The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

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How Did I Discover This Book?

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey was mentioned in passing during a book club meeting I attended. Don't ask how we got to that book from our discussion of John Scalzi's Starter Villain (which I gave a 5 out of 5 and strongly recommend if you're into light science fiction featuring animal characters and laugh-out-loud scenes).

I think it was the name of the book itself that immediately had me adding this book to my Amazon wish list—it sounded like a light, whimsical read. And while it was whimsical in the way that folk tale retellings can be, the book touches on some very serious themes like child loss and fighting to survive in isolated, wild Alaska back in the 1920s, when the lack of infrastructural development made it even more inhospitable. The town closest to where Jack and Mabel live doesn't even have a doctor, and the book mentions having to make a trip all the way to Anchorage, Alaska, when one of the characters falls gravely ill—IF the train tracks were clear of snow for the train to be able to make the journey!

How Would I Describe The Snow Child?

"Beautiful" and "bittersweet" are the two words that immediately come to mind after reading the book, which was surprisingly long. I kept glancing at my progress in the Kindle app and being surprised at how long it was taking me to read it despite being glued to my phone for at least half an hour several times a week before going to bed.

However, I would not say the book was slow-paced per se. There isn't much action, but you get to enjoy the distinct personality of each character. I found myself eagerly reading ahead, hoping to witness more interactions between Faina and Jack and Mabel, and wondering for so long if she would ever make herself known to the other characters, who thought that Mabel was losing her wits whenever she mentioned the child. And when action does happen, boy does it happen with a bang. The couple's life in the Alaskan wilderness is so perilous that you're kept on the edge of your seat, wondering if Mabel and Jack will survive their first winter.

My favorite character was Faina, the Snow Child herself. Even now after reading the whole novel I am still left wondering how she came to be. Was she ever real?

How Did I Rate The Snow Child?

I am going to have to give the book 5 out of 5 stars, and it appears I'm not alone in giving the book a high rating—not only was the book a Pulitzer Prize in Letters finalist in the Fiction category, it actually won the International Author of the Year award at the 2012 National Book Awards. And this was Eowyn Ivey's first novel!

I encourage you to go read it, and if you do, please share your thoughts! I'd love to know your opinion.