The Curse of the Viking Grave

"The Curse of the Viking Grave" is the seqel to "Lost in the Barrens". Both books are great adventure stories for young people and adults. My dad is in his 80s, a lifelong outdoorsman, and he really enjoyed reading this book. As in "Lost in the Barrens", there are a lot of authentic details about survival and the history of the north, including fascinating parts about hunting methods of the Eskimos, early Viking explorers, and the "stone men" of the tundra. There are many lessons about personal strength and courage, and valuing others. This is one of my favorite books to re-read and to pass on to youngsters and anyone who likes roughing it in the out of doors.

This book was a shame to put down. Geer's wonderful illustrations are a perfect fit for this book by Mowat---I wish they both had done more books together, whether in this series or others. I strongly recommend this book, and this particular publisher's copy, to any collectors of either Mowat's writings or Geer's illustrations, or of good books in general.

Several years ago, when our boys were little, we watched a couple of Feature Films for Families movies entitled Lost in the Barrens and its sequel, The Curse of the Viking Grave, both based on Farley Mowat’s books of the same names. I have previously read and reviewed Lost in the Barrens in which sixteen year old Jamie Macnair had to leave his Toronto, Ontario, school after his parents died, and went to live with his uncle Angus Macnair, who made his living as a fur trapper and trader, at Macnair Lake in far north Manitoba, where he makes friends with Awasin Meewasin, the son of the local Woodland Cree Indian band chief. Jamie and Awasin go with some Chipeweyans on a deer hunt into the Barrens near Eskimo territory but get separated from the hunting party when they make a side trip to see the “Great Stone House” and must spend the dangerous winter season by themselves in the solitary north lands, eventually returning with another friend, Peetyuck Anderson, a part Eskimo boy whose English trapper father had died. Mowat, who also wrote Owls in the Family (1962), a semi-autobiographical book about his childhood, passed away in May of this year. In The Curse of the Viking Grave, Uncle Angus goes off to sell some of his furs, comes down with a serious case of influenza, and is being treated as a charity patient. When Jamie hears of this, he gets the idea of returning to the “Great Stone House” to retrieve some of the Viking relics with the hope of selling them to a museum for money to pay for his uncle’s treatment. So the three boys, along with Awasin’s sister Angeline, set off on their mission. However, they learn that the police are after Jamie to put him in foster care. And they find that some of the Eskimos are none too keen on desecrating the Viking grave because of an old curse. Will the youngsters get caught? Can they make it to the “Great Stone House,” or will the Eskimos keep them from it? And how will four teenagers get to Churchill all by themselves to sell the relics? As for language, the “d” word is used once. There are some common euphemisms (darn, heck, gosh), along with the phrases “ye gods” and “devils of hell,” and a couple of references to smoking pipes. However, this story of survival is packed with excitement and contains little-known information about the customs of Viking explorers and the hunting methods of the Eskimos. It also portrays the bond of youthful friendship and the wonders of a virtually unexplored land.

My son and I are loving this sequel to "Lost in the Barrens." I wish they still wrote kids' books like this.

Have the movies and wanted to read the books. They are so much better. An enjoyable read

a story of a bye-gone era, good for boys.

Boys liked the book

The book was in very good condition

Like the title says it is a timeless classic

I love most of Farley mowats books this is nice one for older children.

Love the outdoors and having recently gone to Churchill I was able to get a feel for how difficult times must have been and still are in the tundra.

This Is a childhood classic and loved it. Wanted to share it with my son, Farley Mowat does not seem to be taught in the schools. Just wanted to share it with my son. This being the sequel to Lost in the Barrens it's worth to own.

Me and my boys loved this book. Perfect sequel.