The Gist:
In a frozen world constantly covered in snow a mother wanted a son, and when she got a daughter instead she refused to name her. The daughter grew up without a name and was known simply as the Lass. The only thing that the Lass wanted more than a name of her own was for her favorite brother, Hans Peter, to be happy. Ever since he came back from a long sea voyage he hasn’t been the same. So, for his sake, the Lass searches for the legendary white reindeer. Myth tells that anyone who catches the white reindeer is granted one wish. And, lo and behold, the Lass finds the reindeer. Caught in brambles and helpless to get free. Instead of catching the deer she cuts him free of the brambles. In thanks, he gives her one wish. Immediatly she wishes for her brother to be happy. But the deer says, rather mysteriously, that her brother cannot be helped for he has been cursed by trolls. Horrified at the news that her favorite brother has been cursed, the Lass can’t even come up with something else to wish for. The deer, surprised at her selflessness, grants her two gifts. A name of her own, and the power to talk to animals. Days and weeks pass and word travels far and wide of her rare ability. Years past and the lass receives an interesting visitor. An ijbørn (pronounced ees-byurn), or ice bear, comes to the Lass’ home and insists that she come with him to live in a palace of ice for a year and one day. Fearing for her family, the Lass agrees to go with him, but when she gets there, she realizes that something isn’t right about the palace. The palace has hundreds of rooms, but half of them are filled with random items like wash-boards, or spinning wheels. A strange language in pictures is written on the walls, and no one she asks – the servants or the bear – will explain anything or answer any question. But the Lass is determined to find out the palace’s dark secrets, the mystery of the ice bear, and why she has to stay there for a year and a day. Why she has to leave her family and live in a palace of ice.
What We Think
What We Think
Reviewed by Dream Catcher
Number of Pages: 336
This was the second book I read by Jessica Day George. I read it a while ago and recently decided that it was about time to hurry up and review it. I read this after reading her debut, Dragon Slippers. This one wasn’t as good, but still better than a lot of books I’ve read recently. One thing I wasn’t so crazy about was the fact that it was written in third person. Third person’s fine (though I prefer first person) but I think this author is better at writing first person. I felt more connected to the characters in Dragon Slippers than the ones in Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. Whether it was because of first person versus third, or just better characters in Dragon Slippers, I’m not sure.
The plot was like nothing I’ve ever read. After finishing the book I found out that it was based on an old fairytale called East of the Sun and West of the Moon. I was surprised because I hadn’t heard of it. So naturally, I read the fairytale. I noticed the similarities between the two stories, but it wasn’t like Jessica Day George just copied over the story into a different notebook and published it. No. She added her own twists and made the story her own, which is the definition of a great fairytale retelling. So I wasn’t disappointed at all in that. It was actually an interesting surprise. And, even if you think fairytale retellings aren’t so creative, the fact that this one isn’t as well known as some other stories kind of makes up for it, right? Must have done some research to find that one, right? Maybe not, but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. So, I guess that was my long, winded way to say I liked to plot.
It was kind of weird having a main character who didn’t have a first name. Especially in the third person. In first, it wouldn’t have been as noticeable because they’re always saying I instead of their own name (or lack of). But in the third person, most sentences had to include her name. So the words THE LASS came up a lot in the story. Did this bother me? Not really. It was basically the same as a person’s name after awhile. But that didn’t keep it from being weird. I think the book would have been better in first person, and I don’t think that’s just me being biased to the form I like best. I honestly think the writing quality would have been better if she had written in first person. Mostly because the Lass as a character would have seemed less stiff and more real. Also there was that little matter of her not have a name, which made everything a little weird. Yeah, now I’m basically just babbling. So I’ll move on.
Characters were pretty good. The Lass was stubborn and determined which always makes for a good, stong female character. But, she was also really clueless to the people around her and the dangerousness of the situation she was in. Sometimes I just wanted to yell at her to get some common sense. But usually she fixed the problems her cluelessness created for herself. So she was an average character. The icebear was probably my favorite. He was very mysterious (by choice…?) yet somehow stong and dependable. All and all a pretty good character. The Lass’ family was huge and had a bunch of icelandic names that I had a hard time remembering (but which really added to the icelandic atmosphere) because the characters themselves weren’t very memorable. Hans Peter was the Lass’ favorite brother so you learned more about him than the others. He was always so tired and sad. Again, he was a pretty good character but nothing completely amazing. That was what most of the characters were like. Okay, pretty good, but overall not very memorable.
Can’t really think of anything else to say…The book was good but not great. Not her best book, I can tell you that. Also, it’s a definite easy read for most teens, I think. Actually, I think it was written more for that tween age. You know that basically-out-of-the-older-kid-section-but-not-ready-for-most-teen-books age? Yeah, that’s what this book is. Basically. I felt like I needed to review it though, considering I’ve read and reviews all of her other books. And I still like this book now, even though I’m a teen. Yeah. Teen could enjoy it, too! Read if you liked Jessica Day George’s other books!
Real Teen Rating~ B : Read it, but there’s no rush.
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