Review: Intriguing, Heart Wrenching YA Novel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 23, 2012
I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, but the official synopsis fascinated me. Who would willingly lock their daughter away from the world and why? What is this curse and where did it come from? Is Papa good or evil?All these questions and more were answered in this moving, beautifully told story. Told from two point of views, The Color of Snow captures the reader quickly and doesn't let go until the last word. The present day story is told by Sophie, as she tries to come to terms with being separated from her father, wades through her confusion over what-if anything-she should believe about her new family, wonders what to do about her relationship with Damien, and copes with the difficulty of being a legend in her own community. The story of a romance from the past is told from Papa's POV.In addition to her well-drawn characters, Stanley manages to portray what I would say is an accurate picture of how Sophie's peers react to her. Some are kind, some are cruel, and after years of isolation Sophie is ill-prepared to deal with the way they treat her. She's also not sure what to make of her step-cousin, Stephanie. Not only does this girl have secrets of her own, she's much wiser about how the world works. They form a great bond, but Sophie isn't quite sure if she should act the way Stephanie suggests. I loved the friendship between these two young women.The Color of Snow is a superb story. I stayed up late reading it. I pushed the chores aside to read it. I wasn't satisfied until I read the last word, and then I wanted to read it over again. If you like mysterious stories with engaging characters, you'll want to read this one.Highly recommended.