Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Kind van sneeuw

One of the best novels I’ve read that strikes a balance between joy and sorrow. There are exceptionally sad moments, but you will feel pulled along by the hope and tenacity of the characters along with Ivey’s beautiful prose. The Snow Child is as lovely and daunting as Alaska itself.

Content Warnings

izzybell's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious sad 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

3.5

Content Warnings

emilyinherhead's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"In my old age, I see that life itself is often more fantastic and terrible than the stories we believed as children, and that perhaps there is no harm in finding magic among the trees."

This is a tender story of an older couple who has recently moved to Alaska after suffering a loss, to strike out on their own and live off the land. The morning after a big snowstorm, during which they built a small child out of snow, they spot a girl lingering in the woods around their property, and from there, the book follows them as they attempt to build a relationship with her.

The Snow Child is about the snow child, sure, but it's also about loneliness, and grief, and healing, and friendship, and family, and figuring out your purpose in life, and remembering how to be excited. It's a gorgeous book to read in the winter—Eowyn Ivey nails her descriptions of the Alaskan cold, but she infuses the sadness with hope, too.

Content Warnings

ofpagesandparagraphs's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

kodi_rae's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

I saw another review use the word “bittersweet” and I think it’s a perfect description of this book. Deep sadness and loneliness paired with mystical wonder and tenderness. The ending did feel rushed a bit to me and I have some lingering questions, though I know that’s also the point.

Content Warnings