Questions About The Wolf in the Whale

by Jordanna Max Brodsky (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (6)

What was the inspiration for writing this book?

Jordanna Brodsky Hi Charity! I spent a lot of time as a kid up in eastern Canada, which is where I first heard about the Viking explorations of North America a thousan…moreHi Charity! I spent a lot of time as a kid up in eastern Canada, which is where I first heard about the Viking explorations of North America a thousand years ago. It's a magical place, and I always imagined a descendent of those long-ago Vikings was hiding amid the spreading ferns or tumbling waterfalls. When I started researching as an adult, I discovered that the Norse interacted not only with the local Beothuk Indians, but also with the ancestors of today's Inuit. That led me into a further exploration of Inuit culture, history, and mythology...I was hooked! Once I read about the traditional Inuit practice (no longer in use) of sometimes raising children in the gender of their namesake, even if that gender doesn't correspond with the baby's biological sex, I knew I had the basis for my protagonist.(less)

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Is this YA fiction?

Jordanna Brodsky Nope! Although the protagonist is a teenager for much of the story, the book is geared for adults. It includes some pretty graphic violence, sexual co…moreNope! Although the protagonist is a teenager for much of the story, the book is geared for adults. It includes some pretty graphic violence, sexual content, and a lot of anthropological detail. That being said, I have no doubt that mature teen readers would enjoy it.(less)

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The book sounds fascinating. I will be happy to read it when it gets to our library. How did you find information about the daily life of the Inuits? Did you find specific information about their daily lives or did you have to fill in a lot of blanks?

Jordanna Brodsky I did a huge amount of research! The book is set 1000 years ago, so of course we will never know the details of Inuit daily life that far back. Howeve…moreI did a huge amount of research! The book is set 1000 years ago, so of course we will never know the details of Inuit daily life that far back. However, I made some educated assumptions based on several sources: the details recorded by anthropologists and explorers in the early 20th century, when Inuit still practiced their traditional religion and nomadic lifestyle; Inuit oral history transmitted through elders and recorded by scholars; archeological evidence; and my own experiences and conversations during my travel to Nunavut. If you want to no more about that trip and the Inuit I met there, check out my essay for Lit Hub: https://lithub.com/going-deep-into-th...(less)

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George

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What is it about? Mr. Gottshalk

George There is a blurb, as usual, on the main page for the book.

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