The Ice Child Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Name: The Ice Child
Rating: 4.0 (3 reviews)
Author: Elizabeth McGregor
ISBN: 9780525945673

The Ice Child

by Elizabeth McGregor

Critics' Consensus (3):

Readers' Rating (2):

First Published:
May 1, 2001, 400 pages

Paperback:
Sep 2002, 448 pages

X
- Literary Fiction
- Romance/Love Stories
- Alaska & Other Polar/Sub Polar Regions
- UK (Britain) & Ireland
- 19th Century
- Contemporary
- Adult Books From Child's Perspective
Genres & Themes
Publication Information

Rate this book
Write a Review

About this Book

Book Club Discussion Questions

Print PDF

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

Introduction
When Jo Harper falls in love with maverick archaeologist Doug Marshall, she also falls into Doug's obsession: the disappearance of the Franklin Expedition. In 1845, Sir John Franklin and his crew of one hundred and twenty men sailed two ships to the Arctic and were never seen again. Doug has spent his career in search of what happened to them, sacrificing his first marriage and his relationship with his son, John, along the way. But as he and Jo plan their future together, a shocking accident forever changes their lives.

Devastated by the accident, John goes into self-imposed hiding. Jo, feeling abandoned, is confronted by the unthinkable —her young son, Sam, has a life-threatening disease and his only hope of survival lies with John Marshall. Desperate to find John, Jo soon learns that his fate is curiously tied to the Franklin Expedition. Haunted by Franklin and his own past, John has ventured into the ice floes of the Arctic in search of answers to what happened to Franklin's crew and to his own life. Unbeknownst to him, a frantic search is on; not only to save his life, but the life of another he doesn't know is in jeopardy.

Discussion Questions

Are there points of similarity between the three mothers (Jo, Alicia, and the polar bear) featured in The Ice Child?

What points of similarity exist, if any, among the three sons of The Ice Child (John, Sam, and polar bear cub)?

Does John's relationship with his father have any bearing on John's relationship with Catherine? Why or why not?

📖

Get the full reading guide

Join BookBrowse free to unlock all 8 discussion questions, author background, themes, and more for The Ice Child.
Join free — it takes 30 seconds
Already a member? Log in →

How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Onyx. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.

Membership Advantages

Reviews

"Beyond the Book" articles

Free books to read and review (US only)

Find books by time period, setting & theme

Read-alike suggestions by book and author

Book club discussions

and much more!

Just $60 for 12 months or $20 for 3 months.

More about membership!