Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Through evocative personal narrative and nature photography, the Freemans, spouses and educators, beautifully chronicle a yearlong journey, beginning in fall, of canoeing and dogsledding through Minnesota's Boundary Waters. The work was conceived as a piece of witness activism designed to warn against the dangers of proposed sulfide-ore copper mining in the region. The Freemans are well-prepared; highly supported by individuals, businesses, and organizations; and explicit in their approach as ambassadors for the Boundary Waters. They speak with a single attentive and amiable voice that centers the joys and challenges of navigating the land and water, especially during deep winter and periods of spring thaw. The pair eschews discussions of personal drama and there's little mention about the desire to get away from 21st-century civilization; they write openly about charging camera batteries, posing for film crews, and reading on their Kindle as core parts of the project. They also share their enthusiasm over receiving about 300 visitors during the year, learning the personalities of their sled dog teammates, and encountering the wild animals of the territory they cover. Gorgeous color photographs focus on the human experience of being in wilderness and augment a novel work that should draw attention to the plight of the Boundary Waters. Color photos. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Library Journal Review
Conservationists and educators Amy and Dave Freeman are known for their bold outdoor adventures, including extended journeys throughout North and South America traveling by canoe, kayak, and dogsled. In 2014, they were named National Geographic Explorers of the Year. But in 2015, the Freemans embarked on a more low-key journey. They had become concerned about the environmental threat posed by potential sulfide-ore copper mining in the Boundary Waters wilderness area of northeastern Minnesota, which borders Ontario. They spent an entire year in the Boundary Waters advocating for protection of the region. Their project made use of multimedia posts, podcasts, live interviews, and eventually this book, which chronicles their experience and reminds readers about this wilderness area's significance. Though many gorgeous photographs are featured, the volume lacks general maps of the Boundary Waters area, which would have helped to provide context. VERDICT A gentle and sometimes poignant tribute to a wild landscape that will especially resonate with those familiar with the area.-Kelsy Peterson, Forest Hill Coll., Melbourne, Australia © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
