The Curse of the Viking Grave (1966)

It’s an old story. An author produces a singular work of genius that receives rave reviews and awards, only to follow it up with a weaker sequel.

The Curse of the Viking Grave is not a horrible book. It’s just can’t compare to the grandeur of its predecessor, Lost in the Barrens.

The biggest problem I found was the lack of singular direction in the plot. The first 70 pages tell a different story than that rest of the book. Combine that with a slower pace and a distracting romantic sub-narrative and you’re left with a decent-yet-unremarkable adventure story.

I should note that the charcoal illustrations by Charles Geer are stunning. He’s able to capture the movement and excitement of a canoe in rapids perfectly.

If you’ve read the first one, you should read this too—just don’t set your hopes too high. ( )

"The popular sequel to Mowat's award-winning Lost in the Barrens, this is the suspense filled story of how Awasin, Jamie and Peetyuk, three adventure-prone boys, stumble upon a cache of Viking relics in an ancient tomb somewhere in the north of Canada. Packed with excitement and with little-known information about the customs of Viking explorers, this story of survival portrays the bond of youthful friendship and the wonders of a virtually unexplored land." - jacket notes.
Jamie is the son of a trapper, Awasin is the son of the chief of the Cree Indians, and Peetyuk is the son of an English trapper and an Inuit woman, who was raised by the "Eskimos". They became friends the previous year when Jamie and Awasin were lost in the barrens for months, and only survived because they met and became friends with Peetyuk and his family. This adventure is suitable for young teens, interesting for its historical and geographical content, and for its somewhat dated but respectful portrayal of First Nations. ( )