Melt

Melt is a powerful portrayal of Inuit culture, traditions and how we are all shaped by the world around us. Questions about courage, friendship and standing up for what is right are key to the incredible life and death adventure at the centre of this brilliant story. The impact of climate change is described in an incredibly real way, showing how all of our actions result in day to day consequences for the animals and humans whose lives are dependent on the stability of the Arctic region. Lessons about the importance of family, learning from others, and respect for the environment and each other leap off the page as readers are carried away through the frozen north. There is no doubt that cold is the greatest enemy as it manifests itself in many forms.

Ele Fountain has crafted a dual point of view story that follows two very different teens. Yutu is an Inuit boy who lives in a remote village with his grandmother. She wants nothing more than for him to learn the ways of their people and grow into a contributing member of the community, all the while, keeping him safe. Yutu lives a life swirled with the old and new, the traditional and the modern. He loves playing video games but also wants to prove himself as a hunter and a part of the community. He dreams of leaving the village and finding out what else the world has to offer, yet he can’t imagine leaving his grandmother. Readers are presented with a fascinating window into the Inuit culture.

Meanwhile, Bea’s family has moved again and she must start over at a new school where she knows no one and struggles to fit in. The cold she experiences is the harshness of bullies and a longing to spend time with her busy father who is completely distracted by the challenges of his job as a geologist. When he suggests a weekend trip away in his plane, Bea jumps at the chance. However, a strange sequence of events leaves Bea alone and afraid. When she meets Yutu, they must work together not only to survive, but to make sure the truth is heard.

As a Canadian who has lived amongst, is friends with and has taught many members of the First Nations community, I was pleased with the respect, accuracy and care with which the Inuit people and traditions are presented in this story. The reality of changing times, modern influences and the struggle to adapt whilst maintaining important traditions are challenging and are presented clearly through the wonderful character of Miki, Yutu’s grandmother. Both Yutu and Bea have so much to learn from their elders who are guiding them as they grow into the people they are meant to be.

A pleasant surprise in this book. I went in expecting a tale about life in the cold artic. What I got was an intriguing tale of danger and mystery. Pleasant story

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

Students will love this adventure tale. I really enjoyed the friendship between Tutu and Bea. Tutu's grandmother is an awesome character who adds a lot to the story. This one was one of the better ones I've read in awhile!

Thank you to netgalley for a free eCopy!

This Arctic Adventure follows Bea who has moved school again!
Her life follows her dad's career as a geologist. A new school means new "friends", but before she has time to make many friends she gets involved in an adventure...(no spoilers here)
An adventure through the Arctic where she discovered a real friend and the team impact of oil drilling.

I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I could not put it down. Ele Fountain has written a suspenseful survival story set in the Arctic. Yutu wants to seal hunt independently and does so without his grandma's knowledge. He gets disoriented when the weather changes for the worse. On a trip with her father, Bea is forced to fly a small plane and runs out of fuel. landing hear where Yutu is stranded. Read to find out what happens next in this thrilling adventure with an important message about climate change.

Melt by Ele Fountain is one of my favourite books of 2023 so far. It is an engaging and thrilling middle-grade adventure story that seamlessly weaves together important themes such as climate change and its devastating effects on the Arctic region, the beauty and diversity of the Arctic landscape, and the power of human connection and resilience.

In this novel, we follow Yutu and Bea, two preteen children who happen upon each other in dire circumstance. Throughout the book, the author does an excellent job of presenting the Arctic region as a complex and diverse environment. From the stunning natural beauty of the Northern Lights to the unique wildlife that inhabit the area, this book paints a vivid image of the Arctic that goes beyond the white landscape we all envision
The novel also raises awareness about the many anthropogenic activities that are putting the Arctic habitat in danger, both from an ecological point of view and the human’s who call it home. Despite the heavy themes, Melt is a captivating adventure story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The plot is well-paced, and the characters are well-drawn.

One of my favourite aspects of the book is the lesson that things aren't always what they seem on the surface, and even adults you trust can misjudge a situation.


Overall, Melt is a perfect read for middle-grade readers who enjoy adventure novels. The book is informative, beautifully written, and hard to put down, making it an excellent choice for even reluctant readers. It also includes useful information about the lifestyles and climate issues facing people living in the Arctic region. Highly recommended!

Thank you to @netgalley and @pushkin_press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

WHAT A GREAT MIDDLE SCHOOL ADVENTURE.! Book begins with Beatrice checking in for her first day of school, which she has done every year for five years. Gets off to awkward beginning by sitting in the wrong empty seat in the first class, followed by the mean girls to humiliate Bea publically at lunch. Bea lands in the principal’s office. Not a good start. After school there was a study session but they ditched Bea. No friends feeling alone. Dad asks her to go on a business trip with him. He is a geologist for an oil company whose job is to find places to drill for oil. It is a Super secret job especially due to climate change. This trip takes him to the arctic circle. Perfect weather all the way. When they land Dad has Bea stay in the plane while he runs into the office. Problem, dad doesn’t come right back out. Bea goers out of plane and goes to the office door. Bea can hear her dads loud voice the two men yelling at him to get down. She peaks in the window and sees them kicking and beating up her dad. What to do the men have seen her she takes off in the plane. Realizes she doesn’t have any gas and comes back to airport. Looks in the office and her dad is gone. Where? She is alone in this wilderness. Inside the office is someone laying on some pallets under rugs. His lips are blue. She nurses him back to life. He has hypothermia, she gives him her dads clothes to warm up. The two of them have to travel through the elements to get back to Sutu’s grandmother’s home. Bea learns the Inuit way of life and sees how climate change is directly affecting this entire region to possible extinction of the Inuit people. I support and recommend this book 100%. Special thanks to the following for allowing me to review this book early and to give my own honest opinion:
#NetGalley
#PushkinBookPublishing.
##Melt
#Publication Date: June 6, 2023

What a super read for anyone who cares about or is interested in the world around them and how it is changing. Bea and Yutu live in completely different worlds yet are ultimately striving for the same thing - they want to belong.
I was fascinated by the relationship between the two main characters and read this from cover to cover in one sitting. It would make a fantastic class story time book as it opens up so many opportunities for discussion about the different issues raised in the story from climate change to where should companies be allowed to drill for oil?

This was an interesting book. I think it could be structured in a better way with more details given at the beginning of the book. I loved the setting, dystopian vibes and the suspense. This book had me on the edge of my seat. I will definitely recommend it