Overview

M. G. Leonard, the award-winning bestselling author of the Adventures on Trains series and Twitch, dazzles in this future classic with a powerful message at its core. Gorgeously illustrated in black-and-white throughout by Penny Neville-Lee this hardback is a perfect gift for boys and girls of 8-12. At the stroke of midnight on the dawn of December, five-year-old Finn Albedo is found frozen in the city park standing on a pedestal of ice. His heart is beating, he is smiling serenely, but no one can wake him. Finn's big sister, Bianca, suspects that the beautiful sparkling book Finn got from the library has something to do with it, but the book has vanished. Does the tall mysterious stranger who first discovered Finn know more than they will admit? Each day, more children are found frozen and Bianca realizes she's running out of time. Her quest to discover the truth and rescue her little brother hurls her into a fantastical winter wonderland, full of beauty and danger, where all is not as it seems. Can Bianca save her brother and the other Ice Children before they are forever lost?

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9781035014217

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Reviews

As unforgettable as Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen' . . . a whirlingly imaginative storyline full of wonder and hope as well as warning. * The Times *

The Ice Children bursts with winter magic. It is vivid and glorious - a classic filled with heart. -- Jasbinder Bilan Leonard's talent for writing exciting mystery stories, combing with the mesmerising danger of Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale, make this a compelling winter treat, full of jeopardy and excitement. There is a strong ecological message, too. -- Charlotte Eyre * The Bookseller * As unforgettable as Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen' . . . a whirlingly imaginative storyline full of wonder and hope as well as warning. * The Times * the wintry setting, fairy tale inspiration and dynamic mystery story mean [The Ice Children] will make a wonderful gift. * The Bookseller *

This gripping adventure for 8+ is a sparkling, elegant homage to Andersen's 'The Snow Queen', with a powerful conservationist slant. * The Guardian * Page-turning storytelling . . . I would have adored this as a child. I still do! * Hannah Gold * Leonard is at her best in this this chilly adventure . . . Drawing on traditional tales such as The Snow Queen, this thrilling drama with a powerful environmental message is so shiveringly atmospheric that it will make you wish for snow * Daily Mail * The Ice Children is written in her familiar quick-fire prose, and contains all the suspense that her readers have come to expect . . . Leonard's skill is to capture some of the enchantment of Andersen's fairy-tale, while creating a modern story that's thoroughly her own. * The Daily Telegraph * Glittering adventure * The Independent * The Ice Children bursts with winter magic. It is vivid and glorious - a classic filled with heart. -- Jasbinder Bilan As intricate and beautiful as a snowflake. M. G. Leonard has spun a magical masterpiece that children will love. -- Maz Evans Leonard's talent for writing exciting mystery stories, combing with the mesmerising danger of Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale, make this a compelling winter treat, full of jeopardy and excitement. There is a strong ecological message, too. -- Charlotte Eyre * The Bookseller * Utterly Spellbinding -- Phil Earle As unforgettable as Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen' . . . a whirlingly imaginative storyline full of wonder and hope as well as warning. * The Times * Leonard's quickfire prose creates a fairytale with a refreshingly modern feel * The Oldie * A chip of the Andersen ice block . . . Revelling in the pleasures of snow and ice, and passionate about creatures associated with winter, this teaches us that love, nature and stories are powerful — and not to burn fossil fuels. -- Nicolette Jones * The Sunday Times Book of the Week * As unique and precious as a snowflake, The Ice Children feels fresh and exciting, yet as timeless and magical as a classic. I have no doubt this book will be read and enjoyed for many generations to come - and may even help to change the world. -- Jess French Ideal for curling up with on a frosty day * Woman's Weekly * M. G. Leonard's dazzling adventure story upends the snowglobe of familiar fairytales into a blizzard of delights: courageous children, adorable animals, a chilling threat and a passionate plea for the environment. A spectacular frostbitten fantasy destined to emerge as a future classic. -- Sam Sedgman The wintry setting, fairy tale inspiration and dynamic mystery story mean [The Ice Children] will make a wonderful gift. * The Bookseller * I loved this! Weird and wonderful, packed full of peril and adventure, this wildly imaginative book is an absolute page-turner for both children and parents alike. A cracking and inspiring read written with real heart and passion. -- Liz Hyder This book literally sparkles with winter magic. Like a snowflake, it is really one of a kind. * Mini Traveller blog * The Ice Children by M.G. Leonard takes The Snow Queen . . . readers will mainly relish the sense of magic, the magical world and the talking animals that protect the children there. * Books for Keeps * A perfect Christmas gift * Piers Torday * The heart tugs echo those which give the Hans Christian Andersen classic its emotional helft - the fragility of childhood, the lurking danger of the dark adult world and the enormous power of love and faith. * The Big Issue * The importance of protecting the planet is driven home in this reimagining of The Snow Queen . . . Revelling in the pleasures of snow and ice, and passionate about creatures associated with winter, this teaches us that love, nature and stories are powerful — and not to burn fossil fuels. * Lancashire Evening Post *

Author Information

M.G. Leonard books have been translated into over forty languages and won many awards. She is the vice president of the insect charity Buglife, and a founding author of Authors4Oceans. She lives in Brighton with her husband, two sons, a fat cat called Kasper, a dog called Nell, and a variety of exotic beetles. Penny Neville-Lee studied MA Painting at the Royal College of Art. Penny is inspired by small people, bright colours, a blank page and newly sharpened pencils. She lives in Manchester with her two children, husband and very adventurous cat.

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