An invitation from a friend comes at the perfect time for Rafe Khatchadorian. He is sweating at the back of his school’s music room, in the middle of kazoo practice. There is no air conditioning and even the teacher looks like he’s melting.

The invitation comes from animal expert Dr Deerwin – an all expenses paid trip to Alaska. Rafe first met her and her daughter Penelope while working in a zoo, and the thought of hanging out with Penelope again, urges his answer by text. YES! YES! YES!

Rafe mum however, has other ideas. NO! being the central theme. But with the help of his mega-smart little sister, they are soon shopping for snow shoes.

Rafe’s adventure begins with a large plane and uncomfortable seating arrangements, and finishes with a tiny plane complete with skis. They land in the middle of nothing and nowhere. No sounds, no wildlife, and no sunlight either. This is Alaska. Bitterly cold and half dark – ‘Polar Twilight’, Dr Deerwin explains.

This Alaskan adventure is full of fun, failures and freaking out that Penelope will like one of their young hosts more than him. Rafe learns to ride a snow mobile, plummets into a polar bear cave, flees a ruthless poacher’s hide out and helps a whale facing a whaler’s harpoon. Throwing all caution overboard at the last possible second finally brings the attention Rafe seeks.

He might get a little homesick, lost, embarrassed and colder than a popsicle left in the freezer for a year, but he wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Another escapade for middle schooler Rafe Khatchadorian – Winter Blunderland is a crazy and chilly ride. Readers will learn stuff about Alaska along with Rafe, feel their heart pound when he faces danger again and again, and laugh at his shenanigans as he tries to impress his crush – Penelope.

Many hilarious illustrations portray the action throughout, often with a twist of Rafe’s imagination.

Polar bears, poachers, fun and family, all rolled up in a snow cave or two will have readers engaged from the first page to the last.

Author – James Patterson and Brian Sitts

Illustrator – Jomike Tejido

Age – 8+

(2022, Penguin Random House, Alaska, Snow, Polar Bears, Action, Danger, Animal Research, Series, New Friends, Christmas, Quviasukvik, Inuit, Alaska Native, First Peoples, Jealousy, Crush on a girl, Trying to impress, Funny, Humour, Action, Friendship, Family, Traditional Customs)