Simple and sweet. I love historical fiction that has a touch of strong-heroine-breaking-gender-roles thing and Native American culture. In some ways the drama is as serious as winter in 1850s Massachusetts can be and yet as gentle of family love can be. I had flashbacks to the American Girl series, partly because of the protagonist's age since I usually read books with older characters. Unfortunately there's no epilogue, because in this case I would love to know what happened a few months after the story ended (specific reasons would be spoilers). ( )

Daughter of Winter is a coming of age story told in 1849 Massachusetts. Addie is a 12 year old girl living in Essex when both her mother and brother die of sickness. Addie’s father is on the West Coast and does not know what has happened back at home. It is up to Addie to keep her wits and overcome her childhood fears while waiting for her father’s return, if he returns at all! But Addie’s story is more complicated because of her secret hidden past. Her life’s history is not what she thought it was and it has now begun to re-enter her life. Can Addie cope with these events happening all at once or will they prove to be her undoing? ( )

Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

Addie's mother and brother die in the middle of winter. Addie's father has left to find gold on the West Coast. All alone, she struggles to maintain normalcy. She's so afraid that the townspeople will force someone to take her in and she will become a servant.

Finally, when all hope is lost, she flees out into the night. She survives on her own with her cat for company. Addie's not sure how long she will be able to last. She grows weak and then sick. Eventually, Nokummus finds her.

Nokummus, an elderly Wampanoag woman, takes Addie under her wing. Addie regains her health and her strength, and under the watchful eye of Nokummus, she learns the truth about her past.

DAUGHTER OF WINTER is a one part survival story and one part coming-of-age tale. Addie struggles against the town, against nature, and against herself to find her true destiny. ( )