Freya & Zoose by Emily Butler, Jennifer Thermes
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 1524717711
Pages: 208
Goodreads

This adventure chapter book, most suitable for readers in grades 3-6, features a solitary, educated Rockhopper penguin named Freya and a sarcastic, yet scientific mouse named Zoose who stowaway on a hot-air balloon headed for the Arctic.   They learn to work together as they observe the three men, based on the real, but tragic Salomon August Andree hydrogen balloon attempt to the North Pole in 1897, struggle with the floating ice conditions.  Freya loves poetry and uses a special travel book as her standard for behavior, while overconfident Zoose is afraid of death but puts his eavesdropping and sewing skills to good use.   The pair survives sinking sleds, a bear attack and some shifty local animal characters.  Sadly, Freya and Zoose must watch the three humans succumb to death one by one.    Thermes ink draws are scattered throughout the story illustrating the whimsical stories and dreams that Freya and Zoose develop.  Butler provides the historical context to the adventure in the back which will have some seeking out all the interesting details to hot-air balloon flight and the perils it presented.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library