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caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Infertility, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
The MCs of this novel live as homesteaders in 1920s Alaska. They hunted and fished wild animals for food and fur. Some may find these descriptions very disturbing.corvidprince's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
This book was just so unsatisfying. The storyline was.... fine, but the book felt so incomplete. It felt like it was missing something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Suicide attempt
ymziegler's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
hannahrenae's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
owlmybookandplanneradventures's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This coming-of-age and retelling of the Russian fairytale "Daughter of the Snow" set in Alaska in the 1920s blurs the line between reality and fantasy with some magical realism. It is enchanting, heart warming & gut wrenching. It encompasses themes such as starting over to heal, the struggle to survive, loss, grief, and hope.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
victoranna263's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Child death and Grief
Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt
chalkletters's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
As far as I remember, The Snow Child was a book I picked up from one of work's book sales, and first read over Christmas (very seasonally appropriate). I thought I remembered the basic story, and liked it well enough, so I thought I'd read it again during the even colder months of January and February. Maybe it would help me recapture my love of snow after it betrayed me. (Yes, yes, I am Lorelai Gilmore.)
Eowyn Ivey's descriptions of snow are very lovely and cosy, like sitting inside in the warm and watching snow fall against the window. Even when the characters face the genuine dangers of an Alaskan winter, the prose is always light and enchanting. While I wouldn't say the story was predictable or obviously moving towards any particular happy ending, the danger to these characters is very rarely physical and immediate.
At first, it seems as though The Snow Child might be a version of Pollyanna: an unusual, pure-hearted child appears to bring new meaning into older characters' lives. (Which is absolutely fine, but a little overdone. Why must it always be a child?) Fortunately, there was more going on between Mabel and Jack, and the child's touch is not the only thing required to fix their relationship, which was very much appreciated.
Faina (the titular snow child), too, has more going on than just being a child made of snow that came to life. Throughout the story, Eowyn Ivey presents evidence for both sides, that Faina is flesh-and-blood or that she's something more folkloric, and without spoiling the ending, even that is left fairly open for the reader to decide.
Overall, a lovely wintery read that had more nuance in it than I had remembered! Also, bonus cameo of an otter, which is always welcome.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy