This is another book about a character from another culture and time (the thirteenth century). Sandy Fussell has written a beautiful story of Illuak, a boy from the Too-lee, a polar tribe, and his challenges as he comes to terms with the fact that his grandmother (the tribal shaman) has predicted an encounter with a bear. His conflict between wanting to be brave and knowing how scared he feels is well written, as are the relationships with family and others in the tribe. When her prophecy eventuates, it’s a bear of a man he has to deal with, a Northman or Viking, and the story comes to a very satisfying conclusion which draws together several threads from through the narrative. I found it a very good read and would recommend it to readers from about ten up. It’s another book which has creates a very different world from ours in a way that is utterly believable. I’m now looking forward to reading the first and second books of the Samurai Kids series by the same author.