Waiting for Unicorns by Beth Hautala

• Genre:  Realistic - MN Author
• Grade Level: 4th - 7th
• Reading Level: 5.3 (8 points)
• Length: 256 pages
• Publisher:  Philomel Books (January 22, 2015)
• My Rating: 4 out of 4
• Readability: Great setting, characters, and story!
• Division: Crossover (not on the list yet)
• Summary:  After her mother dies, 12-year-old Talia McQuinn goes to the Arctic with her father, a whale researcher. Over the course of one summer and several unlikely friendships, Talia learns that stories have the power to connect us and pull us out of darkness.

Talia is dealing with the grief and heartache of losing her mother to cancer.  Her father, a researcher, who has spent many summers in Churchill, Manitoba studying beluga whales takes her with him but has to leave her behind with a friend while he goes on his weeks long expedition.  Talia feels alone but discovers friendship with others who are also in Churchill for the summer.  She  begins to open her heart again to relationships including Sura, the local Inuit woman they are staying with.  

This book is so good!  I loved learning about village life in Churchill, Manitoba. Talia and her father arrive early summer and temperatures are still between 0 and 30 degrees! The characters in this story are so interesting, I was also fascinated by the culture of the contemporary Inuit village. There is a little natural science in this book as you find out a little bit about whales and even the elusive narwhal whale.  

This is a story of dealing with grief and loss and healing and new friendships.  I highly recommend this book.  The author is from Minnesota - I think around Brainerd. I don't see this book out in paperback yet.  Kind of disappointing since it would make a great Maud Hart Lovelace selection.  The author has a second book coming out next spring (2018).  I look forward to reading it.