MMGM: Winterfrost by Michelle Houts: A Heartwarming Rescue Tale

 

When I was traveling home from my study abroad in the Crimea, I flew from Moscow to Copenhagen, and then took a train to France to spend a week with friends. I only spent a few days traveling through the countryside and seeing the capital, but I still dream of returning and exploring more of beautiful Denmark.

So I was super excited to find Winterfrost by Michelle Houts, who lived in Denmark. It features Bettina, a 12-year-old girl and her encounters with the Nisse, elf-like creatures from Scandinavian folklore.

 

Synopsis

Christmas has come, and with it a sparkling white winterfrost. When Bettina’s parents are called away unexpectedly, leaving her in charge of the house, the farm, and baby Pia, Bettina neglects to set out the traditional bowl of Christmas rice pudding for the tiny nisse. No one besides her grandfather ever believed the nisse were real, so what harm could there be in forgetting this silly custom? But when baby Pia disappears, the magic of the nisse makes itself known. To find her sister and set things right, Bettina must venture into the miniature world of these usually helpful, but sometimes mischievous, folk.

(from Amazon)

My Take 

 1.    I loved the message, which is best summed up in my favorite quote:

 “The greatest good comes when we take responsibility for our mistakes.”

2.    The writing style and language had an old-fashioned, whimsical feel, which really fit the story.

3.    Amazing description! I really wanted to go live in the Nisse house with its cupboards for sleeping in. 

 
4.    Lots of animals played big roles in Bettina finding and rescuing her sister, like a seagull that flew her from Lolland to Askø.

 
5.    The relationship between Bettina and her sister was so tender and sweet. I loved how the neighbors looked after each other, and the simple life of the people in this book. 

 
6.    Learning about Nisse folklore was so fun! This book felt like a warm hug—or a cup of hot cocoa on a snowy day. 

 
Caveat: The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking I would never leave a 12-year-old home with a baby for an extended period. I’m not sure if this is a cultural thing, but it might be something to discuss during  a read aloud at home or school.

  

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴🦴

Unfortunately, no dogs again! But I thought the nisse were funny, and I’d love to meet some of the farm animals.
 

Your Turn: 

 

Do you like holiday books set in other countries? 

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

*I will be taking a short blogging break to celebrate Christmas with my family. I'll be back with an Insecure Writer's Group post on January 7th and a new middle grade review on the 12th. Hope your holidays are filled with peace and joy! 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

MMGM: Dance Into the Holidays with Nutcracked by Susan Adrian

One highlight of Christmastime as a child was dancing in my local Nutcracker. Although our tree grew with green tinsel attached to the ceiling, it was magical to dress up as a snowflake and play a part in a beautiful story. 

Me (second from right) as a snowflake in The Nutcracker. Photo by Bill Wheeler

Although it’s been a while since I’ve put on ballet slippers, which is a good thing for all involved, I still love The Nutcracker. I’ve attended  productions in Portland, Seattle, and Odessa while I was studying in the Crimea. One year, my sons were kind enough to accompany to a performance. Although they were sure they wouldn’t like it, they liked the part when the snowflakes (not the dancers, but the fake snow) fell on stage.

So I was super excited to find a middle grade that not only was about a dancer in the Nutcracker but had magical realism elements!

Synopsis: 

Georgie has waited for this moment her whole life—to dance the part of Clara in The Nutcracker ballet. And when she finally gets the part, it's like a dream come true. . . Literally.

Every time Georgie dances with the Nutcracker doll, she leaves the ballet studio and enters a world where everything around her-the old wooden furniture, the Christmas tree, the carefully wrapped presents-is larger than life. It's so magical, Georgie can't wait to return again and again.

Then the Nutcracker's magic seeps into the real world, putting Georgie's friend in danger. Everything is falling apart, and it's almost Christmas! Can Georgie save her friend, the Nutcracker, and most of all, herself?

(from Amazon)

 

My Take 

 1.    I loved getting an insider's view of what auditions and practices are like for high-level dancers. Aside from Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield and The Turning by Gloria Whelan, I haven’t encountered a book about ballet for this audience.

  
2.    The magic: Georgie slipping into the actual Nutcracker story while dancing was super intriguing. I also liked its ties to her ballet teacher and possibly the Russian dancer who plays the prince.

 
3.    Friendship dynamics: The rivalry and up and down nature of the friendship between Georgie and Kaitlyn were realistic and relatable for girls this age. My best friend was in ballet with me, but thankfully, we did not go through this kind of drama. I also enjoyed her “just friends” relationship with Noah, who really had her back through her adventures.

 
4.    Writing style: Adrian used clear, concise sentences throughout and yet still conveyed so much of Georgie’s feelings. This made it a fast read for me, and I think that will appeal to MG readers as well.

 
5.    Large family dynamics! I loved how the mom and dad were loving and present, but realistically portrayed as a little frazzled juggling their lives and their kids. This allowed Georgie to solve a lot of the problems on her own.

One minor thing: I would've liked to know the mystery of what the Russian words on the nutcracker said! 

 

 

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴

Unfortunately, there were no dogs. But there were a lot of mice! Now, if I’d been in the story, there would be no mice, right? Problem solved.

Your Turn: 

 

Do you like books about the performing arts? 

What is your favorite holiday read? 

 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

#ISWG: Best Gifts for Writers

What is the best gift for a writer?

Made with a template from Canva by J.Enzor

I can’t just choose one, so I'm featuring my top writing gifts. The intention behind these gifts meant so much. They represent my cheering section from friends and family. So if you’re looking to give something to your favorite writer or to yourself, remember that the thought does count.

Reference books or craft books

• When I was in high school, my parents gave me an unabridged dictionary. Oh, what a word nerd I was even at sixteen. I poured over that thing, which is almost like a mini-encyclopedia with foreign language dictionaries, an atlas, and important dates. Although I don’t use it as much anymore, it was a gift that said,  “You are a writer.”

  

  My dictionary from high school, well loved and well worn. Photo by Jenni Enzor

  
  
• Also in the books category are various writing books my aunt gave me over the years. She is also a writer and has a hilarious blog,  Random Thoughts and Silliness. My favorite: The Careful Writer, which is full of grammar tips with a smile. What did her gift say? “I love passing on the spark of writing."
  
  
   
• Finally, another book that actually I purchased myself but a writer friend loaned me initially. I’ve talked about it before on the blog, and it was life-changing for learning how to create a character arc that ties in with your plot. (Plotting is my nemesis!) The Story Genius What did this gift mean? “Keep learning and growing as a writer!”
  
  
  

Author Accessories

Photo by Jenni Enzor

Another gift from my mom was this burgundy leather bag that I tote with me everywhere. It’s perfect for sticking in a few pages to bring to a writer’s conference or get-together. When she gave it, she wrote a note that it was for all those writer conferences I’ll be going to. I still use it frequently. Thanks, Mom.

Journals

As a writer, I’m often gifted a lot of journals, but my favorite ones are from my husband. In one, he wrote a quote: 

Almost anything is possible with time. --Jane Austen

Memberships

One of my favorite gifts was the year my hubby got me membership to SCBWI. I’d let it lapse for a while and was so glad to be back. I’ve never let it lapse since, and the craft workshops, the conferences, and all the wonderful information and friends I’ve gained from this organization was so worth it.

 

For Young Writers

I started pursuing writing at age nine, and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing many of my young friends and some family members pursue this dream, so I need to plug one of my favorites for budding authors, Gail Carson Levine’s Writing Magic.

 

What is your favorite writing gift or gift you have given? How is your writing going this month? 

I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

 

If you'd like to read more ISWG posts or sign up, please go HERE. You won't be disappointed.