Dancing through the Snow

by Jean Little

Overview

Jean Little's poignant novel about an abandoned girl, and the dog who helps teach her how to trust again.Ten-year-old Min has had a long history of foster care since she was abandoned at age three. Now, let go by yet another foster family, Min continues to build a protective wall around herself. Her newest caregiver, a former Children's Aid doctor, sees past Min's hardened shell and tries to find a way to reach her...and does, finally, by taking in a sick, neglected dog that has escaped from a puppy mill. While watching the dog recover and open its heart to its new owners, Min comes out of her own shell.Readers will rejoice as Min opens her heart and allows herself to be a part of a loving family, to make friends and to finally stand up to the taunts of a bully, whose hurtful words have contributed to her lack of self-esteem.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781443119870
Publisher:	Scholastic Canada
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jean Little is one of Canada's most beloved and distinguished authors. She has written fifty books which have been translated into twenty languages. Among them are some of Canada's best-loved works for children, such as Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird, Mine for Keeps and From Anna. Jean began writing as a child and has never stopped, despite the challenge of her blindness. She has received numerous national and international awards and has been made a member of the Order of Canada for her outstanding contribution to Canadian children's literature. Jean lives in Guelph, Ontario with her sister, great-nephew, four dogs and two cats.
Jean Little is one of Canada’s most beloved and distinguished authors. She has written fifty books which have been translated into twenty languages. Among them are some of Canada’s best-loved works for children, such as Mama’s Going to Buy You a Mockingbird, Mine for Keeps and From Anna. Jean began writing as a child and has never stopped, despite the challenge of her blindness. She has received numerous national and international awards and has been made a member of the Order of Canada for her outstanding contribution to Canadian children’s literature. Jean lives in Guelph, Ontario with her sister, great-nephew, four dogs and two cats.

Editorial Reviews

Having lived with foster families since she was abandoned at age three, Min knows how to protect herself from the pain of not being wanted. When she's returned-again-to the social worker in charge of finding her a placement, Min is angry yet stoic. Surprised to find her acquaintance Dr. Jessica Hart sweeping her out of the office and into a new life together, Min still can't trust or feel safe. Little knows how to take a story that could be sad and pathetic and engage readers by describing Min's gutsy instinct for perseverance and the necessity for the self-protection so often misinterpreted as a lack of caring. It's a severely damaged little dog that truly triggers a change in Min's heart. The pets here have as much character as the humans and contribute to Min's ability to rise to the challenge when she finally accepts her home and real love for the first time. While this could have been a tearjerker-the depth of suffering Min has endured is enormous-there is sufficient humor and excitement to leaven and relieve the pathos. (Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews