l to r: Neil Christopher, Louise Flaherty, and Megan Kyak-Monteith

Set on Baffin Island, this young adult story begins with David and his parents arguing about both homework and housework. David, sick of quarrelling, runs off and decides to visit the beach during spring breakup, despite his grandfather’s warnings about the qallupilluit – mysterious sea creatures that live beneath the ice – and the descriptions of his own chilling encounters with them from his youth. 

While jumping from ice pan to ice pan, David soon discovers the qallupilluit are real, and that he’s in grave danger. David’s ingenuity helps him narrowly escape, but his troubles deepen when he discovers his little brother, Samuel, has followed him out to the beach. 

Megan Kyak-Monteith’s illustrations, muted and foreboding, align seamlessly with the eerie tone of the story, with its powerful warning for children to stay safe and heed the advice of their Elders – an especially relevant message for young readers in the Arctic.

Illustration: Megan Kyak-Monteith.

The narrative holds the reader in suspense until the very end –  will David and Samuel survive or fall prey to the monstrous qallupilluit? 

The book, written in both Inuktitut and English by Louise Flaherty and Neil Christopher, is also a valuable tool for language learning and revitalization. 

At its core, the story emphasizes familial love – the bond between the brothers, the strength of their family and community, as well as the importance of listening to the stories of Elders.

Qallupilluit: The Takers of Children is compelling horror fiction for youth, offering both thrills as well as important cultural lessons.