44 pages 1 hour read

Eowyn Ivey

The Snow Child

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In 1920s Alaska, a childless couple, Jack and Mabel, struggling with grief, build a snow child during the first snowfall. They are mystified when the snow child disappears, and they begin to see a mysterious girl, Faina, who visits them in winter but returns to the woods each spring. Over time, Faina's presence helps them heal, despite her ultimate disappearance. Sensitive topics include stillbirth and grief.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Eowyn Ivey's The Snow Child is widely praised for its lyrical prose and evocative depiction of the Alaskan wilderness. Readers appreciate the enchanting fairy tale elements woven into a tale of grief and hope. However, some find the pacing uneven and elements of the plot predictable. Overall, it is celebrated as a magical and heartfelt debut.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Snow Child?

Fans of richly atmospheric and emotionally resonant stories will enjoy Eowyn Ivey's The Snow Child. Similar to books like The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, it captivates readers drawn to magical realism, folklore, and the deep emotional landscapes of its characters.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Themes

Relationships: Family

Genre

Fantasy

Historical Fiction

Magical Realism

Topics

History: World