AT THE EDGE OF THE ICE

A young girl gains the ability to speak with the animals her conservationist parents are studying in Armstrong’s middle-grade novel.

Sydney is far from your average 11-year-old girl. Instead of growing up and going to school in one place, she and her twin sister, Sierra, travel the world with their conservationist parents, who homeschool them. The twins’ mother is an environmental photographer dedicated to capturing wildlife in their natural habitats and documenting the effects of climate change, particularly its effect on animals. Sydney also loves animals; she even talks to them when the family takes photography expeditions (though they never respond). The family’s latest trip—to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Norway—starts with an unexpected polar bear sighting in the airport parking lot. Sydney learns that their guides, Erik and his 16-year-old son Jon, have been attempting to track this bear (whom they’ve nicknamed PB-861), hoping to monitor its activity in relation to the changes in (and destruction of) its home. (“If PB-861 keeps coming inland, that means he’s hungry. And desperate,” Erik says.) Setting sail on the frigid Arctic seas, the conservationists begin their work documenting the environment and wildlife. When Sydney is accidentally thrown from her raft onto an iceberg, hitting her head, she’s knocked unconscious; when she wakes up, she finds that she can speak with animals, not just to them. Sydney realizes that she might be able to make a difference and help the planet in new and exciting ways—especially when she teams up with her data- and research-loving twin Sierra. Armstrong weaves a tale that’s both entertaining and educational. The adventurous Sydney is a likable and compelling protagonist, and her more academically minded twin serves as a perfect foil. The supporting characters are also well developed. Young readers will enjoy learning about the Arctic ecosystem and may even come away from the book feeling inspired to do more research into global conservation efforts and help in any way they can.

A whimsical and edifying story about protecting our delicate ecosystem.