Eowyn Ivey's debut novel is on our "staff picks" list. Julie Smith just finished it and wanted to recommend it to the other staff members. She said that it is beautifully written. The story takes place in the 1900's in Alaska. It depicts the harsh reality of homesteading in the Alaskan wilderness. The story is based on a fairy tale so there is a magical quality to the story. Eowyn Ivey gives credit to several books in the acknowlegements for the influence on her writing, "The Snow Child as retold by Freya Littledale and illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; Russian Lacquer; Legends and Fairy Tales by Lucy Maxym, in particular the story of 'Snegurochka'; amd 'Little Daughter of the Snow' from Arthur Ransome's Old Peter's Tales." I have heard more than one person recommend this book so I am putting it on my To Be Read pile. Check our catalog to request a copy.