July Book Review #8

Book: Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
Age-range: 13 and up
Recommended: Yes

This book is based on the fairy tale "East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon."  If that fairy tale doesn't sound familiar than you obviously haven't been reading fairy tales in the last 5 or 10 years.  There are at least half a dozen versions of this tale that I can think of off the top of my head.  While Ms. Durst's is not the most original, it does stick surprisingly close to the tale while still being able to update it to modern times.  Not an easy feat.

If, however, you've read the fairy tale this book is based on then you won't be in for very many surprises.  There are some, of course, but if you know the basic premise you'll be able to see the ending coming from chapters away.

There were sometimes tedious moments when the book seemed to crawl to a stop (like when the protagonist is trapped in the tree man's house; SO boring), but for the most part it moves quickly.  It's a nice fast read and was especially refreshing to me because it's all about the cold of the great white north and I was melting in the heat.