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. (From Orca Book Publishers)

Trina Rathgeber is a children's author and member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. She is the author of French Fries Are Potatoes and The Bunnies Talk Money.

Alina Pete is a nehiyaw artist and writer from Little Pine First Nation in western Saskatchewan.