The Middle of Everywhere

Noah Thorpe is spending the school term in George River, in Quebec's Far North, where his dad is an English teacher in the Inuit community. Noah's not too keen about living in the middle of nowhere, but getting away from Montreal has one big advantage: he gets a break from the bully at his old school.But Noah learns that problems have a way of following you—no matter how far you travel. To the Inuit kids, Noah is a qallunaaq —a southerner, someone ignorant of the customs of the North. Noah thinks the Inuit have a strange way of looking at the world, plus they eat raw meat and seal blubber. Most have never left George River—a town that doesn't even have its own doctor, let alone a McDonald's.But Noah's views change when he goes winter camping and realizes he will have to learn a few lessons from his Inuit buddies if he wants to make it home.

Commended for Resource Links "The Year's Best" 2009 (Canada)

“"Useful for its discussion of Canada's Inuit culture and the history of oppression that accompanies it, as well as the effect of climate change on northern life. I highly recommend this book; it is engaging, entertaining and a pleasure to read."”

"A great deal of information about daily life and Inuit culture is packed into the recounting of a few days in the community. Beer, bullying and a hint of romance keep the first-person narrative in the typical 15-year-old realm. The conditions of life are harsh but not impossible, and the gradual rapprochement between Noah and his dad adds a nice counterpoint to Noah's reaction to this exotic world into which he not only arrives but that he discovers he admires."-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"A powerful novel that blends the emotional insecurities of young teenage boys with their need to be strong...Polak delivers her tale with a simplicity and realism that brings the readers into the northern world."-- "Resource Links"
"A well-crafted, revealing look at Inuit culture...A memorable book - a very worthwhile and important read for youth who are open to learning about the lived experiences of others with much to teach."-- "Canadian Children's Book News"
"Noah's greatest adventure is discovering that the middle of nowhere can be the beginning of something new."-- "The ALAN Review"
"The harsh living conditions and culture of the Inuit abound. Yet, the actions, thoughts, and fears portrayed are of any typical 15-year-old boy who finds himself in an atypical setting...The commotion (storms, polar bears, and tragedy at camp) keeps our attention."-- "Booklist"
"The story eloquently addresses coming of age, understanding different cultures, and the values of a young teen as he spends time with his father in a predominately Inuit culture."-- "Tacoma School District #10"
"The survival-adventure details will engage reluctant readers [and] the story has elements of romance when Noah strives to impress an Inuit classmate...Add this to survival/adventure collections."-- "School Library Journal"
-- "CM Magazine"

Monique Polak is the author of more than thirty books for young people. She is the three-time winner of the Quebec Writers' Federation Prize for Children's and YA Literature for her novels Hate Mail, What World is Left and Room for One More. In addition to teaching at Marianopolis College in Montreal, Monique is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in Maclean's Magazine, the Montreal Gazette and other Postmedia newspapers. She is also a columnist on ICI Radio-Canada's Plus on est de fous, plus on lit! In 2016, Monique was the CBC/Quebec Writers' Federation inaugural writer-in-residence. Monique lives in Montreal.

Just then, I hear more sniffling. It's getting louder, coming closer. When I peek out through the crack, I'm confused. There's a mountain of snow out there. Only it wasn't there before. Where could all that snow have come from?Of course, it isn't snow. It's a bear. A polar bear. Or part of a polar bear, anyhow. I can't see the top or the bottom of him from here-just his giant furry white mountain of a middle. Even crouched over, he's huge.My jaw drops, and every part of me is shaking-my hands, my knees, even my belly. I want to speak, but I know I mustn't. Besides, right now, I don't think my mouth would work. I'm too afraid. My fear is pure and cold and overpowering.Fifteen-year-old Noah Thorpe is spending the school term in George River, in Quebec's far North. The Inuit call Noah a Qallunaaq-the Inuktitut word for a non-Inuit person, someone ignorant of the customs of the North. Noah thinks the Inuit have a strange way of looking at the world, plus they eat raw meat and seal blubber. Most have never left George River-a town that doesn't even have its own doctor, let alone a McDonald's.But Noah's views change when he realizes he will have to learn a few lessons from his Inuit buddies if he wants to survive the North.

Noah Thorpe is spending the school term in George River, in Quebec's Far North, where his dad is an English teacher in the Inuit community. Noah's not too keen about living in the middle of nowhere, but getting away from Montreal has one big advantage: he gets a break from the bully at his old school. But Noah learns that problems have a way of following you-no matter how far you travel. To the Inuit kids, Noah is a qallunaaq -a southerner, someone ignorant of the customs of the North. Noah thinks the Inuit have a strange way of looking at the world, plus they eat raw meat and seal blubber. Most have never left George River-a town that doesn't even have its own doctor, let alone a McDonald's. But Noah's views change when he goes winter camping and realizes he will have to learn a few lessons from his Inuit buddies if he wants to make it home.Monique Polak is the author of eleven books for young adults, including What World is Left , a novel about the Holocaust. She teaches English literature, creative writing and humanities at Marianopolis College in Montreal. She is also an active freelance journalist, whose work appears regularly in publications across the country. This book was inspired by Monique's trip to Nunavik in 2007.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.