The Lost Frost Girl

Gr 4–7—Twelve-year-old Owl has never met her father. She doesn't even know who he is. But when the onset of puberty brings an awakening of magical powers, she finally discovers the truth: her father is Jack Frost, the irrepressible nature spirit responsible for the winter months. Owl has inherited some of her father's powers, but she has no idea how to control them and her father has no interest in helping her learn. Moreover, she finds out that her very existence may have been engineered by another jealous nature spirit as a trap for her father. As tension mounts in the fairy court, Owl must learn to use her powers wisely and speak out, despite the fact that the fae are unwilling to listen to a mere half-human. This character-driven fantasy exhibits a nice balance between Owl's magical adventures and her human struggles with friendship and school. Secondary characters, including Owl's artist mother, best friend Mallory, and mysterious new boy Avery, are all interesting and well-drawn; the members of the fairy court are, perhaps intentionally, less knowable. The pacing lags a bit in the first half of the book, but picks up steam as the plot develops. Occasional Briticisms in this UK import shouldn't hinder American readers' understanding or enjoyment of the story; the setting is vague enough to be almost anywhere.