Voyage of Ice

The water became darker, black almost, and I knew from the surge in my blood it was a whale rising. Close, too close! Before I could cry out, the whale erupted from the water with a blast from his blowhole. A mist stung me, a stench of rot, as the whale’s body blotted out the sun, his vast form suspended in the air. . . .

All Nick ever wanted was to be a whaling captain, like his father before him. What could be more glorious than the life of a sailor, battling mighty sperm whales and returning home rich as Midas? So when his older brother, Dexter, signs aboard the Sea Hawk, Nick won’t stand to be left behind.

But life at sea is very different from what either Dexter or Nick expected. The whales are monstrous, and hunting them is a perilous occupation. The boys are mercilessly overworked by a cruel and dangerous captain. The officers think nothing of beating the crewmen within an inch of their lives. And that’s only the beginning! When an awful turn of fate traps them in the harsh Arctic winter, Nick and Dexter find themselves in a battle for their very lives.

Click here to read chapter one (.pdf)

Click here for discussion guide (.pdf)

Reviews and Honors

“Torrey unspools a nail-biting adventure . . . Torrey’s sharply focused prose gives each development the ring of credibility, and those who like survival tales will be rapt.” – Publisher’s Weekly – READ FULL REVIEW
“. . . Adventure fans will hardly have time to draw breath between tribulations. . . .” – The Bulletin – READ FULL REVIEW
“Powerful descriptions, authentic language and details, and an absorbing plot propel this superior historical fiction.” – Children’s Literature – READ FULL REVIEW
School Library Journal – “The novel will educate as well as entertain . . . The main characters, and some of the lesser ones, are well developed and readers come to care about their fate. In addition to being a good seafaring yarn, this title could be used as parallel reading about the history of 19th century New England and whaling.”
“This is the first in the ‘Chronicles of Courage’ sea-faring series penned by Torrey. Readers engrossed with this action-packed book will eagerly await another from the series.” – Nancy Garhan Attebury, Children’s Literature
“Give this to kids who liked Nathaniel Philbrick’s Revenge of the Whale” – Booklist
“Fans of the film ‘Master and Commander’ should take a trip upon this boating adventure.” – Lee Littlewood, www.paramuspost.com
“I recently read Voyage of Ice and it was wonderful!! I have really enjoyed both of your books that I have read and look forward to reading more. I want to introduce your work to all the kids I know.” – Barry
“I read your book, and it is amazing! The characters just come alive! I didn’t want to put the book down last night. Of course I woke up at 6:00 am to read it some more. . . .” – Ryan, age 11
Cited in Nancy Pearl’s, Book Crush
2005-’06 Maine Student Book Award Nominee
2007 Sequoyah Young Adult Book Award Nominee