(Gr 4-6)
Harper Collins/Walden Pond, Sept 27, 2011. Reviewed from library book.
"Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. They had been best friends since they were six, spending hot Minneapolis summers and cold Minneapolis winters together, dreaming of Hogwarts and Oz, superheroes and baseball. Now that they were eleven, it was weird for a boy and a girl to be best friends. But they couldn't help it - Hazel and Jack fit, in that way you only read about in books. And they didn't fit anywhere else.
And then, one day, it was over. Jack just stopped talking to Hazel. And while her mom tried to tell her that this sometimes happens to boys and girls at this age, Hazel had read enough stories to know that it's never that simple. And it turns out, she was right. Jack's heart had been frozen, and he was taken into the woods by a woman dressed in white to live in a palace made of ice. Now, it's up to Hazel to venture into the woods after him. Hazel finds, however, that these woods are nothing like what she's read about, and the Jack that Hazel went in to save isn't the same Jack that will emerge. Or even the same Hazel."
This modern day retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen is beautiful, endearing, and imaginative. The first half of the novel is realistic fiction. The story of a girl, Hazel, who's wild imagination keeps her from fitting in with anyone her own age. Anyone except her best friend and neighbor, Jack. Hazel lives inside her imagination, comparing her life to those of her favorite book characters. Jack understands Hazel's imaginings, and has some of his own to share. The two make a great pair, much to the dismay of Jack's male friends, until the day Jack suddenly turns on Hazel.
I loved Hazel right from the start. She's vivacious and creative. I actually had a little trouble believing that no one, other than Jack, wanted to be her friend. Really, no one wants to be friends with the nice girl who daydreams and reads a lot?! But, I digress. Hazel is the kind of girl who knows how to deal with trouble. She's read about it enough. As long as she has Jack by her side, she doesn't care that the rest of her classmates ignore her or call her "Crazy Hazy." Even once Jack abruptly ends their friendship, Hazel is resilient. She knows something terrible has happened to Jack. He wouldn't just stop being her friend, not ever.
The second half of the novel is straight fantasy, fairy tale. Hazel goes into the enchanted wood to save Jack from the Snow Queen. This part of the novel is perfect for all children who think they'd like to go on an adventure like the ones they read about. Hazel has always believed in good triumphing over evil and the strength of the smallest people, but when faced with her own adventure she realizes just how hard it is to be brave.
This book is wonderfully written. The descriptions are vibrant and will stay rooted in your imagination long after you turn the last page. This is a book lovers book. Hazel frequently name drops familiar characters or references places many readers will have visited in other stories. I gobbled this story up and enjoyed every minute - now I can't wait to share it with all the kids at the library. Breadcrumbs is out now so pick up a copy! You'll love it!
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