Beyond the Frozen Horizon is a tender, evocative and intelligent portrayal of human impact on the environment. Set in the future, 2030, the book addresses climate change and the impact of big business and its quest for profit at the expense of the natural world in a way that doesn't speak down to children. It introduces tricky concepts in a manner our younger generation will be able to relate to and understand. Rory's struggles with her school life and split home life are delicately weaved into the storyline of her trip to Svalbard as part of her mother's work. There, she sees things from a different perspective to her mum and is determined to reveal the truth about the deception of her mum's employers. While a slow burner, the story has many hold-your-breath moments as Rory encounters the wildlife and extreme weather that Svalbard serves up to her. The atmospheric descriptions of this land and the mystery shrouding Pyramiden leave the reader wanting to find out more both about whether Rory will be successful, the real story of Pyramiden itself and the ecological issues facing our world today. A book to prompt many discussions with children and a book for animal lovers and the natural world alike.

Beyond the Frozen Horizon is a wonderful ecological adventure - beautifully evocative with a fantastic cast of characters and, as always, an important yet lightly told message about the necessity of caring for our precious environment. I read it in one go and loved it. I'm looking forward to being able to buy it for my niece and nephew when it's out in September!

It’s the future and various parts of the planet have been reclaimed as Wilderness Zones. People have been relocated and travel is limited. So when Rory is offered the chance to accompany her mother on a work trip to the Arctic, she’s excited. They take planes and boats and see the world from the air and the sea, but when they get there – to Svalbard and the mining town of Pyramiden – the excitement is replaced with a deep uneasiness. Rory’s mother, Laura, is there to write a due-diligence report about the area’s suitability for mining the rare earths required for green energy, but the small resident community is far from welcoming. It’s suspicious of the mining company, Greenlight, resentful of the intrusion, fearful of the consequences. They make their disgust known, and even Rory is shunned by the handful of children who play in the square and run through the corridors of their strange Soviet-style lodgings. Rory feels quite alone – literally out in the cold – missing her father and confused by the hostility. But she is soothed by a presence in her room: an apparition (that’s all I’ll say about that as I don't want to give spoilers). As the days pass, Rory begins to attract the interest of the children and an encounter with a polar bear brings her closer to a boy called Mikkal, who opens up to her about why they hate the visitors. She learns of what Mikkal’s family endured at the hands of previous mining companies, and then, on hearing that the reindeer are dying of some unknown cause, probably linked to Greenlight’s activities, Rory is propelled to make a decision: should she do what’s right and risk getting her mother in deep water, or do nothing and risk seeing the people and animals of the frozen north suffer? And so begins a dog-sled trek across the ever-darkening winter land to find out what Greenlight is really up to.

I cannot do the plot justice in a handful of words. It’s rich and interesting, packed with whales and wonder, fluffy animals and fascinating real-life facts – for Pyramiden is a real place, empty and with a tragic history (but here it is creatively re-imagined by Nicola Penfold as an isolated and detached community that never got relocated). The overarching themes are hard-hitting and cold as ice, unflinching and desperately important. It’s not the first middle-grade book to look at climate change, but it’s one of the few that depicts the real problem we face in fighting it: the persistence of human greed. Big business and greenwashing might be difficult concepts to deliver in a children’s book, but she tackles this brilliantly. Penfold doesn’t talk down to children, but instead builds an understanding of it by weaving the stories of the Greenlight’s employees and the local community through Rory’s adventure. As a result, we see the impact of the past and how clearly how it might always threaten to repeat itself in one way or another if we aren’t vigilant. Truly, this is about the fragility of the state of conservation, and how we must rely on the clear thinking of the next generation, unpolluted by corporate ambition and financial bribes, to follow the right path.

Plot and themes aside, the characters are tremendous – the personalities shine through their dialogue and mannerisms. As for the worldbuilding, Penfold constructs the frozen north with colours and temperatures of sky, sea and land; it’s exciting, chilling. I could feel the cold, smell the sharpness of the night, sense the presence of a polar bear. And there is an air of eeriness, too. There’s a reference to the spooky novel, Dark Matter by Michelle Paver at the beginning, and indeed, this has a touch of the supernatural, although it’s not frightening. Rather, it’s tender. Which reflects this story itself. Beneath the cold winds and apparent iciness of the locals, there is a softness and warmth to be found. Something that can’t be drilled down to but released by listening, understanding and connecting.

I feel as if I haven’t written this review very well. It comes across as monochrome and stark. But really that’s just the environment. Within the pages of you’ll find a colourful story that’s brilliantly crafted and shaped with passion; a love-letter to the world. Beyond the Frozen Horizon is a stunning book for environmentalists and explorers, animal lovers, adventurers and humanists. It is important and compelling; a great children's story and a call for real action, with a little sprinkle of magic.

Beyond the Frozen Horizon feels like a slightly different tone to Nicola’s previous books and introduces us to the Earth in the year 2030 where the world is thriving.

Rory’s mum is an environmental geologist on a scientific project researching new ways to support human life sustainably. He’s excited to join her on the work trip but soon discovers what’s at stake for the humans and animals that live there.

There’s a great dynamic of mother and son, looking at the environment and climate change in a world that is constantly changing.

This is a great book that really should have a place in all school libraries. Such an important topic and one that many children are already much more adept at talking about than adults.

It’s such a stunning book, full of beautiful imagery and a strong message for readers of all ages, to respect the world we are in, both a thrilling and thought-provoking story, and one that of we take action now then we could have hope for the future of our world.

A beautiful book and a powerful story of hope - a glimpse into a brighter future, a world where we have taken action to protect our fragile planet.

Beyond the Frozen Horizon feels like a departure from Nicola Penfold’s usual style. Environmental awareness and the fragility of nature are certainly prevalent themes, but rather than being set in a dystopian future, this tale is set against the backdrop of a world where nature is thriving. Although there are certainly many environmental challenges, the overall tone feels more hopeful. I was gripped from the first page to the last by this story. I loved everything about it - the characterisation, the mystery and intrigue, and the idea of a future world where nature take precedent over human desire. I will certainly recommend this to my Year 6 readers. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Nicola Penfold has written an exciting and highly educational novel for YA adults and older primary readers. Rory and her mum journey to the Arctic circle where her mum is employed to carry out research on the feasibility of mineral extraction in a designated reserve. Rory befriends the local community whilst learning about life in the area and the impact on the wildlife . As the story progresses, a growing understanding that all is not as it seems .A slow burner of a novel which builds up and pulls the reader in to Rory’s awareness that the need for local and indigenous communities to preserve their lives against the voice and manipulation of big business. The reader will learn so much as well as being gripped by the storyline . Highly recommended.

This was a quick and easy read that was completely gripping right from the start and engaging all the way through. It was an atmospheric and descriptive read that was thrilling. It was an incredibly evocative and powerful read with such an important message. A great book for children.

Nicola Penfold's story telling is brilliantly evocative. Each book so far has a strong environmental message and Beyond the Frozen North is no exception. Set in 2030, during a time where there are strict Global Climate Laws and areas of the world have become designated wilderness zones and only the few can take an aeroplane and low impact living is compulsory, Beyond the Frozen North once again is a glorious opportunity for Nicola to demonstrate her understanding of the Climate Crisis and share this with readers of all ages.
In Beyond the Frozen North, we join Rory, on an adventure of a life time, as she accompanies her mum, an environmental geologist to the Svalbard archipelago where Rory's mum has to  write a report on Greenlight demonstrating that their extraction of rare earth elements won't impact on the designated wilderness zones.
There is a darkness within the pages of this story; both in terms of Penfold's thoughtful consideration of the future to come if the Climate Crisis is not impacted on now and as we venture with Rory we, the reader, discover that all is not what it seems in Pyramiden.
Penfold always teaches the reader something too. Explaining why icebergs look blue and that whales carbon sponges as well as sharing the existance of the Svalbard seed vault.
This is another thought provoking, conversation starter of a book.
A truly stupendous 5 star read
Thank you to Little Tiger and NetGalley for early access to this incredible book.

In the year 2030, world leaders pledged a coordinated and unprecedented response to the Climate Crisis. There are strict Global Climate Laws. Low impact living is no longer optional – it has to be compulsory if the world has any chance of recovery. Large areas of the Earth have been made into designated World Wilderness Zones that will act as wildlife refuges and absorb carbon. One of these zones is the High Arctic.

Rory’s mum is an environmental geologist. When she gets a new job with Greenlight, a company aiming to extract rare earth metals from the Arctic using special bacteria, they are given the chance of a lifetime – to travel to the Svalbard archipelago. Mum must write a report about the impact of the company’s plan while Rory is keen to avoid the loneliness of trying to fit in at school and see the northern animals she’s always dreamed of.

In the High Arctic Wilderness Zone, it’s essential visitors only. The animal population is finally increasing but it won’t take long before the wilderness isn’t really wild anymore. Every time a new person arrives, the natural balance is in greater danger. Local people in the town of Pyramiden are very suspicious of the intruders working with Greenlight. Old mining families, they know what can happen when everything goes wrong and can see the impact of Greenlight’s plans on the people, animals and the land. As truth is revealed, Rory tries to make friends with the local children and takes it upon herself to investigate their claims about the company. She wants to help and bring peace to the ghosts of the past.

Nicola Penfold’s understanding of the Climate Crisis and the human response to it is stunning. Even when the world is approaching the point of no return and people are forced to change their way of life, selfishness and a lack of respect for the wilderness take control. It seems that humans will never learn. Despite this bleak dystopian outlook, Rory proves that “Perhaps a child understands better than any of us.” She sees the impact of wrong choices and fights to prevent further damage that could last thousands of years.

The setting of this gripping story is a true celebration of the wild north. The land of bears, ice and lights, the description of its beauty is compelling. Having grown-up in Canada where winters get extremely cold, I shivered along with Rory. I recognised the shock of the cold air in her lungs, the heart-breaking power of a starry sky on an icy night and the majesty of the aurora borealis. Rory is desperate to see Arctic animals: seals, whales, reindeer, foxes, and the mighty polar bear. These animals are treated with the greatest respect and portrayed with realistic danger. They are as important as the humans who make their home there and their presence is the yard stick by which any environmental impact is measured.

Beyond the Frozen Horizon is a lesson for us all. Humans must change their ways. We must look beyond our own needs and think about impact on the world as a whole. The High Arctic is precious and something that can never be replicated if we allow it to disappear. Rory experiences this first hand and takes her readers on a high stakes adventure that will leave them thinking about their place and impact on the world for a very long time.

**I was so pleased to see the Svalbard Seed Vault mentioned when Rory and her mother first arrive in Norway. This is an incredible project – absolutely huge in its undertaking – that will have an impact years into the future. I have included an article about the Millennium Seed Bank in the UK and the Svalbard Seed Vault in my Years 5-6 Non-fiction book in the Developing Reading Comprehension Skills series.

Thank you to Little Tiger and NetGalleyUK for an early copy of this incredible book! It will be published 1.9.22

Beyond the Frozen Horizon by Nicola Penfold

The earth is thriving – with wilderness status protecting land and wildlife, and scientific organisations researching new ways to support human life sustainably. Rory’s mum is a geologist on one of these projects, and Rory is beyond excited to join her on a work trip to the Arctic. But the project isn’t all that it seems, and Rory soon learns what’s at stake for the people and animals that live there…
Read this as an adult , before passing on to an 11 year old . We enjoyed the discussion which was about the many subjects the book covered . The relationship between a working mother and son , the environment , climate change and growing up in an ever changing world.
A perfect book for children and a great introduction for modern day problems.