I just started reading this book and it is interesting.  A friend gave it to me to read, she couldn't put it down until she was finished with the story and couldn't stop raving about how interesting it was.
In a nutshell:  Ada is a native Eskimo girl in her early 20's who accompanies four young men to Wrangell Island as an advance party to an Arctic expedition.  She ends up being the only one to return alive after two years.  This takes place around 1914-1917 time period.
The story is written around her recollections and the "lost" diaries of the young men who died (apparently Ada brought back the diaries with her).
I'll write more when I've read further.  IC