Who is Dr. Rita Marzano Carpenter from Icebound: A Novel and what is their importance? Icebound_(novel) English & Literature Dr. Rita Marzano Carpenter | Icebound: A Novel

Rita Carpenter is Harry's wife and partner in his attempts to bring polar ice to countries devastated by drought. Rita, however, has a deep fear of ice and snow that stems from an episode in her childhood during which she and her parents were caught by an avalanche. Rita survived, but she was stuck in the car for many hours with her deceased parents while she waited for rescue. As a result, Rita dislikes snow and ice, a distaste that causes her to have panic attacks while working in the ice. Only Harry knows of Rita's fear, proving to the reader how well Rita is able to contain her emotions. However, when Rita is forced to swim town a tunnel in the base of the iceberg, her fear threatens to overwhelm her, even as her husband is below her fighting for his life.