Inuunira

October 31, 2022
Inuit Koonoo, from Pond Inlet in Nunavut, Canada, recounts a lifetime of hunting expeditions in this visceral autobiographical telling. When he was three, he shot his first caribou. Though his father says, “you’ll have to eat it, it’s your catch,” Koonoo, proud of his work, decides he’d rather keep it than eat it. The next day, he learns his father has given the caribou to his grandfather, imparting a valuable lesson on Native hunting principles: always give thanks for the animal’s sacrifice, and only kill what one will use. This pivotal childhood experience resonates into adulthood, during which Koonoo uses his skills to provide for his family. Amid a caribou shortage in May 2015, he travels to Canada’s Arctic to hunt, but a broken-down vehicle, missing radio, and dwindling camp fuel jeopardize the expedition. The trip is further complicated by an incoming blizzard, but Koonoo survives using the knowledge he gained from hunting with his father in his youth. Abundant photographs and Shannon’s meticulously detailed illustrations—a half-page spread renders a step-by-step iglu-building method—accompany immersive text. Koonoo artfully crafts an adventurous read that is equal parts appreciation for nature and Indigenous culture, and thrilling survival story. An Inuktut glossary concludes. Ages 12–up.

Starred review from September 1, 2022
A vivid firsthand account of a hunting expedition that goes disastrously wrong. Koonoo, from Pond Inlet in Nunavut, Canada, relates a page-turning story about a near-fatal caribou-hunting trip to Naujaat, 500 km to the southwest. A Parks Canada employee, he learned Inuit hunting and survival skills from his father, using them to provide for his wife and daughters. From shooting his first murre at age 3 to hunting hare, ptarmigan, seal, and caribou, Koonoo took pride in his ability to feed those he loved on a traditional, healthy diet. In 2015, when a shortage of caribou resulted in a hunting moratorium on Baffin Island, he set off alone for the Melville Peninsula. Despite careful preparations, a combination of bad weather, human error, and mechanical issues with his snowmobile led to his nearly perishing. This slim volume is rich in sensory details enhanced by beautiful, informative illustrations and photographs. Descriptions of family and community life, the landscape, and animal behavior are shared in straightforward but evocative prose. Even knowing that the author survives, readers will feel breathless anticipation as they follow his trek by foot through harsh conditions in search of help. He explains how to build an iglu, melt snow to create naturally filtered drinking water, shelter in a snow cave, and more. Speaking directly to Inuit readers in a way that instills pride in heritage, this work has broad appeal, especially for readers interested in wilderness survival narratives. An unforgettable physical and emotional journey. (glossary, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

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October 15, 2022
Grades 4-8 Inuit author Koonoo recounts his personal experiences as a hunter in and around his Nunavut community near Baffin Island. Trained by his father, Koonoo regularly hunts caribou, seal, and other Arctic game to provide his family with a traditional diet. Much of the narrative describes one memorable solo trip in May 2015, during which his snowmobile broke down, forcing him to abandon much of his gear and trudge through blizzards for several days to reach safety. Shannon's illustrations include colorful maps, detailed drawings of equipment and gear, step-by-step instructions for building an igloo, and some of Koonoo's personal photos. One strength of this narrative is the author's emphasis on the traditional knowledge that enabled him to survive his ordeal when his modern conveniences (radio phone, snowmobile, sleeping bag) failed him. He also highlights the many and varied uses for Ziplock baggies that served him well. While some readers may feel squeamish about shooting animals, the author makes it clear that he hunts for food, not sport. Includes a glossary of Inuktut terms.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.