much as the others in the series so far and I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars

[Evrat Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dernier tome de la trilogie mais la qualité narrative est toujours au rendez-vous !

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Make every effort to banish unhealthy envy of others and embrace your own unique weird wonderfulness at every possible turn'.

A wonderful story about humanity, wrapped up in a fantastic adventure. Loved it!

[Christine Durant · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can the third book in a series still be sooo good!?

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this instalment of the trilogy, things are more perilous than ever - they've been banned from expeditions, but must search for the spellbook to save Shay!

I really loved getting to see more of the world, and also find out a lot more about some of the little mysteries that had been teased in the first two books. Plus the journey over the bridge was perfect - full of peril but also some truly lovely moments.

As before, the jokes and silly moments really help to keep things light, even when our gang are in some serious trouble!

I really wish I could travel with this gang, despite all the danger they seem to find! And the ending is perfectly tying off everything from the first three books while leaving open the possibility of more. Wonderful. 4.5 stars.

[Shaynning - Libraire Jeunesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dernier opus de la trilogie, on se retrouve enfin sur le fameux pont de Glace Noire mentionnée dans les deux autres tomes et une fois encore, l'aventure est au rendez-vous.

Exclue du Club de l'Ours polaire, de même que son père Félix, Stella doit cela en partie du fait d'être une princesse des glaces , la version enfant des reines des neiges, en somme. le fait d'avoir voler le dirigeable d'un autre Club n'est pas étranger à l'affaire également. Néanmoins, l'urgence de traverser le pont se fait sentir avec l'état de Shay et sa louve Koa, frappés par un mal inconnu lié à une blessure magique, dont les effets sont inconnus également, mais qui ne laissent rien présager de bon. Leur seul remède envisageable de trouve dans le livre du Gel spolié par un mystérieux Collectionneur, qui se trouve quand à lui quelque part au-delà du pont. du moins, à ce qu'on dit...

J'ai apprécié cette série, très créative, très facile à suivre puisque chronologiquement linéaire et au vocabulaire accessible. Une bonne série pour les amateurs d'aventures magiques. le dernier tome doit en principe clôturer la série, mais arrivé à la fin, franchement, on sent un désir de suite. Il y a plusieurs éléments qui vont rester en suspend. On figure que ce sont là les éléments que Stella, ses amis et son père vont entreprendre à l'avenir.

En outre, j'ai aimé l'inclinaison environnementale qui apparait dans ce tome-ci. Un bel élément pour les générations actuelles et à venir pour qui l'enjeu de sauvegarde de la planète et des écosystèmes vont être pleinement partie prenante de leur société. Un élément qui porte à réflexion, qui plus est, on peut même en faire un débat. Je ne vous en dit pas plus, ce serait divulgâcher une part importante du final, mais gardez ça en tête, professeurs!

Ensuite, j'aime les liens apportés par l'autrice sur les ethnies, sur leur façon de se percevoir et de se comporter. Stella tiens la vedette bien sur, étant d'origine un être magique liée au froid, perçue avec crainte et condamné de ce fait. Ce fut le cas avec Jezzabelle, la sorcière du tome 2, condamnée sans même avoir eu sa version des faits, juste parce que c'est une sorcière. Dans le tome 3, on rencontre d'autres groupes ethniques et raciaux, eux aussi souvent au prises avec des stéréotypes et des jugements hâtifs, pour mieux en sortir une fois rencontrés.

Bref, un tome fidèle aux deux autres, qui se termine bien et qui apporte une belle ouverture avec un sujet actuel. Ça reste très enfantin dans son genre, avec une violence très minimale, un inconfort lui aussi assez moindre ( bon sang, cette tente avec des bains et des chocolats chaud!) et des "méchants" pas si méchants, c'est surtout une aventure remplie de péripéties et d'univers magiques.

Pour un lectorat de 10-12 ans, mais je pense que même de très bons lecteurs de 9 ans s'en sortiront assez bien.

Catégorisation: Roman Fantasy (Haute) anglais, littérature jeunesse intermédiaire, troisième cycle primaire, 10-12 ans
Note: 8/10

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Marvelous things can happen when you ignore the odds."

Explorers on Black Ice Bridge is the final installment in the story of Stella and the Polar Bear Explorers' Club. After the unauthorised expedition in Explorers on Witch Mountain, Stella and Felix has been expelled from the club. But they need to go to the Black Ice Bridge to prevent Shay from turning into an ice wolf. However, no explorers have ever returned from Black Ice Bridge...

This has been a very fun series, and this installment did round it off quite nicely with possibilities for more books in the series. All of the characters have been sweet and complex, and my favourites are definitely still Stella and Felix. I love their relationship so much, and I would have liked if Felix was in it more (but it is a children's novel and adults would probably spoil some of the fun).

The writing is still very well-done and it is very gripping. The way every chapter ends on a cliff-hanger really makes you want to continue reading, and I have completed all of the books very quickly. Also the messages of the books are so endearing: Be kind; do unto others as you would have them do unto you; be yourself even if others are judging you. It talks about prejudice and how to handle them. And the friendship and family in these books are so good. I want to join Stella's friends and go out exploring with them.

I think that every child will enjoy this series immensely!

My other reviews of The Polar Bear Explorers' Club series:
"The Polar Bear Explorers' Club" (#1)
"Explorers on Witch Mountain" (#2)

[Bookish Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah! This was so cute and adventurous and feel-good and I loooooved it. It features adoption, autism, and some real character development.

My Dutch review:
Alex Bell heeft al meerdere kinderfantasyboeken op haar naam staan en heeft met haar Explorers Club serie een nieuwe klassieker geschapen. Avontuur, mythische figuren en allerlei soorten magie: deze boeken hebben het allemaal. In dit derde deel gaat sneeuwprinses Stella met haar vrienden op zoek naar een manier om Shay en zijn schaduwwolf Koa te genezen van de weerwolfbeet die Koa heeft opgelopen. Stella heeft een spreuk uit een verloren boek nodig en samen trekken ze over de Black Ice Bridge om het boek terug te halen. Onderweg leert Ethan, die een pestkop kan zijn, meer empathie voor anderen te hebben en ontdekt Stella meer over haar magie. Hun vriend Beanie is autist en erg goed geschreven. Het verhaal zit vol actie en spannende momenten, overwinningen en mooie interactie tussen de personages en hoewel het boek op zichzelf te lezen is, is er wederom meer dan genoeg opbouw voor een volgend deel. Ook erg leuk om voor te lezen. Geschikt voor 10 – 14 jaar.

[Rebecca Fung · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of fun. I can definitely see why children would like it - an imaginative, fantastical romp.

The good bits include the interesting new lands and new characters such as Melville - he's great. The real problem is that he seems to turn up more for a cameo and a rather heavy-handed "lesson" when it came to Stella thinking about the rules of the club, rather than real involvement in the plot.

The problems? It is a bit formulaic and some of the characters are getting a bit annoying. It's almost a joke of the book to point out their annoyingness "When are you going to do that again?" - but that doesn't make it really fun.

Stella has an opportunity to contemplate what it is to be an ice princess but it isn't very deep so it's not a big issue the story is exploring. It is built up and then there isn't much to it.

I think some children may have a lot more fun with the different funny places and be less concerned with these things but after a while you want to read something else. I may or may not read the next one to see f there is a bit of a shift in the series. Sometimes a series gets a little down and then moves on, who knows?

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite series ever, and this third installment sees my beloved Explorers journey to Black Ice Bridge in order to find a way to save Shay and his shadow wolf after the events of Explorers on Witch Mountain. I ADORE the characters in this beyond anything I can put into words and the character development from book one has been amazing to see, I love how they feel both gentle and incredibly high stakes and the magic is just so very magical and special and I love this world and the creatures within it. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to cope when they aren’t a thing anymore, because their release every year is a huge highlight of my bookish calendar.

[Marijke · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with all the books in this series so far I really liked it. It was definitely the book with the highest stakes in the whole series. I loved the themes that were explored such as: prejudice, finding yourself and as always the power of friendship. Now that I'm at the end of the original trilogy I can see so many parallels with frozen which the author mentioned being inspired by in an interview. So if you liked that movie, you will absolutely love this series. I hope that the next instalment is just as good but I know already that I will miss the icy setting and this fantastic group of friends.

[Garance J. Bonadonna (The Nerdy Artivist) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un saga de plus en plus merveilleuse, avec un système de magie à la fois incroyable et tout en simplicité. Les enjeux de l'intrigue étaient oufs et j'ai lu le livre d'un seul trait. Les personnages évoluent toujours, on en rencontre de nouveau.
Je suis ébahie devant tant d'imagination. C'est exactement le genre de livre que j'aimerais écrire.
D'une certaine façon, l'auteure a repris le flambeau de Roald Dahl dans un monde qui lui appartient complètement et plus inclusif. Mais la créativité est au rendez vous.

Je me jette sur le nouveau tome immédiatement !
Fuck les gardiens des cités perdues, cette série est une bombe que je recommande à tout le monde!

[Richard Skolek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bál jsem se, že autorka pojede podle „mustru“ a každá další výprava bude o kus předvídatelnější, toto dobrodružství je ovšem o poznání temnější a mnohem výpravnější než ta předchozí. Je tu spousta nečekaných zvratů, a ačkoliv jde o dětskou knihu, která je přece jen svázána určitými omezeními, byl jsem upřímně zvědavý, jak všechno dopadne. Velmi také oceňuji překvapivě filozofický ústřední motiv týkající se ochrany přírody, který je výsostně aktuální a který se autorce povedlo zpracovat tak, aby se nad ním zamyslel i dětský čtenář, a přitom se dokázala vyhnout banálním klišé.
Bravo a těším se na další díl!

[Sootysweep · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hugely enjoyable and exciting book is an absolutely gripping page-turner. It is almost impossible to stop reading! The plot is exciting with twists and turns and all of the creatures and characters are breathtakingly magical and exhilarating. The description is fabulous which makes this wonderful adventure even more vivid and exciting. The way that this book is penned makes it even more irresistible. Also, the way it is written is so effortless that it feels like you are not reading but watching the events unfold Infront of you with the utmost elegance.

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, again. I started reading these books when I was a bit younger, but they’ve completely stuck with me. Yet another charming setting and absolutely excellent story, which also perfectly sets up the following arc. Although I feel like some of the mains were a little neglected - I definitely expected this story to be much more about Beanie than it was - I understand keeping the focus more on Stella, and I think the overall character development continues to be quality! Good villains across the board, exciting and well paced, and generally continuing to be my favourite book series.

[Book-Social · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this one, number 3 in the series. After not enjoying Witch Mountain (number 2) I was slightly hesitant but it got off to a cracking start, was fast paced, full of humour, friendship and exciting new creatures, locations and gadgets. There were moments it was genuinely tense and moments I genuinely giggled. It finished with a number of possible ways for a sequel but equally felt quite finished. Highly recommended although you could do with reading the previous 2 for the backstory around Shay and Koa.

[Claude · Rating 5 out of 5]

another incredible adventure from Alex Bell. once again i adored our friendship group, Felix, the magical journey, and the things encountered along the way. i believe this is the final book in the Polar Bear Explorers' Club, so i will be soon started the Ocean Squid Explorers' Club - hopefully the characters i've loved in these last three books will appear!

(also Dan Bottomley's narration is impecable and absolutely adds to the magic~)

[UWE Primary English Team · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan: Love love love this series - this is Book 3 and, while Book 1 has the BEST ending, this is my favourite book so far. Really good plot line and also excellent picking up on threads from the first two books - this really is one of my favourite MG series at the moment. I also love the sporadic full page illustrations throughout the book. Can't wait for book number 4!