Stealing Snow
Common Sense says
- Danielle Paige
- Fantasy
- 2016
Parents say
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The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Stealing Snow is another fantasy by Danielle Paige (Dorothy Must Die), this time set in the world of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen." Like the original, this version is fairly dark. Fantasy violence includes a climactic battle with swords, daggers, magic, and scary fantasy creatures. Blood's mentioned a fair amount, but it's not described and there's no gore. Characters are frequently in peril from scary magic and fantasy creatures. There's physical attraction and a few kisses, one of which is described briefly. Drugs for patients in a psychiatric ward are mentioned frequently by their effects instead of by name, and sedation by injection is occasionally used to coerce good behavior.
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What's the story?
In STEALING SNOW, Whittaker psychiatric hospital is the only world 17-year-old Snow Yardley knows. A violent incident when she was 6 prompted her mother to place her there, and it's just about all she can remember. One night her best friend (and true love?) Bale is taken away, and a mysterious new orderly calls her "Princess" and encourages her to escape from Whittaker to find her true destiny. She does escape, and her search for Bale leads her into a magical world called Algid. Algid is full of dangers and mysterious people who may or may not want to help the daughter of ruthless King Lazar. Snow's quest to find Bale reveals more secrets at every turn. Is she really the one prophesied to rule over Algid? And if she is, will she do what she must to fulfill her destiny?
Is it any good?
Veteran author Danielle Paige turns her dark eye to the fairy tale "The Snow Queen" with an exciting and, ahem, chilling reboot that lovers of magical fantasy are sure to enjoy. The writing in Stealing Snow starts out strong, with deft turns of phrase, an intriguing premise, and a compelling narrator. Some of the deftness gets left behind as the story progresses, but Paige maintains the suspense and intrigue.
An imaginative world, populated with interesting characters and magical elements, keeps the pages turning to the climactic ending. Of course there's a huge cliffhanger, and magical fantasy fans will be anxious to learn what happens next.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how Stealing Snow compares with other versions of the classic fairy tale. Which is your favorite? Why?
Have you read the original version of "The Snow Queen"? What makes this story worth telling so many times, in so many ways?
Why are fantasies, especially ones with magic, so popular? What do we love so much about them?
Book details
- Author: Danielle Paige
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models, Misfits and Underdogs
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Publication date: September 20, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 18
- Number of pages: 384
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
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