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Review The Ice Children

Review The Ice Children
By the Book

Review The Ice Children

I requested and received a self-ruling reprinting of this from the publishers, and have bought my own reprinting too.

The Ice Children by MG Leonard, illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee, published by Macmillan

A modern twist on Hans Christian-Andersen’s Snow Queen with a misunderstood winter queen, an environmental slant, an veritably magical winter wonderland and a mystery to solve – this is a perfect winter read which sees MG Leonard’s knack for mystery venture writing move into the world of fairy tale and fantasy brilliantly.

The opening to this typesetting immediately draws you in and had me hooked:

Finn is alive, but frozen. And while police and doctors are stumped, having never seen anything like it before, and the other grown ups are preoccupied with worry and finding sensible, logical explanations, Finn’s sister Bianca is sure it’s something to do with the silver typesetting Finn had the say surpassing and the inscription on the pedestal of ice he’s now stood on. And so she sets off to investigate…

And this is where Leonard’s talent for mystery venture writing kicks in, blending seamlessly with the magical winter world Bianca finds herself in as she follows the trail of clues to Finn.

The winter world itself, Winterton, is designed to be a place children are completely self-ruling and happy, never wanting to leave and it’s built brilliantly for this – hot chocolate, surf and frozen berries on tap; uncounted snow to build with, throw and play in; ice skating, skiing, fairground rides and more…it’s surely the definition of a Winter Wonderland.

And, as we remember how magical winter can be we’re reminded moreover of how much we need it. And as Bianca’s quest to save her brother continue, we see her realising that those responsible for his disappearance moreover need help. Winter itself needs saving.

I love the way this environmental message gradually emerges from the story; the way we see winter and its weather personified (with a funny, dramatic and engaging cast) and struggling with the threat of extinction is a really impactful way to raise the issue of global warming while subtracting to the mystery of the story at the same time.

The illustrations are stunning and really capture the wintery magic of the story, as well as the personalities of its notation – our introduction to Pitter, Patter, Quilo and Jack is probably one of my favourites! The intricate snowflakes depicting the children’s various ‘winter friends’ are trappy too, as is the imbricate with animals hiding amongst the frost fractal design.
A winter wonderland mystery inspired by folk tales with an eco message at its cadre – this is a perfect winter read.
With MG Leonard and Penny Neville-Lee at our Ice Children signing in work.