
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is struggling with feeling like an outsider, whether due to a move, a new school, or their cultural identity. It's a powerful story for any young person trying to find their footing when the world feels cold and unfamiliar. The book follows Karina, a Haitian-American teenager whose family abruptly moves from Port-au-Prince to a small, snowy town in Vermont. Grappling with culture shock, racism, and a strained relationship with her emotionally distant mother, Karina must navigate a new life while trying to uncover a painful family secret. This novel is best suited for readers ages 13 and up, as it directly addresses themes of trauma, racism, and complex family dynamics. It provides a mirror for teens feeling displaced and serves as a window for others to build empathy, opening crucial conversations about identity, resilience, and finding warmth where you least expect it.
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Sign in to write a reviewDeals with family trauma, emotional neglect, and profound feelings of isolation.
A past violent event is central to the plot and discussed, but not shown in graphic detail.
Some occasional swearing appropriate for the young adult genre.
The book directly addresses racism, microaggressions, and the lingering effects of trauma. The family's past trauma stems from a violent political event in Haiti. The approach is direct and emotionally impactful but not graphically detailed. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, focusing on Karina's resilience and the beginnings of family healing, rather than a perfect, tidy solution.
A teen, 13-16, who feels like an outsider or is navigating a dual identity (for example, an immigrant or first-generation American). It is perfect for a thoughtful reader interested in character-driven stories about finding your voice and understanding your family's past.
Parents should be prepared to discuss racism, trauma, and emotional neglect. The revelation of the family secret involves political violence. A pre-read could be helpful to frame conversations about these heavier topics, but the book can be read cold by a mature teen. The mother's emotional unavailability may be a difficult subject for some readers. A parent hears their teen say, "No one here gets me," or "I feel like I have to be two different people." The teen might be withdrawing after a move or struggling to connect with peers who don't share their background.
A younger teen (12-14) will likely focus on Karina's school life, the romance, and the mystery of the family secret. An older teen (15-18) will better grasp the nuances of the microaggressions, the political context of the trauma in Haiti, and the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship.
Unlike many "new kid in school" stories, this book centers the specific experience of a Black, Haitian-American immigrant in a nearly all-white rural setting. The use of snow as a powerful, multifaceted metaphor for whiteness, emotional coldness, and eventual beauty is unique and deeply resonant.
Karina, a Haitian-American teen, moves with her family from Port-au-Prince to a predominantly white town in Vermont. She grapples with culture shock, racism, and a strained relationship with her mother, who is haunted by a secret trauma from their past. Karina navigates new friendships and a budding romance while trying to understand her family's history and forge her own identity in a place that feels alien and cold.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.