The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Overview from Goodreads:

Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead--and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.

My Review:

This was such a beautifully written book.  I did not know that the basis for this story is a Russian fairy tale.  The author wrote so descriptively that I could often “see” the scenes in my head.  The story was about sadness and humor, loneliness and family, love and letting go.  It covers many years in Jack and Mabel’s life, from the first appearance of Faina (the snow child) and the numerous years she was in their lives.  Is Faina something magical?  Or is she real?  Sorry – you’ll have to read this truly lovely book to find out.

My rating: *****