The Trap by John Smelcer

The trap gives you a glimpse of what life is like in cold, Alaska. The story alternates between the stories of Johnny, a young Indian, and his grandfather, Albert.

Albert has been running his own trapline for decades in the Alaskan wilderness. During one very cold winter snap, Albert heads out alone to check his trapline. When he doesn't come home when his wife expects him to, she asks Johnny to go out and look for him. Johnny's uncle doesn't seem as concerned, so Johnny puts off going to look for his grandfather.

You never know what consequences a single decision will have. Both Johnny and Albert make some decisions that have unintended consequences.

Genre: realistic fiction

Topics: trapline, trapping, Alaska, family relationships, independence, extreme cold, survival, decisions, wilderness, Alaskan Indian (Native American) life

Mrs. Beckwith's rating: 4 of 5

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