THE SNOW CHILD

THE SNOW CHILD by Eowyn Ivey

Set deep in the Alaskan Wilderness in 1920, The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey is an emotional read that is very easy to get lost in. Jack and Mabel have traded in standard American living to homestead in one of the brutalist, unforgiving lands, Alaska. As time slips by, their dreams of making it and raising a family are being crushed by the barrenness of the place and the barrenness of the womb. Hurt and despair are settling in and the companionship they once shared is being replaced with the normalcy of becoming strangers side by side.

After a snow, they break out of their melancholy routine and build a little snow girl together. When they wake up the next morning, the snow girl is gone, but they start seeing glimpses of a girl running through the woods. The question is is she real or are they going crazy from their being in the wilderness so long and their want of a child?

This story is a beautiful read of wonder, tragedy, loneliness, healing, and more. I found myself drawn to it like a child is drawn to a fairytale, because it is based on the Russian fairytale about an elderly couple who desire a child. Bits and pieces of the original tale are woven throughout this story as Mabel recognizes what may be happening and desires to head off the disastrous ending of her favorite childhood fairytale.

If you read this book be sure and read through the author's notes at the end. Ivey knows the Alaskan territory well as she resides there and works at an independently own bookstore! Okay, now for the Heads Up part.

HEADS UP- There are some elements you need to be aware of. First, there is some language sprinkled around. There are no f-bombs. However, there are a couple G**D****, and a few J**** C***** explosions. They are infrequent, but present. Also, there is a point where we learn of a sexual experience going on between teens. There are no intimate details. The girl ends up pregnant, and they end up marrying.