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Can 5 Seventh Graders Save the Annual Winter Festival?
Snow One Like You is one of 36 books that currently make up Scholastic’s immensely popular Wish Series. Young adult author Natalie Blitt currently has three other books available, one of which is also a popular Wish Book. You may remember that I loved Blitt’s Carols and Crushes (so did three of my granddaughters), so I chose Snow One Like You with enthusiasm!
If you have ever checked your weather apps with fingers crossed, hoping for snow, you’ll immediately identify with Mia, who is the president of the 7th grade Student Council in her small school in Flurry, Vermont. Being the 7th grade Student Council President comes with perks, but the only one that Mia is currently concerned with is getting to ride in the horse-drawn sleigh at the Winter Festival, something that she’s been dreaming of for as long as she can remember. Her living room wall features images of her grandfather, grandmother, and mom, all riding the horse-drawn sleigh when they were the junior coordinator for the festival. It’s an honor that can only happen in your seventh grade year.
Complications
Most of the events in Flurry’s famous Winter Festival center around snow-fall. This year, though, there’s a big problem: one that the town has not faced in recent memory. Snow is not predicted for the carnival. Tourists may not show up, which will negatively impact the local businesses who count on the Festival.
Everyone knows how much the sleigh ride means to Mia – how much she wants her picture to join those of her mom and grandparents on the wall. They don’t realize that Mia has bigger problems than that. If the city council decides to cancel the Winter Festival, what does that mean for her family’s inn? Will she have to move away from Flurry? Away from her dad, stepsisters, and best friend? Away from Yoshi, just when she’s beginning to suspect that her crush may be crushing on her too? Is she imagining it?
Christmas and/or Winter-Theme Wish Books
Robin’s Recommendation
I absolutely loved this young adult winter romance for several reasons: the protagonist is a strong female character, who despite being dismissed by the adults in the town, doesn’t give up. Through her determination, she and her friends identify the problems and brainstorm solutions. Through the Mia’s first-person narration, middle school readers get to see critical thinking in action! Mia is organized, tenacious, and hard working. In the student council meetings, she strives to be diplomatic. She includes everyone in the conversation. And, she seeks feedback from the staff mentor after the meeting end.
However, she’s not perfect. Her antagonism towards Marcus, her problems with her best friend, and even some of her worries about her mom and the inn could have been avoided through better communication. I love that she realizes that, and that she develops more empathy over the course of the story.
I highly recommend Snow One Like You for middle schoolers or for anyone who wants a sweet winter romance to read.
