North

North by Napoli, Donna Jo. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780060579876.

Chanelle laughed. "Youd never have the guts to get near a polar bear in real life. And youd never travel that far. You the mammas boy, I hear." But Chanelle is wrong. Alvin has more guts than even he realizes. And he isnt a mammas boy. In fact, when his over protective mother goes too far, he leaves home. Where can Alvin go, though? He heads north. He will follow in the footsteps of his hero -- Matthew Henson, the bold Arctic explorer. Alvin will prove that he can take care of himself. Alvin will go north to the deadly cold; north to terrifying, frozen windy expanses, where its easy to get lost even near shelter; north to polar bears and wolves; north to himself. . . .