Hearts of Ice

by Adi Rule

Overview

A dazzling adventure full of magic, snow . . . and sisters!

Evangeline has been lonely her whole life. Her mother rarely lets her play outside . . . especially not when it's snowing. It's almost as if she wants to hide her daughter from the world.For as long as she can remember, Evangeline has felt someone missing, like a best friend who moved away, or an imaginary friend she's forgotten. She knows it sounds crazy, but the thought has always given her comfort-the idea that there's someone waiting for her, looking for her. Someone who cares about her.On her birthday, Evangeline finds her window has blown open, and her room is full of snow. There's a message written in the frost. One word.HELPEvangeline learns that she has a sister, a twin, in fact. They were both born in another world-a land of snow and music and ancient magic. Now, someone is calling Evangeline back, and will stop at nothing to lure her into the magical realm where danger lurks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338332742
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	700L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

Editorial Reviews

"Rule has created a rich, entertaining world full of whimsical characters and places that will thrill young readers. Evangeline is a brave, inspiring heroine whose dawning grasp of her own magical abilities proves just as invigorating for readers as for her . . . A mix of classic fantasy tropes and just enough danger make this a perfect adventure for the elementary set." - School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2019-06-16
Evangeline searches for her long-lost identical twin in a wintry fantasy world.

Because 12-year-old Evangeline and her single mother are constantly on the move, she never has a chance to make friends. But wherever they go, an inexplicable snow and emptiness seem to follow the girl. When the word "Help" appears in a frosty message in her mirror from her unknown identical twin sister, Evangeline accidentally discovers that the reflecting glass is a passageway to a medieval-style village in the Winter Kingdom. Here, she meets talking animals, ice trolls, and other magical creatures and learns that her sister, Princess Desdemona, has vanished and that their father, King Vair, needs the twins together—but not alive—to achieve immortality. Passing as Desdemona, Evangeline undertakes a quest to find her sister before the king can find and kill them both. Although Rule employs many predictable fantasy tropes, the quick-paced story packs plenty of details and red herrings to keep middle-grade readers, particularly Frozen fans, guessing Evangeline's outcome. And while one of the animal creatures, an arana or spider-girl named Hortense, seems like an odd choice in a snowy setting, Hortense's backstory and interactions with Evangeline become an integral part of the plot. Most important, in the process of searching for her sister, Evangeline finds her own strengths and friendship at last.

This blend of princess power, traditional fantasy, and bountiful snow is a win-win(ter) mix. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews