“Look!” Michael could not take his eyes off the beach. “Soldiers marching right up our sled track. How’ll we get down?” ~Snow Treasure
It is 1940 when the
Nazis invade Norway. Peter Lundstrom is only twelve, but he's about to become
part of the grownup world. His father is a banker and is working with other
leaders in the town to try and outwit the Nazis by smuggling the country’s gold
bullion to a safe place. Luckily, Peter’s Uncle Victor is a sea captain who
plans to sail the gold to America. The plan depends on Peter and the other
children taking the gold from the top of the mountains to the fjord below.
Sledding the gold away seems like it will be easy at first, but the German soldiers
are not to be underestimated. Many trips will need to be made to get all of the bullion down to the boat. The fact that one of the soldiers speaks
Norwegian makes everything even harder. There is plenty of snow, and the
children do have many opportunities for sledding, but the soldiers are on their
trail and each day their task becomes more challenging. When it looks like they
will be caught, Peter must think fast and hope for the best. Will the children
be able to get all the gold out of Norway? What will happen if Peter’s
diversion doesn’t work? Is keeping the
gold out of the hands of the Nazis worth the risk? You will be intrigued
from the start and will keep turning the pages to see if everyone makes it out
alive!
Has anyone else read Snow
Treasure? Or have you read another book by Marie McSwigan? We would love to
hear your thoughts!
Happy Reading!
~L
Might be a great way to get kids interested in what happened during the war.
ReplyDeleteAlex- It really does bring the time period to life. :) ~L
DeleteShould has to show kids they should appreciate how good they have it now.
ReplyDeletePat- It definitely shows the difference for kids then and now. :) ~L
DeleteSounds fun!!
ReplyDeleteGloria- I really enjoyed it! :) ~L
DeleteSounds like a great read. Happy weekend, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteValerie- It is! Hope you had a nice weekend too! :) ~L
DeleteThat sounds like an excellent book. What a great way to learn a little about such an important time in history.
ReplyDeleteTamara- I think it is such fun learning about history through historical fiction books! :) ~L
DeleteI do love me snow set books
ReplyDeleteDezmond- There is definitely a lot of snow! :) ~L
DeleteThis was on The Battle of the Books a few years ago and I remember that the kids really seemed to enjoy it. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteWell as half Norwegian and a lover of history, this book is right up my alley and it gets kids interested in history!
ReplyDeleteBrenda- How fun that Snow Treasure was part of The Battle of the Books! :) ~L
DeleteSharon- If you are half Norwegian then I think you will REALLY enjoy this one. I also recommend The Klipfish Code- which also takes place in Norway. Both books are fabulous. :) ~L
DeleteAnything which gets kids (and adults) interested in history is a winner.
ReplyDeleteEC- I couldn't agree more! :) ~L
DeleteThis is a book that children should read... even adults... it's so sad what some people have had to deal with in their lives and so many people stood up and did the right thing... we all need to remember that and do the same thing every day... I too would love to visit Norway xox
ReplyDeleteLaunna- Visiting Norway would be an amazing experience. I agree that kids and adults should read this book and see the kids standing up to the Nazis. It is a good reminder to stand up for what you believe. :) ~L
DeleteIt does sound interesting and that period of time in history has always fascinated me. Might have to check this one out for myself!
ReplyDeletebetty
Betty- I think you will find it to be a fast read. I recently heard that the audio is fantastic if you are interested in listening to the story. Enjoy! :) ~L
DeleteI wish I could have read something like this when I was a child...
ReplyDeleteOptimistic Existentialist- It is great for kids- but definitely one adults will enjoy too. :) ~L
DeleteThat's cool it has some historical truth to it. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteCherie- You are welcome! I liked that there was some historical truth to it as well. :) ~L
DeleteOhh, lovely review sweetie :) Glad you enjoyed this one. <3 I do like books about the war. Curious about this one now :) And ohh, taking place in Norway? :D That is awesome. (Since I am from Norway ;))
ReplyDeleteCarina- I think you will especially enjoy this one because you are from Norway and it has to do with the history of the country. I also recommend The Klipfish Code about Norway during WWII. Both books are excellent. :) ~L
DeleteAh! Finally. I keep having problems getting my comments posted on your blog, ahh. First issues with my firefox. Then tried chrome, didn't post, but tried again with chrome, and finally got it posted, hih :)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry that the blog and browsers were giving you problems. Thanks for continuing to try. :) ~L
DeleteSounds like one I should get for my sons.
ReplyDeleteKate- Totally! ) ~L
DeleteI don't remember reading this one, but like books that weave some history into them.
ReplyDeleteKimba- It is a great read and I hear the audio book is terrific. :) ~L
DeleteThis sounds great! Edge of your seat reading for sure!
ReplyDeleteMeradeth- Definitely! :) ~L
DeleteWe haven't read this or anything by this author yet. Another great one for our tbr! I love the setting and history. This definitely sounds intriguing. Thank you for putting it on our radar :) Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteA Belle's Tales- It is a great historical fiction read for sure. Happy reading! :) ~L
DeleteSounds like a fun read. I like the setting and time period and will have to look into it!
ReplyDeleteMarcia- I think you will really like it! :) ~L
DeleteThis books sounds absolutely amazing -- and scary! Thanks so much for the review. Wishing Marie much success!
ReplyDeleteLexa- The danger was definitely real! A great read! :) ~L
DeleteSounds very intriguing! Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteMagic Love Crow- I loved it. Have a great night! :) ~L
DeleteHeidi- I think you will enjoy Snow Treasure if you haven't read it already. :) ~L
ReplyDeleteI've read it! I knew it from the cover instantly. I read it 30+ years ago so I can't offer a particularly informed critique but I know I enjoyed it at the time.
ReplyDeleteThe Armchair Squid- How awesome that you read this one! Glad to hear you remember enjoying it. :) ~L
DeleteI haven't read this, but I like the idea of children learning history while enjoying a good book. When I was teaching, years ago, our fifth-grade classes read Nimber the Stars by Lois Lowry. We discussed the war before we started reading. Students researched and some even had scrapbooks from grandfather's that served in the war. They learned so much, and the book showed the effect on children. This book sounds perfect for school.
ReplyDeleteBeverly- I have read Number the Stars and really enjoyed it. I think Snow Treasure would be a wonderful addition to a historical fiction unit. The research project your students did sounds so interesting and worthwhile. Thanks for sharing. :) ~L
DeleteSnow Treasure sounds like a wonderful read. Don't know how I missed it.
ReplyDeleteLynda- It is a great read! :) ~L
DeleteThis sounds like a wonderful adventure story, I will be looking out for a copy.
ReplyDeleteBarbara- I think you will love it! :) ~L
DeleteIt can be hard to tackle such adult themes such as world wards in childrens books, but it is such a challenge when authors decide not to shy away from it, but figure out a way to present it to demonstrate the danger and tragedy, and yet make it a fun and easy read for kids too. Sounds like this author knows that balance well.
ReplyDeleteOlivia-Savannah- Very well said! This author did a great job making the adult themes very realistic and easy for kids to understand. Kids will definitely be able to relate to the characters in this book too. :) ~L
DeleteI loved this story as a child, read it to my students as a teacher, and read it to my daughter's third-grade class as a volunteer. But I was disappointed to discover, when I did a little research, that while Norwegian gold was shipped out after the Nazi invasion, there's no solid evidence of Norwegian children sledding it past the Nazi occupiers. I so wanted to believe in the story!
ReplyDeleteLark- I am glad to hear you read and enjoyed this one too. How awesome that you were able to share it with so many young readers. That is disappointing that there is no solid evidence of Norwegian children sledding it past the Nazi occupiers. Darn. Maybe that information is buried deep so no one would ever know (see- I want it to be true too). :)
Delete~L