The Snow Child
Author: Eowyn Ivey
In 1920, Jack and Mabel move to Alaska to get away from their old lives and the pain of losing a child at birth. But homesteading in Alaska proves to be back-breaking work and a hard life. Mabel feels alone, isolated and empty. And Jack feels used up and like a failure because the farm just isn't making enough money. Then one year, the first snow of the cold season is magical.....they laugh like old times, have a snow ball fight and build a snowman. A snowgirl actually....decorated with Mabel's mittens and a scarf. The next morning Jack finds the snowman crumpled to the ground and sees a strange, blond child running through the trees at the edge of the woods. The girl is usually accompanied by a red fox and calls herself Faina. Meeting and loving Faina will change all of their lives.
This is a wonderful re-telling of a Russian fairy tale. Life in the wilderness is harsh and unforgiving, yet beautiful. There is joy and sorrow in this story.....very much like real life. It was wonderful watching Jack and Mabel's lives transform and grow stronger as they learned how to live in Alaska. Mabel works with her hands in the fields and learns so much about her husband and how he feels after a day's hard work, the stress he faces and the joy. Jack comes to better appreciate and understand his wife. And Faina fills a hole in their life that has been painful for both of them for years. But she is a free spirit,and nobody can contain her.
Beautiful bittersweet story! The Snow Child was Eowyn Ivey's first book. I definitely want to read more of her writing!
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