The Frozen River, Ariel Lawhon’s historical novel, was published in the United States on December 5, 2023. If you mean the similarly titled 2008 film Frozen River, it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008 and opened in U.S. theaters later that year.
The wording can point to either the book or the movie, so this guide gives the dates for both. It also explains the difference between a book’s publication date and its later formats, and shares a few details to help you identify the edition or screen release you have in mind.
when did the frozen river come out? The book’s publication date
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon came out in the United States on December 5, 2023. Doubleday published the novel in hardcover. That date is the clearest answer if you are asking about the book rather than the film.
A book’s release date usually refers to the first date its publisher made a particular edition available. The hardcover release is the original U.S. publication date for Lawhon’s novel. Later editions, such as paperback, ebook, and audiobook, can have different availability dates without changing when the book first came out.
The date can also vary by country, retailer, and format. A store may list a digital or audio edition separately, while an international edition may be published on a different schedule. If you need the date for a particular copy, check the publication information for that edition rather than assuming every format shares the original date.
Is the question about the novel or the movie?
The titles are easy to mix up. The Frozen River is a historical novel published in 2023, while Frozen River is a separate independent drama film released in 2008. They are not adaptations of each other, and their release dates are more than a decade apart.
| Work | Type | Release information | Best way to identify it |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Frozen River | Historical novel by Ariel Lawhon | U.S. hardcover published December 5, 2023 | Look for the author’s name and a story set in 18th-century Maine |
| Frozen River | Drama film directed by Courtney Hunt | Premiered at Sundance in January 2008; U.S. theatrical release began August 1, 2008 | Look for a contemporary story set near the U.S.-Canada border |
The presence or absence of the word “The” matters when searching catalogs, but it is not a guarantee that a search engine will show the right result. Add the author’s name for the book, or the director’s name for the movie, to narrow the results.
What is Ariel Lawhon’s book about?
The novel is a work of historical fiction inspired by Martha Ballard, a midwife who lived in Hallowell, Maine, in the late 18th century. Its story draws on the historical record, including Ballard’s diary, while presenting a dramatized mystery. The characters and events in a novel should not be treated as a complete factual account of the past.
In the book, a body is discovered in a frozen river, and the circumstances raise questions about a death that may not have been accidental. Ballard is drawn into the investigation. Her work as a midwife brings her into close contact with the community, giving her insight into people’s lives and the pressures they face.
The setting is important to the story. The novel takes place in a small community where family ties, reputation, and social power shape what people are willing to say. Ballard’s diary provides a historical point of reference, while the murder mystery and many scenes are shaped for the novel.
If you are deciding whether it suits your reading preferences, expect historical fiction with a central mystery and mature themes. It is not a light, modern crime novel. Its appeal lies partly in the combination of a working woman’s perspective, an investigation, and the daily realities of life in an earlier period.
What is the 2008 Frozen River movie?
Frozen River is a drama written and directed by Courtney Hunt. It follows two women involved in smuggling people across the U.S.-Canada border in northern New York. The film focuses on economic hardship, family responsibilities, and the risks created by their decisions.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008. Its U.S. theatrical release began on August 1, 2008, initially in limited release. A festival premiere and a theater opening are different milestones: the first is when a film is shown at an event, while the second marks its commercial release in cinemas.
Those dates explain why sources may list different answers to when the movie came out. If someone asks when it first appeared publicly, the Sundance premiere is relevant. If they mean when U.S. audiences could see it in theaters, the August release date is the useful answer. Availability through later home-video, television, or streaming services depends on the distributor and can change over time.
How to find the right edition or release
Use a few identifying details before ordering, borrowing, or looking up a release. This avoids a common mix-up: searching only the shared words in two titles can bring up the wrong work, especially when one title includes an opening article and the other does not.
- For the novel, search the author’s name. Use “The Frozen River Ariel Lawhon” to find the book and its editions. The author’s name is a more reliable identifier than the title alone.
- Check the format. A hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook may have separate publication records. Confirm that the listing matches the format you want.
- Read the edition details. Retail and library records commonly include a publisher, publication date, format, and identifying information. Compare those details if two listings look similar.
- For the film, include the director or year. Search “Frozen River Courtney Hunt 2008” to distinguish the movie from the novel and other works with similar names.
- Separate the first release from your local availability. A film’s original theatrical date does not tell you whether it is currently streaming or available in a particular country. Check the service or library listing for current access.
For bibliographic or schoolwork purposes, cite the edition you actually read. The original hardcover date is useful for identifying the novel’s first U.S. publication, but a citation should reflect the publication information printed in the edition being referenced.
Why do sources show different dates?
Different dates do not always mean a source is wrong. They may describe different parts of a release schedule. A film can have a festival screening before its theatrical opening; a book can have a hardcover release followed by paperback or digital editions.
There can also be regional differences. Publishers and film distributors set release schedules for different markets, and dates can shift between territories. A U.S. date may not match a publication or screening date in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or another country.
Retailer listings can add another complication. Some display the date of the selected edition, while others highlight a later format or a local distribution date. If a date seems inconsistent, compare the format, country, publisher or distributor, and the type of release being described.
Useful distinction: “First released” and “available now” are not the same question. The first asks about the work’s original publication or premiere; the second asks where you can access it today. Current streaming and store availability can change, so it should be checked separately from the original release date.
What readers should know about the historical background
Lawhon’s story is connected to the life and records of Martha Ballard, but it remains a novel. Historical fiction can use real people, places, documents, and social customs while inventing dialogue, scenes, motives, and events. Treating every plot point as documented history can lead to mistaken claims about Ballard or her community.
Ballard’s diary is notable as a record of daily life and work in the period. The novel uses that historical foundation to build a suspense story around a death and an investigation. The distinction matters if you plan to discuss the book in a class, book club, or historical research project.
A practical way to separate fact from fiction is to look at the author’s note or acknowledgments in the edition you read, then consult a reliable biography or archival source for historical claims. Use the novel to understand its characters and themes, but use historical references to verify specific dates, events, and biographical details.
Quick answers about the release
When was The Frozen River published?
Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River was published in the United States on December 5, 2023, as a hardcover. Other formats or editions may have different publication dates.
When did the Frozen River movie premiere?
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008. Its U.S. theatrical release began on August 1, 2008.
Is the novel based on a true story?
It is historical fiction inspired by the real midwife Martha Ballard and the historical record associated with her. The book dramatizes its story, so not every character or event should be assumed to be factual.
Are the book and film connected?
No. They are separate works with similar titles. The book is Ariel Lawhon’s 2023 historical novel; the film is Courtney Hunt’s 2008 drama.
Does every edition have the same release date?
No. The original U.S. hardcover date identifies the book’s first U.S. publication, but later editions and releases in other markets can have separate dates. Check the exact edition if you need a precise publication record.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon was first published in the United States on December 5, 2023. The separate film Frozen River premiered at Sundance in January 2008 and began its U.S. theatrical release on August 1, 2008.
To find the one you mean, add Ariel Lawhon for the book or Courtney Hunt for the film to your search. If you need an edition-specific date, check the format and publication details on that exact listing.