Alaska | Book Girl & Little Bear

North to the Future: An Offline Adventure Through the Changing Wilds of Alaska by Ben Weissenbach

Young journalist Ben Weissenbach, when not scrolling on his phone, is fascinated by Alaska. At 20, he spent the summer of 2019 with climate scientist and adventurer Roman Dial trekking across the eastern Brooks Range. During another trip to Alaska he experienced an Arctic winter fortnight on Kenji Yohikawa’s off-grid cabin near Fairbanks, tending to his reindeer. Ben also flew over part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with glaciologist Matt Nolan, occasionally dealing with smoke-filled skies.

The longest section of the book is about a hiking and pack rafting expedition in the Western Brooks Range in 2021, led by Roman Dial, studying the spread of spruce trees in the Arctic. Many adventures and misadventures are described, including encounters with wolves and grizzly bears, along with his struggle as to simply be present in the amazing expanse of Alaska. I very much enjoy the combination of real-life adventure, travel, science, and memoir, and look forward to reading what he’s up to next.

Brenda

Not the Ones Dead by Kate Shugak

It’s great to see Kate Shugak, Alaskan P.I., back in fine form, along with her sidekick Mutt, half-husky and half-wolf, in this thrilling mystery. A Cold Day for Murder is Kate’s first appearance, while my favorite is the very funny Breakup. I also enjoy Stabenow’s Eye of Isis Egyptian mystery series, beginning with Death of an Eye.

Bobby Clark, a black Vietnam vet who runs the area’s unlicensed radio station, is run off the road near Kate’s homestead. In town, Inuit Kate is shopping with partner and fromer trooper Jim Chopin, when she is snubbed by a guy in camouflage.

A large isolated lodge has a new, unknown, owner and hikers on public trails nearby have been threatened. After a midair collision leaves 9 people dead, Kate is asked to investigate by the children of one of the pilots. There was drone activity in the area, and young reporter Van gets an anonymous email claiming there was a 10^th body.

Set in mid to late 2022, the Niniltna Aunties may be looking to add to their group. Bernie’s Roadhouse, where the Aunties quilting group meets, has a serious problem. I won’t say much about the plot, to avoid spoilers. I was intrigued by the author’s note, which gives the inspiration for much of the plot. Welcome back, Kate, Mutt and Jim!

Brenda