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The Snow Child
by Eowyn Ivey
Hardcover
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
ISBN: 0316175676
EAN: 9780316175678
Suggested Retail: $24.99
Trade Paperback
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
ISBN: 0316175668
EAN: 9780316175661
Suggested Retail: $14.99 |
A traditional
Russian fairy tale provides the basis for this captivating novel of love and
loss sent in the snowy wilderness of Alaska. It is 1920 and a childless couple,
Jack and Mabel, set off for Alaska to homestead as a fresh start without fully
understanding the risk and hardships that Alaska winters in the wilderness will
bring. The short days, constant cold and isolation prompt depression and
despair but during a beautiful snowfall they playfully rejoice in the sparkling
new snow and together construct a snowman. Feeling inspired, the couple carves
the face of a beautiful young girl in the snow figure, dressing her in a scarf
and mittens. When their snow child has disappeared the next day they are puzzled
but when they observe a young blonde-haired girl dancing through the snowy
trees on their property dressed in the same scarf and mittens they wonder if
she if real or a magical sprite.
Soon
Jack and Mabel develop intense feelings of attachment for Faina, the mysterious
and free-spirited young girl who arrives to visit with them each winter and who
seems so mysteriously at home in the snowy cold. During the short Alaska
summers Mabel lovingly sews new winter clothing for the girl while she joyfully
awaits her return with the snow and cold to come.
Over
time a bit more of the snow child’s identity is revealed and she becomes more and more a daughter to the couple, still
unsure of whether they can believe that she is fully real or a magical spell
that has taken form to express their deepest hopes and desires. How can it be
that this beautifully delicate child knows better than they how to survive in
the unforgiving winter landscape?
Difficulties posed by weather and hardship soon lessen Mabel and Jack’s
isolation by necessity and illustrate the importance of community and
friendship for survival. However, the Russian fairy tale Mable uncovers which
so closely parallels their experience with Faina has a several tragically sad
potential endings. She and Jack hope against hope that their love for Faina
will have a happier resolution as they faithfully anticipate her return to
their homestead each year when winter arrives.
“The
Snow Child” is Eowyn Ivey’s first novel and it is beautifully written with
spare, lyrical prose that never over-states. The tale magically conveys beauty
of place and intensity of feeling while leaving plenty of room for the reader’s
emotional involvement and wonder at the tale’s starkly beautiful story. It’s
the most wonderful and unusual book I’ve read for a while. I highly recommend
it!
Eowyn
LeMay Ivey was raised in Alaska and continues to live there with her husband
and two daughters. She received her BA in journalism and minor in creative
writing through the honors program at Western Washington University, studied
creative nonfiction at the University of Alaska Anchorage graduate program, and
worked for nearly 10 years as an award-winning reporter at the Frontiersman
newspaper. This is her first novel.
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