Trapped in Ice

by Eric Walters

Based on true events surrounding Captain Robert Bartlett's ill-fated Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913, tells the story of thirteen-year-old Helen and her nine-year-old brother Michael and their struggle to safety after their ship becomes trapped in ice.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Canada, Adventure, Childrens, Historical

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 15, 1997

About the author

Eric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.

Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.

Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).

"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.

Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.

Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.

The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).

Reviews

[Elysse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger. Mystery. Intrigue. TRAPPED. IN. ICE. Few times in my life have I experienced a book that has absolutely torn away my inner spirit and will to live and chilled me to the core leaving me as a shell of my grade four self gazing into my own mind and leaving myself in an out of body experience viewing my self in every alternate dimension simeltaneously watching myself reading this invasively descriptive book and reflecting upon the truth of my being and humanity... This is what Trapped in Ice has done for me and countless others. Do NOT read unless you want to come to terms with the most raw parts of your inner self.

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was in elementary school, Eric Walters came to my school and did an interview. I then read his 9/11 book, We All Fall Down, and did a book report on it. I was made fun of for doing such a good job and getting perfect on the review, so I ended up not reading anymore books by him. I had loved all of his books - including the tiger ones that we had in our library. Unfortunately, bullies suck and the teachers there promoted the bad behaviour.

Well, I am an adult now and I don't care about the haters. I want to read a Canadian middle grade author who made me feel special and love reading back in my younger years.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as his others, but it was a great historical read. Middle grade readers who like history or want to learn a bit about Canadian history, will get a kick out of this one. I like how he makes kids fit into the story so well so that middle grade readers can feel themselves escape into the novel. It's one of Eric's best traits.

Two out of five stars.

[MissTree · Rating 5 out of 5]

a thirteen year old going on an adventure in a desert of ice and cold? no romance? no magic? elves? wolves? nope, this is not my type of book. but hey, i have a few hours free and the book's been on my shelves for the past 6 years, lets give it a try...
it was one of the most breath taking stories ive read for a while now! really! i got into Helen's skin and i was scarred when she was and happy when she was. i cried with her too! i loved loved loved it. i wish it was a bigger book, maybe a bit more elaborate, maybe even a few chapters about the Captain's past or his journey with the Inuit. maybe a few more about what happened to that first team that went to continue exploring and never came back. but i was satisfied, i was Helen and thats what i went through. a strongly reccomended book to pass a couple of evenings !

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent adventure story! I read it in Elementary school while in Canada, mostly because Walters is a Canadian author. A teacher also recommended it to me, and it's bad karma to refuse a smart teacher's recommendation. Ten years later, it's still one of my favorite adventure stories, and I still remember my favorite scene. It's well written. It's very thoughtful; I find this a rare trait in most early reader/independent reader/young adult books, so I reserved a special place in my heart for books like this. Very few books can pull off a great story without a major component of romance, but Walters manages it gracefully. Excellent adventure from an excellent writer.

[kewl · Rating 3 out of 5]

excellent tale of survival. i think one of the lines that stuck with me to this day was the captain telling helen that hell was cold. it takes skill to capture nature's beauty and sheer ruthlessness not just towards humans but animals as well and this book managed to do just that.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: TRAPPED IN ICE

Author: ERIC WALTERS
 http://www.ericwalters.net/  

Genre: FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, YOUNG ADULT FICTION, MIDDLE-GRADE FICTION, CANADIAN FICTION

Length: 225 PAGES

Publisher: PUFFIN CANADA - A DIVISION OF PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca

Release Date: 1997

ISBN: 978-1-77049-994-2 (Softcover)

Price: $12.99 CDN

Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS

[Danyel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was in junior High school and I enjoyed this book so much. The story is told through the young heroine's journal entries. She writes about braving the cold, ice and snow.

[Chance Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really enjoyable story and I have a lot of appreciation with how it is told.

Cover.
The cover is perfect depiction what else is there?

Story
Being historical fiction I really appreciate how realistic the characters are designed. I don't know how accurate the story is but that isn't for me to judge. I really liked how the story went. The chemistry between the Captain and Helen is amazing. I do sort of wish there was a little more chemistry between Helen and everyone else. The morals within this book is really amazing. I love the Honor, respect, and how real this book can be at times. If you really look at what is being said about your word and how you act a lot of people can learn a thing or two about themselves. I also really appreciate the postscript at the end. It really hits home that this is a true story at the core and to be treated as such.
Something I just wanted to point out. There is a Christian prayer within this book and I am extremely impressed with how it was written. I also appreciate how the book treated the Inuit faith.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found I could relate myself to the main character Helen who enjoys reading and writing in her diary. She is more of an indoor person who prefers to enjoy adventures only in stories. Her life changes as she boards a ship on an Arctic Expedition with her family. She comes across many obstacles and challenges and prevails with bravery. The story is full of action and constantly reminded me of how happy and thankful I am to be in a warm house on a cold winter day. Overall, the book was interesting and also has some historical pieces for Canadians to enjoy.

[Joanne Pinder · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too loose with the facts for my liking. The real Kiruk was an Inuit woman, and her children, Helen and Mugpi, did accompany her and her husband on the ill-fated Karluk Expedition. In this version by Eric Wilson, Mrs. Kiruk is a white widow and her children, Helen and Michael, are of course also white. The real-life Inuit who joined the expedition can be credited with the saving of many lives and the maintenance of the morale of all. Mr. Wilson did no one any favours by changing the facts in this way. I was very disappointed….

[Linda Cousens · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a good historical story about the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913.
This very long and treacherous journey was well described with some interesting characters.

I have previously read this author's 'The Pole' about a different Arctic Expedition and I preferred this one to Trapped In Ice.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a history book my 9yo read that I quickly caught up on. The author does a great job of painting the bleak, harsh, white expanse of the north and the brave hearts of those who wrestle with it. There were enough high adventure moments and realistically childish moments to make it an enjoyable read.

[Daniel Gagne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book with my kids (8 & 6). They often were asking me to continue reading every time I stopped. It's very engaging and an incredible story of survival. Robert Bartlett was an incredible leader to help keep so many people alive.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and this one was pretty good. It's based on an actual event, but most of the characters are entirely fictional. Quick read by an author I really like.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6, good

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

don't really read non fiction but it was good!! a little too slowly paced though :'(

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

When thirteen-year-old Helen and her nine-year-old brother Michael head off on an Arctic expedition, neither realizes just how extraordinary this trip will be. The Arctic Ocean begins an early freeze-over, catching the ship's crew and captain by surprise, and the ship becomes trapped in ice. In the pages of her diary, Helen records the fate of the crew and her family as they leave the ship and try to make their way across the shifting ice floes, through blinding blizzards and past hungry polar bears to safety on solid land.

Based on true events surrounding the ill-fated Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913, Trapped In Ice is an action-packed adventure which will appeal to girls or boys.

[sohta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun to read in general because it's a kind of story that I had never read before. is a ship getting sunk in the middle of the Atlantic? that's a tough situation. A situation that I wouldn't be able to survive. but this book told me that you can push yourself to go to the next level with a lot of struggle if you don't give up. And I used this book as my HIS read 2nd round and this is one of the idea that I used for HUSKIES which one of it is personally responsible, Being a sailor is one of the hardest thing and you need to be responsible of yourself so that you can be part of the crew which I found out in this book and was very intresting.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric Walters has been a favourite in our household for over 15 years.
I was drawn to this title because it is based on real events that occurred around a Canadian Arctic Expedition in 1913.
The story is narrated by thirteen year old Helen who is aboard the expedition ship The Karluk with her widowed mother and younger brother. The ship becomes trapped in ice and the family must get to land before the ice melts.
A great adventure story that will appeal to both children and adults.

This book won the Silver Birch Award and the CBC Choice Award in 1997.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grandfather lent me this book an I was a bit slow on beginning it. But once I did, I read it quite quickly ( two days in fact ) Although its a small book, which I like, I'm usually very busy and will only spend all my free time on reading I it's a very good book. Which Trapped In Ice was. I loved how the writer portrayed the characters; so realistic, consistent and, often, loveable. Altogether, easy to believe and understand. The story was well told and well written. I totally recommend this book to anyone liking historical fiction.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like adventure then this is the book for you. The book is about a few families that are stuck in middle of the ocean in the winter. The story tells how they survive. My favourite part is when the boat gets stuck in the ocean. I recommend this book for whoever enjoys adventure. The book is by Erick Walters the book is called Trapped in Ice.

[Lisa Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was working in a classroom and the teacher had read one chapter so I had to find out how the story ends. It is a compelling story about exploring the Arctic and getting stuck in an ice shield. Thee characters must try to find land before the ice melts. Great book for a youth looking for adventure and history.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter found this at a thrift store and thought it sounded interesting. She’s currently learning about the arctic in school, so it appealed to her. I read it with her and we both loved it. It’s based on true events in Canadian history of an Arctic expedition gone awry.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A kids book about a ship which left here in Victoria and was trapped in ice off Siberia. A well done survival tale.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not my favourite one by Eric Walters, but I definetely enjoyed it! It had a great adventure, and an awesome plot.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a young person, and probably still my most-reread (15+).

[DiscoGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a very beautiful book full of mixed emotions and perfect detail about everything and the characters are also splendid but requires more detail.

[dri (DREE) (she|they) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars!

[Toby Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story and boy was it sad to see the captain go