when was frozen river published? Ariel Lawhon’s historical novel The Frozen River was first published in the United States on December 3, 2024, by Doubleday.
That date refers to the book’s original U.S. publication, not necessarily every later edition or release in another country. The details below explain the date, publisher, story, historical background, and why a book listing might show a different date. You’ll also find a simple way to check the publication information for the specific edition you have in mind.
when was frozen river published? The original release date
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon was published in the United States on December 3, 2024. Doubleday, an imprint of Penguin Random House, published the novel. If you are asking about the book’s first U.S. release, December 3, 2024, is the date to use.
The title can create a little confusion because several books, films, and other works use the words Frozen River. This date refers to Lawhon’s historical novel, not the 2008 film Frozen River, which was written and directed by Courtney Hunt and released years earlier. Checking the author’s name is the quickest way to tell which work a listing means.
Publication dates can also differ across countries and formats. A paperback, electronic book, audiobook, or international edition may have its own release date, even if the story is the same. That does not change the original U.S. publication date.
Publication details at a glance
| Detail | Information | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Book | The Frozen River | Identifying the work |
| Author | Ariel Lawhon | Distinguishing it from similarly titled works |
| U.S. publication date | December 3, 2024 | Finding the original U.S. release |
| Publisher | Doubleday, an imprint of Penguin Random House | Checking a U.S. publisher listing |
| Type of book | Historical fiction | Understanding its genre and approach |
The date in this table is the main answer for readers asking when the novel first appeared in the United States. It is not a promise that every retailer’s listing will display the same date for every format.
Why different listings can show different dates
A book can have more than one legitimate publication date. Publishers release formats on different schedules, and editions prepared for different markets can be issued separately. Retailer pages may also focus on the date for the format they sell rather than the first date the book was published.
First publication and edition publication
The first publication date is the date the work was initially released in a particular market. An edition date usually refers to the release of a specific version, such as a paperback or a newly produced electronic edition. A later edition does not mean the original date was wrong.
For example, a library record or bookseller page might show the publication year of the copy in its collection. If that copy is a later printing or a different format, the displayed date may not be December 3, 2024. The listing can still be accurate for that particular copy.
U.S. and international release dates
Publishers do not always release a book in every country on the same day. A British, Australian, Canadian, or other edition may use a different publisher, cover, format, or release schedule. When a question asks for the original U.S. date, use the U.S. publication information rather than assuming an international listing describes the same release.
Announcements, preorders, and the actual release
A preorder page can appear well before a book is available. The date an announcement is made, the date preorders open, and the date the book is released are different events. For a publication-date question, the release date is the useful one: December 3, 2024, for the original U.S. edition of Lawhon’s novel.
A common mix-up: a web page’s “added” or “updated” date is not necessarily the publication date. It may record when a store created or edited its product page. Look for a field specifically labeled publication date or release date.
What the novel is about
The Frozen River is a historical novel set in Maine in 1789. Its central character is Martha Ballard, a midwife whose work brings her into close contact with families across her community. When a man’s body is found in a frozen river, Martha becomes involved in investigating what happened.
The mystery connects with a serious allegation of sexual assault and the influence held by prominent men. Martha’s knowledge, observations, and records matter as she tries to make sense of the death and seek justice. The frozen river is part of the setting and the mystery, but the novel also focuses on women’s lives, authority, and the limits placed on their voices.
Lawhon bases the story on Martha Ballard, a real eighteenth-century midwife who lived in what is now Maine. The novel draws on historical material associated with Ballard’s life and diary, while shaping events into a work of fiction. It is best described as historical fiction, not as a verbatim account of every event in the story.
That distinction matters if you are reading for history. A novel can help bring a past person and setting to life, but scenes, dialogue, character relationships, and the order of events may be created or adjusted for storytelling. Treat the book as an engaging interpretation, and use historical sources separately if you need to verify a specific detail.
Who wrote The Frozen River?
Ariel Lawhon is the author of The Frozen River. She writes historical fiction, often centering a real woman or a lesser-known perspective within a larger historical event. Naming the author is useful when searching because the book’s title is shared by unrelated works.
Lawhon’s choice of Martha Ballard gives the story a particular point of view. A midwife would encounter people at intimate moments, travel between households, and hear information that might not appear in official records. That position provides the novel with a way to explore both daily life and the tension between private knowledge and public power.
The book’s historical setting also explains why readers may encounter different descriptions of its genre. Catalogs and shops may label it historical fiction, a historical mystery, or a novel. These labels highlight different features, but they generally refer to the same book by Lawhon.
How to check the date for a specific copy
If you need the publication date for a citation, book report, purchase, or collection record, first identify the exact edition. A title alone may not be enough, since formats and markets can have different dates.
- Confirm the author. Make sure the listing names Ariel Lawhon. This separates the novel from the film and other works called Frozen River.
- Identify the format. Check whether the listing describes a hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, or another format. Do not assume all formats share one release date.
- Look for publisher information. For the original U.S. release, the publisher is Doubleday, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
- Read the date label carefully. Use the publication or release date, not a listing’s update date, preorder date, or the date a review was posted.
- Match the date to your purpose. For the book’s first U.S. publication, use December 3, 2024. For a citation describing a particular copy, use the information for that edition.
For formal citations, follow the style guide requested by your teacher, editor, or institution. Citation styles can ask for different details, such as publisher, year, format, or edition. If you are citing a later copy, its copyright page or publisher record may be more helpful than a general retailer result.
For a quick search, combine the title with the author’s name and format. For instance, looking up The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon alongside “hardcover publication date” is more precise than searching the title alone. That small detail can prevent you from copying information for a film or a different edition.
Is The Frozen River based on a true story?
It is historical fiction inspired by a real person and historical records. Martha Ballard was a real midwife, and the novel uses her life and historical setting as its foundation. However, that does not mean every scene or plot point should be treated as a documented event exactly as presented.
Historical novels often combine recorded details with imagined dialogue, interior thoughts, and carefully constructed scenes. Those choices make a narrative possible, especially when surviving sources do not record every conversation or private feeling. The reader gets a story shaped from history, rather than a complete transcript of the past.
If a factual claim in the novel is important to your research, verify it independently through a reliable historical source. This is especially useful for dates, legal proceedings, and the wording or interpretation of historical documents. The distinction does not lessen the book’s value; it helps you understand what kind of book you are reading.
Is the book the same as the Frozen River movie?
No. Lawhon’s novel and the film Frozen River are separate works that share a title. The novel was published in 2024 and is set in eighteenth-century Maine. The film is a 2008 drama written and directed by Courtney Hunt, with a contemporary setting and a different story.
Search results can mix the two if you enter only the shared title. Add “Ariel Lawhon” or “novel” when looking for the book, and add “Courtney Hunt” or “2008 film” when looking for the movie. This is also a practical way to avoid carrying over a movie’s release date when answering a question about the book.
The titles do not indicate a connection between the stories. They share words, not a plot or franchise. Keep the author or director attached to the title whenever you make notes or save a reference.
What readers should know before choosing it
Readers looking for a fast-moving historical mystery may appreciate that the book combines an investigation with a portrait of community life. Its central concerns include the credibility granted to women, the consequences of social status, and the value of a woman’s written record. The mystery gives those themes a clear narrative thread.
The story is set in the late eighteenth century and includes difficult subject matter, including sexual violence and unequal power. If those topics are difficult for you, check a detailed content guide or reader discussion before starting. A brief plot summary may not mention every element that could affect your reading experience.
It is also helpful to approach the historical setting with realistic expectations. The book can introduce readers to Martha Ballard and invite further interest in her world, but it remains a novel. Readers seeking a comprehensive biography or a documentary account should pair it with nonfiction and archival research.
For book clubs, the gap between the historical record and a novelist’s choices can make a productive discussion topic. Readers can ask which details feel grounded in documented life, how the fictional mystery shapes their view of Martha, and whose testimony carries weight in the story. Those questions focus on the book without mistaking fiction for a source document.
Quick answer for readers and citations
The original U.S. edition of Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River was published on December 3, 2024, by Doubleday. It is a historical novel inspired by the real midwife Martha Ballard and set in eighteenth-century Maine.
If you see a different date, check whether the listing is for another format, market, or later edition. Confirm the author and publisher before using the date, particularly because a separate 2008 film has the same title.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon was first published in the United States on December 3, 2024, by Doubleday. The novel is historical fiction inspired by the real midwife Martha Ballard, not the 2008 film with the same title.
For a citation or purchase, check the author, format, and edition so you use the right date. If you mean the book’s original U.S. release, December 3, 2024 is the date to use for when was frozen river published.