Qaqavii

by Miriam Körner

When 15-year-old Emmylou arrives in Churchill, Manitoba, all she can think about is getting out of town before she ends up on the wrong end of a polar bear dinner. But things are rarely what they seem in the North and Emmylou’s outlook begins to change–fast. It all starts when she meets Barnabas, a young Inuk who is training sled dogs for the gruelling Arctic Quest. But her real Northern adventure begins when she falls for a spirited yet unruly puppy by the name of Qaqavii who turns her entire world upside down.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

392 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2019

About the author

Miriam Körner is a best-selling and award-winning author for young adults and children, who lives in Northern Saskatchewan in a small cabin tucked away in the bush with her husband and their sixteen sled dogs.

Reviews

[Lana Shupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished going on an Arctic Quest on a qamutik (dog sled) powered by a beautiful sled dog team. I did this all while sitting in my comfy chair wrapped up in my cozy blanket sipping my early morning coffee.

Miriam Korner, the book's author, shares her intimate knowledge of the beautiful Northern landscape, the people and the dog teams that were/are invaluable for a life in the north.

In fictional form Miriam gives Emmylou (the book's protagonist) the chance to learn about the North, its culture and its people through her friendship with an Inuit family. It was nice to experience Emmylou's journey right along with her. QaQavii is the dog who plays such a big part in Emmylou's acceptance of herself, her family situation and her ability to grow into herself. Like the pieces in a museum, Miriam Korner shows how every piece/every person is made up of stories. Readers will delight in learning stories of the North, stories of a people and the story of Emmylou and how she grows through her time in the North.

This book is perfect for your adventure loving pre-teen/teen. Fast paced with short, powerful descriptions. Characters that make you love them for their kind spirits, gentle ways and even all their faults. There is just enough teen angst and parental misguidance to appeal to those teen readers who delight when grown ups get things wrong.

The author interview at the end of the novel gives even more insight in Miriam's journeys in the North and how she came to write the book. I think this book would make an excellent addition to a classroom reading list. The cover of a book plays a big role in my decision to read a book. Qaqavvi's book cover is deligthful on every level.

I would like to say a big MATNA (thank you) to Miriam for including the Inuktituk words throughout the book. While reading this book I got an education in the Inuktitut language. Although I'm sure my pronunciations were atrocious, I tried each and every word as it was spelled out in the book. For all my mistaken pronunciations - UGGUAQPUNGA(I'm sorry.)

How little I know of the North becomes more and more obvious the more I read - both fiction and non-fiction. Like Emmylou I felt so haunted by the story of the Sayisi Dene people of the North, that I wanted to do more research. I bought the book - Night Spirits: The Story of the Relocation of the Sayisi Dene by Ila Bussidor.

Thank you Miriam and Red Deer Press for this great read and important story.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miriam Korner's YA sled dog books are a favourite of mine, and I've been waiting for this one to drop ever since finishing Yellow Dog a few years back. Qaqavii does not disappoint. Its main character is a strong, curious and compassionate sixteen-year-old, Emmylou. As she struggles to adjust to her new home in Churchill, Manitoba she meets an Inuit family who welcome her and teach her how to run dogs. Qaqavii, the dog she most connects to, is another unforgettable character in the book, as is the Arctic itself. Descriptions of the landscape Emmylou traverses during the Arctic Quest dog race made me feel almost as if I were on the dogsled myself. "There is no horizon, no shadows, no telling if we're traveling up or down, just white all around me...We're running north, further and further, and yet we don't seem to move. I never thought about what infinity looks like, but if you asked me now, I'd say it's a dog team running into a whiteout."

Emmylou's coming-of-age story is more than just an adventure though. Her curiosity about the people she meets offers a starting point for readers to think or learn about the historical wrongdoings of the Canadian government towards the original peoples of this northern region. It's also a page-turner. The last few chapters had me racing to the finishing line - curious to find out what would happen with Emmylou, her new friends and her difficult mother. Where would everyone end up and will they be together? Overall, Qaqavii is a memorable and compelling story. And now I can't wait for the next book!

[Ashleigh Mattern · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the beta version of this novel for author Miriam Kӧrner, I thought she'd written a delightful coming-of-age story that took a relatable young woman on a thrilling adventure in Canada's Arctic. The finished version kept the delight of the original while delving even deeper into difficult issues like settler-Indigenous relationships, the historical wrongdoings of the Canadian government, and the effects of residential schools. Miriam's descriptions of Churchill, Manitoba, and the landscape there are vivid - I've never been there, but after reading this story, I feel like I can picture it perfectly. This book is definitely worth a read.

[Mary Ann]

Review to follow in upcoming issue of School Library Journal

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a coming of age tale set in the Arctic. Emmylou has always had a strained relationship with her mother as they seem to move from place to place on a whim. Leaving Winipeg for a town in the far north, Emmylou is determined to leave on the first train out of town. But then she meets a team of sled dogs including a puppy named Quqavii and a young Inuk named Barnabas. Emmylou may have finally found her place.

[Merrilyn Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emmylou has a problem, or maybe a few problems. Her mother, Kitty, moves them around Canada very frequently. Emmylou doesn't know why, but it's not because she doesn't ask. Her mother keeps quiet about the reasons. Is it her Dad, who left when she was a young girl? Her grandmother's death? When Kitty moves them to Churchill, Manitoba, polar bear capital of the world, Emmylou is furious. She's supposed to homeschool herself and be a part-time waitress in the lodge where they're living (in trade for a free room). While out roaming the town, Emmylou meets Barnabas, an Inuit boy about her age of 15. They become friends and this leads Emmylou to learn firsthand about Inuit culture and dogsledding. Her interests fan out from there when she becomes cognizant of how the white European people displaced the Inuits and effectively stomped out their ancient ways. In one last rebellion from Kitty, Emmylou takes part in the Hudson Bay dog sled race to Arviat, 250 miles from Churchill. This book is political at times, with fingers pointed at the demise of the Inuits and the current prejudice they still face today. I loved the story, and know that dog lovers will appreciate the detailed and loving way the dogs are portrayed.

[Karis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read! The characters and their relationships are fleshed out well, and the inclusion of real historical events and the effects learning about them has on Emmylou are very well done and impactful. Although this book is not a proper historical account, I feel like I've learned a lot and have come away with a deeper appreciation for the Arctic. I was also quite invested in Emmylou's relationship with her mother, although I feel like its resolution was a bit rushed by the end. Overall, this book has a lot of interesting and important things to say and is filled with endearing characters. A great read for young readers and adults as well.

[Maureen Ulrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have become a fan of Korner's books since I read her award winning YA novel Yellow Dog. Qaqavii does not disappoint. Opening this book is like opening a window into the soul of the North. I learned so much about life in Churchill, in particular running dogs and polar bears, but the story of the relocation of the Sayisi Dene and Ahiarmiut is what truly drew me in. Emmylou's strained relationship with her mother Kitty and growing connection to Barnabas and his family rang true. This is an important and excellent read for teens, but also for adults.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply moving and honest: Emmylou’s relationship with Kitty, Barnabus and his family, and her reactions to learning about Canada’s treatment of Inuit and Dene people.

Transporting: Wonderful evocation if place! I loved being in the Arctic, on a dog sled, in an igloo, all from the warmth of my southern home.

[Rebecca Berinstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the fault of the book, but I did DNF and skip to end about halfway through. I just wasn’t in the mood for this one at the time. The story seemed kind of reparative and I didn’t care enough about the characters. The location and history portion was fascinating, but I got bogged down in not being able to pronounce and of the Inuit words.

[Gabriele Goldstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's description of the north made me feel like I was there with her. While I didn't care for the mother/daughter relationship part, how she incorporated the landscape, the dogs, and the Indigenous culture made me keep reading. It's a bit long and sometimes tries too hard to teach too much, but still it's a powerful novel. Reading the Afterword helps readers appreciate the novel.

[Tayva Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I wouldn't definitely recommend it if you like realistic fiction and or books about dogs.