The Snow ChildThe Snow Child
Score Modern
What it's about
November 1920: Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a homestead in the Alaskan wilderness, but Jack can barely clear the land, and Mabel can't contain her grief for the baby she lost years before. The night of the first snow, they build a snow girl together. The next morning it's gone, and a girl appears in the woods.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. It's a magical, moving retelling of a Russian fairy tale.
You'll love it if you liked
The Bear and the Nightingale
News of the World
The Night CircusGood to know
It leaves its magic ambiguous. It's quiet and beautiful.
By the numbers
- Readers28 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller53 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz1 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #95 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #266 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #972 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1794 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is The Snow Child worth reading?
Yes. It was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. It ranks #1,794 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Snow Child about?
November 1920: Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a homestead in the Alaskan wilderness, but Jack can barely clear the land, and Mabel can't contain her grief for the baby she lost years before. The night of the first snow, they build a snow girl together. The next morning it's gone, and a girl appears in the woods.
How long does it take to read The Snow Child?
About 10 hours (401 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Snow Child?
If you liked it, try The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, News of the World by Paulette Jiles or The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.