Monday, March 19, 2012

Taste of Snow ~Review & Giveaway~


"The Taste of Snow" 
By Stephen Masse

Teacher Review
There were so many great and unique elements of this book!  I am a sucker for YA books and this one was wonderful.  As I was reading it I quickly felt like part of the family and was interested in the girls next move.  When Nicole and Ashley were picking out a Christmas Tree they were talking to Saint Nicholas, Santa to the kids in the USA, and Krampus.  I was thinking who in the world is Krampus and why have I never heard of him?  Well it turns out I am slightly glad because if my parents knew about this when I was a kid I am 100% sure I would have been in deep trouble.  Krampus is basically the one who could tell if the children were bad - he wore a devilish outfit with horns on his head and chains hanging around him.  To me Krampus was the Devil!  Good - Saint Nicholas, Bad - Krampus.  Anyway, Stephen Masse does a wonderful job of adding detail to paint the magnificent picture in my mind of the plot, setting, and the characters.  As I read I always "See it in my mind" and tell my students the same thing.  If you personally make a movie with the book then it will stick with you forever.  

Another element I loved about this book is how many connections the author, Stephen V. Masse,  made with stories that were told by the father/grandfather and how it related to the girls lives.  Masse seems like a natural storyteller, within the book and with the book itself.  There were many times I wanted to Google things to see if it was real because they sounded wonderful!  Spoiler - The story of the American soldier, the priest, and the German Army.  Another connection that I loved, especially as a teacher, was the chapter pictures.  The picture always led to what was in the chapter and could be great when used for prediction! 

 I wish the book would have
Table of Contents with the chapter names - When I teach with a book such as this, I usually have the students look at the table of contents and estimate how much time they will need to dedicate to finish the book - with the class or on their own.  For Special Education students it is a relief to see how much they finished and to keep track of it by his/herself.  

Final Thoughts
Overall this would be a WONDERFUL book to use in a classroom, give as a gift, or to read by yourself/as a family!  It includes many elements that are needed to create a proper story - amazing character development, Masse paints the picture of what is happening with great attention to detail, and finally the fish hook!  A fish hook to me is the mystery that keeps us reading and wanting to know what will happen.

What is this about? 
When winter arrives in the Austrian Alps, eleven-year-old Nicole Kinders is given a candy cane by the mysterious shopkeeper, Boznik, who tells her that the candy cane is magic. After her first taste, it seems the whole world becomes more colorful, more delicious, and more dangerous. A quarrel between students on the tram home from school leads Nicole to intervene, beginning a frightening series of events that threaten Nicole. She finds herself losing the joy of holiday preparations, and realizes that the vexing secret she keeps is influencing every part of her life. She finds no help from the magic candy cane, and decides she must return it to the shopkeeper.

Stephen V. Masse was born in Boston. He wrote his first practice novel at age 13, handwritten into a composition book. His children s books are Shadow Stealer (Dillon Press, 1988) and Short Circus (Good Harbor Press, 2010). In addition, Masse wrote A Jolly Good Fellow, winner of the Silver Medal in the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards, as well as Honorable Mention in the 2008 New England Book Festival for best books of the holiday season. 


Check out the author's website for more pictures and information!  Did you know the story came from a story he made up in real life?  You have a great imagination Stephen!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

42 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review--AND for the giveaway! I found you on the Monday blog hop and am now following...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love YA books and I think my neice would enjoy reading this too. My favourite book, even though it was from when I was young is still Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss! My kids love it too. Thanks for the contest.
    cleaningrhouse at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gone with the wind is my favorite book. I couldn't put it down and read it completely through in one sitting years ago. Rita Spratlen rjspratlen@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. scrouge a Xmas Carol I think that is what it is called. Rita Spratlen rjspratlen@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have so many favorite books it's hard to choose just one, but I'm a sucker for historical romance and fantasy novels.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like so many books it's impossible to pick on.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have a lot of favorites just like the others but if I had to choose it would probably be the one I read recently Bound in Blood

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have tons of favorites. I love A Painted House by John Grisham, Memoirs of a Geisha, Friday Night Lights, and Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss...to name a few...

    aniwilsonintx at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. My favorite Christmas story is the one in the Bible.

    aniwilsonintx at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. All of the Harry Potter series.

    ReplyDelete
  11. My favorite book is the Four Agreements.

    ReplyDelete
  12. My favorite Christmas story is the true meaning of Christmas in the Bible.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My favorite is The night Before Christmas
    sunniewoodyplus2 atmsn.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like The Giver by Lois Lowry. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I like the Christmas story in The Bible. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love August Frost. That's definitely one of my favorites. :)

    mercedesyardley@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. My favorite book is the Bible :) One of my favorite children's books is "Love You Forever"

    ReplyDelete
  18. My favorite Christmas story is the story of Jesus' birth in the Bible

    ReplyDelete
  19. My favorite book has always been Gone With The Wind.
    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  20. My granddaughters and I love Fancy Nancy books
    hrddiana556@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. My favorite book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle! There are so many things you can do with this book with young children!

    acoats621@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. My favorite Christmas story is How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss!

    acoats621@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. my favorite book is the bible and my favorite christmas story is the story of its a wonderful life.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The Hunger Games is my favorite!

    Maggie Ann True Armstrong
    maggie(at)pdclarion(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dune... all of them, especially the prequels!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'll have to go with the Bible for favorite book, but The Giver is definitely one of my favorite kids/teen books!
    octoberthings at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. green eggs and ham for the kid's book

    ReplyDelete
  28. My favorite bookS are the Dark Series by Christine Feehan.

    ReplyDelete
  29. My favorite Christmas story is The Night Before Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!-Erinn A (on Rafflecopter)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love Miracle on 34th Street -Erinn A (on Rafflecopter)

    ReplyDelete
  32. One of my favorites is good 'ole Alice in Wonderland!
    kpintn/at/hotmail/dot/com

    ReplyDelete
  33. My family loves the Pendragon series. Thank you

    candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I like Harry Potter books.

    anjathisandthat at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Favorite christmas story is "The Night before Christmas".

    anjathisandthat at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. My favorite childrens book is The Poky Puppy. My favorite adult book is The Hiding Place by corrie Ten boom.
    Kathy Davis
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

    ReplyDelete
  37. Little House on the Prairie series

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love the Hunger Games Triology! Thank you for the giveaway!

    - lablogs@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. The night before Christmas is my family's favorite! Thanks!!!

    - lablogs@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...