Erica Ferencik's "Girl in Ice"

Erica Ferencik is the award-winning author of the acclaimed thrillers The River at Night, Into the Jungle, and Girl in Ice, which The New York Times Book Review declared “hauntingly beautiful.”

Here Ferencik dreamcasts an adaptation of Girl in Ice:

If they make my book into a film, here's who I'd like to play the lead role(s).

Director: Joe Carnahan who directed Liam Neesen in The Grey.

In Girl in Ice, Val Chesterfield, a 41-year-old American linguist, is tasked to go to a remote climate research center on an island off the coast of Greenland, where a young girl has thawed from a glacier – alive – speaking a language no one understands. Eight months before the story begins, Val’s twin brother, Andy, a climate researcher stationed at the remote outpost, walked out into a 50 degree below zero polar night, freezing to death. Andy was troubled, but Val has her doubts that he took his own life, and suspects foul play.

The story begins when Wyatt, the head researcher at this remote station, sends Val an email begging her to come to Greenland to try to interpret the girl’s speech. Val, who’s battling her own issues, including a severe anxiety disorder that confines her to only a few “safe” locations, is ready to dismiss the email, but instead, plays a clip of the girl’s speech Wyatt has included in his message. Val doesn’t understand a word the girl says, but she hears trauma and terror in her voice, so Val decides to voyage to Greenland to try to help this child, as well as attempt to solve the mystery of her brother’s death.

Characters:

Val Chesterfield: American linguist, 41, has a severe anxiety disorder, tasked to go to Greenland to try to communicate with a young girl who has thawed from a glacier alive speaking a language no one understands — Jessica Chastain, Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman.

Wyatt Speeks: lead climate researcher at the Greenland station, 61, determined to find out the girl’s secret to thawing out alive, no matter the cost — Christian Bale, Robert De Niro, Hugh Jackman, Joaquin Phoenix, Liam Neesen, Willem Dafoe, Christoph Waltz, Tim Roth.

Andy Chesterfield, Val’s twin brother, charismatic but disturbed, climate researcher — Edward Norton, Cillian Murphy.

Jeanne: mechanic and cook at the research station, late 50’s, tortured by her past as well as her present obsessions — Kate Winslet.

Nora, marine researcher, 30’s, married to Raj — Marion Cotillard.

Raj, marine researcher, 30’s, married to Nora — Naveen Andrews, Aziz Ansari.

Dr. Chesterfield, Val’s father, 91, in a nursing home, getting weaker but determined to find out what happened to his son — Anthony Hopkins.

Sigrid: the 7/8-year old-girl who has thawed from the glacier: unfortunately, I don't know any child actors.

Visit Erica Ferencik's website.

Q&A with Erica Ferencik.

The Page 69 Test: Girl in Ice.

--Marshal Zeringue