George, Jessica Day. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. Bloomsbury, 2008. ISBN 9781599901091. $16.95. 328 p.
Reviewer: Marsha D. Broadway
Reading level: Intermediate; Young adult
Rating: Excellent
Genre: Fantasy fiction
Subject: Fairy tales--Juvenile fiction; Folklore--Norway--Juvenile fiction; Books--Reviews;
The lass, a last and unwanted child by her mother, is not given a name. She bonds and works with her older brother Hans Peter when he returns from a chilling adventure. She discovers that she understands the language of animals. When an isbjørner, ice bear, offers wealth to her family in return for her staying with him for a year in a palace, she and her pet wolf accompany him to find enchantment and mystery as she unravels the secrets of the ice palace.
Based on the Norse tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, this fantasy reads easily and interestingly, adding creative details to the original story. Those who enjoyed Hale’s Goose Girl (2003) and Enna Burning (2004) will find this novel equally appealing.
Volume 28, no. 4 (Mar/Apr 2008)
