The Snow Girl

It was fiction and I liked that it was a magic and mystery book.
I would recommend it to someone else if they like magic and mystery books.

My favourite character was Klara because she was very adventurous.

Firstly, thanks to Fritha at Usborne for this advanced copy of The Snow Girl.

Secondly, heads up I haven't actually read any of Sophie's other books! (and yes I will be now - more on the tbr pile!) I do however, have a young lady at school whose opinion on books I value highly who absolutely loves them - so much so that once she found one - she read them all. And she is waiting for me to hand this to her so she can read it next!

Tasha is looking after Ferdinand the baby goat when it happens - snow - she's never seen snow before.

Tasha thinks back to when her mum, Svetlana, Grandpa's only child and Konstantin (Tasha's father) receive a letter from Grandpa about visiting and possibly staying for a while because he is finding it hard to manage the farm alone. He'd even sold quite a few of the goats to another farmer beforeasking for their help. Tasha was sad to leave her home, but it gave her a way of forgetting that incident at Claw's Edge. At Grandpa's she could keep herself to herself. Her parents would teach her and she could help on the farm. There are other children on other farms nearby but Tasha doesn't try to make friends.

Grandpa has a bad cough, he's been resting a lot, but now with the snow he is calling her....he helps shut teh goats in and gives them extra bedding and the chickens too. The snow is getting deeper and Grandpa wants the honour of building her first snowman with her.

But Tasha wants to build a Snow Girl - like the one Grandpa tells a story about. They build her; she's beautiful, her dress is patterned, her collar and cuffs puffy like fur and she's wearing Grandpa's scarf. And she's right outside the windows of the house. Grandpa won't leave The Snow Girl until Tasha has made a wish just like the couple in the story.

And Tasha wishes.....later that night....The Snow Girl is gone. Tasha goes out and finds a girl wearing her Grandpa's scarf with a fox at her heels. The girl is called Alyana.

Tasha and Alyana meet nightly and as dawn breaks Alyana retreats to the woods. The snow though shows no sign of ending...it goes on and on...it is hurting the wildlife, the farmers and their stock. A feast that Grandpa wants to have in the community hall for Midwinter is planned. But then Alyana arrives and Tasha follows her - a wildcat is in their animal hospital cave. Tasha knows where to go for medicine and food - the medicine is in the community hall and she knows where the key is, the food for the feast is in Nona's barn and includes venison. But Nona hears them and scares Alyana away. Tasha tries to follow on foot. An accident happens and she knows she has to save herself, then suddenly Grandpa is there to help her.

But finding Tasha means Grandpa gets ill. The snow gets worse. They can't get a doctor. What is happening? Why is the snow so bad? Tasha need her new friends Klara and Mika to help her find the answer.

I absolutely loved this book. The friendship between Tasha and Alyana is amazing. Alyana helps Tasha to overcome so much. The way it is written following Grandpa's story, following the stories of Mika's Grandma, Tasha's determination that there must be a story that ends differently all add to the drama that is written. The love Tasha has for her family, for Grandpa who she reads to and helps daily, even keeping cough sweets in her pocket is just beautiful. I don't think I'll be giving this to school we will however have to buy a final copy!

TA, ESCP.