Review: The Snow Owl
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 15, 2011
THE SNOW OWL is a very pleasing short story centered around a boy who was born as his mother died. His mother's last words were that she was sorry, and his father wasn't sure what she meant, but when he saw a baby with very light hair and pale skin compared to his and his wife's dark hair and darker-toned skin he wondered what had happened during his wife's vacation.  His wife had gone to Colorado to ski, a winter-lover, but the father loved summer and didn't ski and stayed home.As the boy grows and begins to talk he speaks of a place called Lukana and he wants to go there.  He also makes a snowman, but instead of the traditional snowman, he makes a snow owl, and one evening calls his father to look out the window and they see a real snowy owl outside. Jamie, the boy, claims to be the prince of Lukana and believes the snowy owl is a messenger from there.I wouldn't call this a strict horror story, but fantasy instead.  I thought the snow owls were interesting and unique in this story.  The character of Jamie was special and one that I like. I also like the father who was frightened while at the same time protected his son, and didn't judge.If you like stories that include animals and have a bit of fantasy to them, you should enjoy SNOW OWL by Jon Hartling.