HOWL OF THE ICE

In this debut novel, two teenagers join an ice fishing community in battling a mythological creature across parallel dimensions.

Falc was lucky to survive an outdoor mishap during a blistering winter in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A neighbor found the hypothermic and frostbitten 14-year-old atop a frozen lake, his shortcut home from school. But no one can explain why the boy was soaking wet when there were no holes or even cracks in the ice. Now, Falc prefers avoiding frozen lakes but willingly braves one for an overnight stay with Grandpa Rikkar, who lives nearby and has recently shown signs of Alzheimer’s disease. It turns out Rikkar and his friends’ ice shantytown isn’t so bad, especially with green-eyed fellow ninth grader Aiyanna there as well. But the teens panic when all the adults, including Aiyanna’s dad, suddenly vanish during the night. The youngsters eventually find them only to discover they’ve stumbled on a way of traveling to alternate realities. Different versions of the fishing community relentlessly fight the Jiekna, an ice creature sporting a perpetually morphing face and tentacled claws. Falc and Aiyanna lend their assistance, as killing the vicious beast may help them get home. Raymond’s speedy tale brims with suspense; the community faces multiple threats, such as “ice-phants” (ice phantoms) and the alarming possibility that the shantytown in all the dimensions is sinking. The author likewise depicts an unforgettable setting of merciless ice and subzero temperatures. His prose is sure to make readers bundle up: “A blast of wind hurled snow flurries across the arctic tundra, causing the party to lean in to protect the flames.” The cast, in contrast, is warm, from capable Aiyanna to a character named Slash, who ice-sculpts—and more—with her handy chainsaw. Nevertheless, Falc’s sad but heartfelt relationship with his grandpa is the highlight. His affection for Rikkar’s alternate versions never wavers, as the boy was already prepared to love a grandfather who no longer recognized him.

A brisk, delightful tale of family, courage, and a chilly monster.