Lost at Windy River

  • Illustrated By: Alina Pete
    Colorist: Jillian Dolan
  • Pages:96
  • Publisher:Orca Book Publishers
  • Themes:survival story, coming-of-age story, true stories, Indigenous Knowledge, survival in the wilderness
  •  
  • Available:10/15/2024
  • Lexile:GN700L
  • Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient:T
Paperback
9781459832268
$19.95

★“Colorful illustrations in classic comic-book style help readers explore the challenging landscape. An excellent choice for a book report and good addition to a children’s nonfiction collection.” — School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review

It takes courage and bravery to survive in the barrens

In 1944, thirteen-year-old Ilse Schweder got lost in a snowstorm while checking her family's trapline in northern Canada. This is the harrowing story of how a young Indigenous girl defies the odds and endures nine days alone in the unforgiving barrens. Ilse faces many challenges, including freezing temperatures, wild animals, snow blindness and frostbite. With no food or supplies, she relies on Traditional Indigenous Knowledge passed down from her family. Ilse uses her connection to the land and animals, wilderness skills and resilience to find her way home.

This powerful tale of survival is written by Ilse Schweder's granddaughter.

★“Colorful illustrations in classic comic-book style help readers explore the challenging landscape. An excellent choice for a book report and good addition to a children’s nonfiction collection.”

– School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review
“The author mixes folklore, cultural notes, and history into this biography that reads like an adventure story. The illustrations do a good job of showing the clothes worn, the food eaten, how Ilse’s family camped in the snow, and other details that shine a light on a way of life few readers today will have experienced. It’s good to finally have [Ilse’s] story reclaimed and retold by her family.”
– Booklist

“This graphic novel was impossible to set down. The details of the story, found in fascinating side notes about the people, animals, and wilderness, give the reader a well-rounded introduction to the immense beauty of this remote way of life. It delivers a powerful message to young readers about how determination and a thorough understanding of life’s interconnectedness can make you stronger than you might believe possible.”

– The Historical Novel Society, Historical Novels Review (HNR), Editor's Choice

“Young readers will love reading about Ilse’s adventures of surviving in the north with no modern conveniences. Especially notable are the fun facts and survival skills that Rathgeber peppers throughout the storyline. Adding to the book’s appeal are Alina Pete’s highly detailed and colourful illustrations that really bring to life the Canadian barren lands…a captivating true-life survival story. Highly recommended.”

– CM: Canadian Review of Materials
Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection   | 2024  |  Commended
TD Summer Reading Club Recommended Reads   | 2025  |  Commended
The Globe and Mail children’s books gift guide: The best reads for every age   | 2024  |  Commended
Ontario Library association (OLA) Best Bets   | 2024  |  Commended