The Ice House
A middle grade novel about grief, friendship, and a world on the edge of change — for readers in grades 4 through 7.
"A gentle and thoughtful story about the magic that can be found in resilience, art, and most of all, friendship."
– Jasmine Warga, Newbery Honor author of Other Words for Home
About the Book
Louisa has been trapped inside her apartment building for months. Outside, an unexplained freeze has locked the city in ice and snow — and shows no sign of stopping. Her firefighter father works dangerous double shifts. Her mother hasn't recovered from the grief of losing Louisa's grandmother. And her little brother needs more than Louisa has left to give.
When loneliness — and a shared need to escape — leads Louisa and her former best friend and current downstairs neighbor, Luke, (awkward!) outside, where together they build something unexpected: an ice house. And inside it, they discover a mysterious window to what might come next. A possible future. A chance to change things.
The Ice House is climate fiction for middle grade readers — a story that takes the fears kids are already carrying about the world and gives them back a sense of agency, friendship, and hope. It's a book for the Louisas and Lukes who need magic to be real right now.
Kind words for The Ice House
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"A gentle and thoughtful story about the magic that can be found in resilience, art, and most of all, friendship."
Jasmine Warga,
Newbery Award Winning Author
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“A beautifully written novel about a world of mostly physical isolation and virtual connection that seems all too familiar [and that] readers will strongly relate to.”
Dusty Bowling,
Author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
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"A timely exploration of climate, grief, and change."
Kirkus Reviews
“You’re going to love it. Your readers are going to love it. It’s so fascinating. It’s so timely. But I think it’s a great book that kids are going to read for a really really long time. ”
– Colby Sharp, Literacy Advocate + 5th Grade Teacher
Bring The Ice House Into Your Classroom
The Ice House was written by a former NYC special education teacher — so every page was crafted with classrooms in mind. Whether you're an ELA teacher looking for a novel that earns student buy-in, a science teacher building a climate literacy unit, or a school librarian seeking a book that bridges fiction and the real world, this is your guide.
ELA:
Themes, character development, figurative language, point of view — aligned to Common Core Reading Literature standards for grades 5–7.
Science:
Climate change, Earth systems, and human impact — paired naturally with NGSS Earth and Human Activity standards MS-ESS3-3 and MS-ESS3-4.
SEL:
Grief, resilience, family stress, and friendship — supports Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) competencies.
Free Educator Guide for The Ice House
Download a ready-to-use educator guide with discussion questions, theme guides, curriculum connections, and extension activities — designed to take the prep work out of teaching this book.
What The Ice House Is Really About
On the surface, The Ice House is a climate fiction story — a world gripped by an endless freeze, a mysterious window to the future, and two kids with a choice to make. But underneath, it's a book about the things middle schoolers are already carrying: the grief of losing someone important, the tension of families under stress, the awkwardness of a friendship that fell apart, and the question of whether one person can make a difference in a world that feels out of control.
Teachers find that the book opens conversations about climate anxiety without being preachy — the science of the world in the book is real enough to take seriously, but the magic gives students room to breathe. The most common themes discussed in classroom settings include: how families cope under pressure, what it means to be a good friend when you're struggling yourself, the relationship between loss and creativity, and how ordinary kids find agency in extraordinary circumstances.
FAQs
What grade level is The Ice House?
The Ice House is written for readers in grades 4 through 7, ages 9 to 13. The reading level is accessible for strong 4th grade readers while remaining engaging for 7th grade students — making it a flexible choice for middle grade classrooms.
Is there a teacher guide or educator guide for The Ice House?
Yes — a free educator guide is available for download. It includes discussion questions, theme guides, curriculum connections to CCSS and NGSS standards, and extension activities.
What is climate fiction (cli-fi) for middle grade?
Climate fiction — sometimes called cli-fi — is a genre of fiction in which climate change or an environmental crisis plays a central role in the story. Middle grade cli-fi is written for readers ages 9-13. The Ice House is one of the most-recommended cli-fi novels for middle school classrooms.
Get the Book
Available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook. Support independent bookstores when you can — it makes a difference.
Planning to use The Ice House as a whole-class read?
Contact Monica directly about classroom set inquiries and author visit packages — there may be purchasing options or virtual visit incentives available.
About Monica Sherwood
Monica Sherwood is a middle grade author, illustrator, and UX designer who spent years teaching children with learning disabilities in New York City public schools. Her debut novel, The Ice House, was published in November 2021 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Hachette Book Group). Monica holds a master's degree in Childhood and Special Education from Hunter College, with a specialization in Learning Disabilities. She used reading and writing as tools for inclusion throughout her teaching career — and that experience shapes every page she writes. Monica publishes the Substack newsletter Sloppy Copy, where she writes about the creative process, building a sustainable creative life, and the messy, real work of being a writer.