Alaska in the 1920s is a harsh, yet magical place. Mabel and Jack escape their former lives and begin again. Their loss of a child from years before still hangs between them, creating a distance that continues to grow. Until one evening when the first snow of winter falls and they build a snowman, no, a snow child. The next morning the snow child is gone and a real child appears, Faina. She survives in the Alaskan wilderness alone, drifting in and out of the lives of the couple who didn't know how much they needed her. Are fairy tales real? Did this girl really transform from the snow child? This is a story of heartache, love, transformation, and community.

Eowyn Ivey's character development is fantastic. I felt like I could picture the characters in my mind and imagine all of their interactions. I understood their fears and dreams. The Alaskan backdrop was a stunning setting for a magical story.