Lesson 24 — Activity 2: Chapters 20 – 23


Before starting this activity, please read chapters 20 to 23 of the novel. Remember to think about the strategies you can use as you read.




Courtesy of Pixabay

In chapter 20, everyone is back safely in the tent, and they eat fried Arctic char for dinner. Later in the chapter, we learn more about what happened to the Inuit sled dogs that used to live in George River. Matthew tells the story of how the RCMP came into George River, told the Inuit that the dogs had rabies, and the massacred all of their dogs — they came right into town and shot them all. Matthew says that he will never forget that day as long as he lives. Noah learns that the RCMP killed the dogs because the Inuit relied on them — the dogs were the Inuit's only way out, and the Canadian government wanted to keep the Inuit all in one place.


In chapter 21, it's Sunday, and so far no one has said anything about packing up and heading back to George River. Noah tries to put together a plan on how they can manage the trip back without Steve and Joseph — Matthew can take one dog team, and Tom or Lenny should be able to handle the other. However, the snow is still coming down hard, and the visibility continues to be very poor. They begin to play a game called caribou bones.


In chapter 22, Geraldine asks Noah to go with her to get some wool from her tent. Noah asks if she will ever come to visit him in Montreal, and she tells him that a lot of Inuit have a hard time in the big cities as they don't fit in. They continue on with their day cooking, cleaning, and waiting for the weather to improve.

In chapter 23, Lenny and Noah go outside to dump the dirty water. Lenny shares things with Noah, and tells him how lots of parents in George River don't do right by their kids. Noah gets up the courage to ask about Lenny's dad. Lenny tells Noah that he hasn't see his dad for 10 years, since he left George River on one of his drinking binges. At this point in the story, the reader can see that the two boys are beginning to bond.

Complete the activities that follow and then continue to read chapters 24 to 26 of the novel. Remember, as well, to continue with the vocabulary activity.