THE GREAT ALONE

A place of “cruel beauty and splendid isolation” - Alaska is as important to the telling of this story as teenage Leni, who finds herself in the remote Alaskan community of Kaneq when her alcoholic and abusive father inherits a plot of land there from a Vietnam war buddy. Along with her victimized mother, Leni learns to navigate the treacherous Alaskan landscape with zero preparation for the adventure they’ve undertaken. They soon realize, however, that the dangers within their own home are even more perilous than the vicious Alaskan beasts and deadly weather that surround them. This story has something for everyone: a strong female character (who not only comes of age, but is the only one adulting around here), suspense, romance and adventure. Leni is ultimately faced with harrowing choices as she aims to save herself and her mother from their circumstances, while protecting her newfound love from her father, and Alaska itself. :

There are plenty of reindeer sausages and moose burgers in this book to go around, but there was never a doubt I’d be making salmon. The need to find, catch and eat salmon is a constant in Kaneq - there is even a celebration of the beginning of salmon season, started by native tribes. Salmon is what keeps the characters eating throughout the year when food is scarce. It’s also one of the only meals my whole family will eat. So, a bookcooklook win-win! This @thekitchn recipe even calls for Alaskan sockeye salmon: it was meant to be. And even though I didn’t fry any vegetables in preserved moose fat (EVOO instead!) I’d like to think this is a meal that could have come straight off of these pages.