A review by michaelgreenreads
Ice Walker: A Polar Bear's Journey Through the Fragile Arctic by James Raffan

dark reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

 Excellent nature/animal/climate writing alert! 🚨

James Raffan thoughtfully imagines the life of a polar bear named Nanu as she moves through the changing world, balancing scientific Indigenous knowledge and a world of animal senses. 

David Attenborough who???? James Raffan has a way about writing about nature in a way that brings the literal ice to life, full of smell, light, and energy. I never realized how closely polar bears, white foxes, and ravens lived their lives in tandem! I will not soon forget the beautiful passages about how ingenious bears are when making their dens. Or the poor old bear who breaks his penis bone! Or the oil and diesel scenes! 😭 

 

This book put me in a bizarre mindset where I was absolutely thrilled whenever Nanu and her babies successful captured a seal, but I then immediately thought, “aw, poor seal.” 😅😅😅 Oh well! As Tennyson said, nature is red in tooth and claw. I just wish we were a little less destructive ourselves. 

 Verdict: this is an evocative book on modern polar bears and climate change.