The Snow Child: a Novel / Eowyn Ivey 389 p.

Jack and Mabel, middle-aged and grieving, establish a homestead in the 1920s Alaska wilderness. In the midst of brutal winter weather, they experience a rare moment of happiness together one evening building a snowgirl on the property, which disappears inexplicably the next day. And then, of course, she reappears, or seems to, always accompanied by a red fox. Is she real? A forest spirit? Or are they going mad from cold, dark, and sadness over their lost baby, stillborn years before? I found this story both fascinating and a bit frustrating. The landscape and reality of such an isolated life was amazingly well-evoked; on the other hand, the plot begins to have a circular, repetitive feel. Still, it was worth reading, especially if you enjoy re-workings of fairy and folktales.