Magnetic North: Sea Voyage to Svalbard

While most may never visit the Arctic in person, Magnetic North paints a vivid poetic picture that figuratively transports readers to the beauty of this harsh northern region. This short work falls somewhere between a travelogue, a collection of poems, and a poetic, scientific look at the environment as Butler tells of her trip to Svalbard, Norway. Butler’s female voice is a rare addition to the predominantly male-voiced category of northern voyage works, which could be discussed in lessons about writing styles. Some scientific terms related to geography, the environment, and animals are used, making this work suitable for lessons that meet both English and science learning objectives. Readers could be inspired to write their own travelogues to a Canadian place, supported by research about the ecosystem and climate.

Awards: Shortlisted, Mountain Fiction & Poetry, 2019 Banff Mountain Book Competition Awards
Shortlisted, Trade Non-Fiction Book of the Year, 2019 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Shortlisted, Travel, 2019 INDIE Book of the Year Awards