Skraelings: Clashes in the Old Arctic

Inuit author Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley and her husband Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley craft a riveting chapter book exploring the culture clash between the native Arctic peoples and the invading Norse Vikings more than a thousand years ago. As Vikings left first Norway, then Iceland and then Greenland to locate in Northern Canada, they encountered the Tuniit people that they called Skraelings on Baffin Island. (The now-extinct Tuniit are more commonly called the Dorset people today.)

The story begins with nomadic hunter Kannujaq, a member of the dogsledding Inuit (the Arctic people once popularly known as “Eskimos”). Kannujaq encounters a village of Tuniit, people who, to Kannujaq and his relatives, exist only as mythical, sedentary show more “almost people.” Indeed, Kannujaq says that “his imagination had pictured them with fangs and claws.” But he discovers they are much like himself, if darker, shorter, and stockier, with a language similar enough to be understood. Eventually, Kannujaq and the Tuniit make common cause against the marauding Siaraili (what the Tuniits call the tall, bearded Vikings).

Adult readers will enjoy this account of a little-known era of North American history. The Qitsualik-Tinsleys manage to pack enough historical details about Northern Canada in the Middle Ages and enough suspense into Skraelings, despite its mere 120 pages, to intrigue not just its intended audience of middle-grade readers but their parents and grandparents, as well. What better gift for a child than an adventure story you can read — and enjoy — together.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Inhabit Media in exchange for an honest review. show less

In the ancient Arctic, a wandering Inuit hunter named Kannujaq encounters a Tuniit camp under siege from Viking raiders. A wonderfully engaging, vividly detailed work of historical fiction.