Great adventure mystery story set in the ice & snow of a fantasy realm. Fast paced action, with lots of cruel twists & turns. Great for Christmas time.

While a significant area of Europe is really suffering in record-breaking temperatures, here in the U.K. summer is warmish but nothing to write home about, which is probably par for the course at the start of the school holidays. My thoughts however have very much been on winter over the past couple of days while I read this new title from the incredible M. G. Leonard whose Beetle Boy and Twitch series – which she wrote alone – and Adventures on Trains sequence – co-authored with Sam Sedgeman – are on many readers’ lists of favourites.

While – like her other books – this is another fantastically written adventure, it is so much more than that. Part glorious modern fairy tale, part environmental warning, this is a story to be savoured, re-read and one which I hope the reader will think about very carefully when the last page is turned so that for our children’s sake they too will be able to share it with their own offspring when the time comes.

It is a warm December night when our story opens, within the rose garden of a city where a lost child has been found – a boy who is frozen solid and is standing silently like a statue with his feet embedded in an icy pedestal. As the boy – Finn – is checked over by a doctor and proclaimed to be still alive, his parents and older sister Bianca rush to his side and speak to the police officer present in an attempt to make sense of the situation. A shocked and frustrated Bianca queries why nobody is searching for clues as she believes that his condition must have been caused by someone and takes it upon herself to do just that, finding a poem inscribed into the icy pedestal.

Wondering if the poem is a clue, the following morning Bianca decides to investigate and searches her home for a new library book Finn had borrowed the day before in the hopes it might shed some light on things. When – despite her best efforts – she cannot find it, she visits the library only to find that the library computer shows no such loan. Unable to recall the title of the book, Bianca spends time methodically searching for it but is unable to find it and realising that she will need to come back another time, goes to leave. As she goes to head home, she spots a girl from school with the same book tucked under her arm who runs away when Bianca asks to see it.

When that night the girl from the library is found frozen in addition to one of Bianca’s friends, she starts to wonder if the book is linked to the ice children and when she spies a strange man smiling at the sight of them, decides on impulse to follow him. Finding herself in an old run-down factory, Bianca watches what he does and listens carefully before she returns to her parents. Now sure that the book is connected to the frozen children, Bianca tries to speak up but none of the adults will listen to her. As more and more of the city’s children become frozen, Bianca uses what she has discovered to find her way to a wintry magical world – one which holds the key to restoring Finn and the others to their families. Can she work out how the strange man is linked to what is happening within the city? And can she undo the magic that has enchanted Finn and the others before it is too late for them to turn back?

Readers familiar with Hans Christian Andersen’s classic The Snow Queen will detect echoes of it weaving their way through the text but this is not a retelling of that story, nor is it a sequel or prequel. Rather the author has taken a tiny part of that old favourite and used her quite remarkable talent to create a new fairy tale – one perfect for its 21st Century audience. Bianca is a wonderful heroine – one who recognises her own faults and failings and who is prepared to do everything within her powers not just to restore Finn to her family but all of the affected children to theirs. As her story unfolds, she proves herself to be brave and bold as well as highly intelligent and thoughtful when she realises that she has the power to save winter itself alongside those who have been frozen, sharing a vital message about global warming with young readers in a highly engaging way.

With the action taking place in December, many will consider this to be the perfect read for Christmas and with the hardback edition publishing on November 2nd, there will be lots of delighted youngsters picking this up to read on the big day itself. Having said that, this is not a Christmassy title and will be a year-round favourite for many. Alongside M. G. Leonard’s beautiful story are the gorgeous illustrations of Penny Neville-Lee, which add enormously to the reader’s enjoyment and which I cannot wait to see in a traditional copy of this lovely title which will be enjoyed as a shared read by those in Year 3 upwards.

As always, I am hugely indebted to publisher MacMillan Children’s Books and Net Galley for my advance virtual read.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Books and Netgalley for the advance digital copy.
This story was amazing and had me gripped from start to finish. It has many facets: dark fairytale, fantasy mystery, cautionary eco-tale, and empowering coming of age story.
The author took inspiration from The Snow Queen, Pinocchio, and The Selfish Giant, but effectively fashioned her own icy world that will both frighten and delight readers; a perfect read for those dark winter nights that come just before Christmas. Fingers crossed that it will appear on BBC radio, read out in a cold crisp voice with howling wind sound effects and the jangle of piano keys.
It's a story that will hold your attention: sometimes unsettling, and other times whimsical and magical. But that's winter for you, a season of many personalities.
The most beautiful metaphor? Books are shaped as rectangles because doors are rectangles, and what are books if not doorways to other worlds? Brilliant.

This is a must-read story for children and adults of all ages! A wonderful fairytale-esque adventure where we meet brilliant characters such as Jack Frost and The North Wind. Young children are turning up frozen into statues of ice, after reading a silver book and nobody knows why. When one of the children's sisters decides to find out what is going on, she embarks on a dangerous and enlightening adventure. A wonderful story, described beautifully and with one of the most important messages of our time.

Very different to MGLeonard’s usual style in many ways but the fantastic writing remains the same. Enormous appeal and a great example of fabulous writing for KS2 level.

I absolutely loved this book. M. G. Leonard came to my school to talk to the children about her Beetle Boy series in 2019 and I remember her telling me about this book back then, it's so clearly a passion project and very dear to her heart and this shines through in the writing. The pitch she gave back then was so intriguing too- that on the 1st December a child is found alive but frozen, in a town park. On the 2nd there are two children and on the third... I'm sure you can see where it's going! This book weaves elements of The Snow Queen and The Very Selfish Giant throughout but in a subtle way. It has all of Leonard's usual fabulous action and plot-driven narrative but with passages of elaborate, beautiful description and a deep sense of pervasive melancholy. It has a strong message about climate change and responsibility but rather than leaving children feeling powerless to do anything I liked the slight flash-forward at the ending showing the children moving into adult lives where they fulfil the promises that they made as children. A beautiful fantasy adventure with a chilly, but beating, heart.

“Humans have made the world a place where winter cannot survive.”

Inspired by The Snow Queen, The Selfish Giant and Pinocchio, The Ice Children is a powerful and beautiful modern fairy tale of climate change, sibling devotion and a quest to make the world a better place. M.G. Leonard has created a captivating, frosty mystery with a charming, and quite unusual, cast of characters.

It’s December, before the first frost, and a boy called Finn is found in the city rose garden. In his navy starred pyjamas, his pale skin sparkling with snow crystals, his hair hanging with icicles, he’s frozen yet alive. His sister, Bianca, is determined to find out what’s going on.

She discovers an unusual, silver book that connects Finn with other frozen children. A strange man in a top hat with a triumphant smile leads her towards clues that will reveal the magic of the Ice Children. She’s finding answers but no one will believe her!

“Bianca, books can change what people think, and touch their hearts, but I don’t see how they can freeze a person.”

This is the perfect story to share with children as the nights draw in and winter approaches. Whether as a bedtime story or class read aloud, they will be completely enchanted, transported to a magical, wintery world full of spirit animals and a challenge to protect the winter the world so desperately needs.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Books & NetGalleyUK for an early read of this lovely book!

I could not put this book down. I am sure it will be known as a modern classic. Just magnificent. The world M.G Leonard builds in Winterton is magical and I think any child would lose themselves in these pages.

Inspired by classic fairytales, M. G. Leonard has written a great contemporary tale with a very important message at its heart. The characters and settings are so well written it is easy for the reader to picture them. The moral is one that every child must come to know - we need The Ice Children to help our world!

Why are children turning to ice? Can Bianca save them? Will her message save us? An unforgettable, spell binding novel bursting with magical characters and set in an enchanting wintery world. I loved it and will be recommending it widely.

I never fail to be impressed by the variety of MG Leonard’s writing and never really know exactly what type of book I’m about to delve into when I pick up one of her texts. Will it be a mystery? And adventure? Or in this case, a fantasy story? One thing I have come to expect to the ode to nature. Her books are a subtle call to arms for young environmentalists and you cannot fail to be moved by the stories she weaves.

The Ice Children takes inspiration from the likes of Hans Christian Anderson, Oscar Wilde and Carlo Collodi. It’s a modern fairy tale, a story with a moral. It would be a great text to read to a Year 4 class and there would be rich discussion stemming from it.

I'm always eager to read a book written by MG Leonard and she has certainly has not disappointed with this latest offering; a magical wintry adventure story that held me spellbound. The opening draws the reader in
Once upon a warm winter, in the dawning darkness of December, a boy was found in the city rose garden. The boy looked like a statue. He was frozen solid.
and what follows is such a brilliantly told story. We join Bianca on a magical adventure as she desperately seeks to discover who or what is leaving children frozen like statues and more importantly the reason why.
This is a wondrous mix of some of my favourite childhood (and even adulthood) reads: Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant, Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen, and Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, interweaved with Maya's unique ability to create something a little different. This is a beautifully imaginative story littered with exquisite detail to magnify the beauty of winter and wonderfully illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee. It is a book that includes a little bit of everything appealing to the inquisitive,the scientist, the poet, the adventurer, the storyteller. Wonderfully creative but with a serious environmental message at its core, The Ice Children is the perfect read whatever the season. A perfect reminder for adults to find the child we once were and remember. This is the perfect read for an independent reader or as a bedtime read to be shared.
'I'm old and new, I am truth and lies,
I’m made from everything and nothing,
I have the power to change the world.
What am I?’
Powerful storytelling at its best.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers Macmillian Children’s for this early read.

A subtly dark and frosty mystery that draws the reader in with its perfectly paced plot and chilling details that are ideally suited for the middle grade reader. I read this title out loud to my children and they begged for extra chapters each evening, the suspense was riveting.

When five-year old Finn Albedo is found frozen in the park near his home at the beginning of December, adults are bamboozled by how this has happened. Alive but unable to be revived, people can only wonder what is going on. And when more children are found frozen every morning, parents grow increasingly concerned; however, Bianca, Finn's older sister is convinced she knows what is happening and is determined to help Finn and all the other frozen children. A book, a reindeer and a magical winter wonderland hold the answers to her problems, but can she save everyone before it's too late?
I always enjoy MG Leonard's books and love the variety in them, from Beetle Boy, to the Adventures on Trains, not to mention the Twitchers series, and now The Ice Children, a book set in the middle of winter that sparkles and shines. With environmental messages singing from the pages as well as family and love, this is a book that will enchant readers as the nights draw in and the temperature drops. A celebration of winter in all its shimmering glory, The Ice Children will be a perfect family read in the run up to Christmas with a mug of hot chocolate (it felt slightly strange reading it on a sun-bed in the middle of August!). I can't wait to share this in school when it publishes on the 2nd November.

This latest from the excellent and very versatile MG Leonard is one of the best adventures for younger children (7-9 ?) that I have come across in a good while. It is engaging and exciting, whilst still retaining the qualities of a comfort read. It hints at established fairy tales (The Snow Queen, The Selfish Giant) and borrows some traditional figures without simply being a version of something else. It is imaginative and inventive in its own right and has mystery and puzzle-solving as well.. It has a modern feel too and children will readily identify with engaging protagonist Bianca, a pleasingly strong female lead. It has animal interest - always appealing - and pays more than passing homage to the magic of books and libraries, which is a lovely thing. But more than anything its topical environmental them will appeal to today’s children, many of whom are already geared up to its importance, The text is greatly enhanced by Penny Neville-Lee’s charming illustrations., which greatly extend its approachability for young independent readers. Although its winter theme may make it feel particularly appropriate for reading in that season, it would entertain royally at any time, and would also read aloud delightfully..

A really enjoyable festive adventure from M.G. Leonard as children start turning to ice at the beginning of December.

Oh, how I love a book set in winter! Such is The Ice Children which begins “Once upon a warm winter,” so you know already that this is not an ordinary winter’s tale (Is there ever?). Finn, a five-year-old boy, has been transformed into an ice statue, but his heart still beats trapped inside his frozen exterior, beautifully horrific in true fairy tale style, but also a sign for optimism. He is still alive and there still might be a chance to save him and the other children that are beginning to follow him into this icy state. Finn’s older sister Bianca is determined to do just that, and so a fast paced quest ensues.

Bianca meets characters and confronts situations along the way which may remind the reader of other stories they have read. Personally, I love this, and I think children will enjoy the familiarity of the tropes as well as revelling in the quirkiness of some of the characters. Indeed, there is a lovely section at the end of the book where the author acknowledges the sources that have inspired her and the importance of fairy tales not simply as entertainment but as a warning about the world. The importance of the stories we tell ourselves is also integral to the plot. At the same time there is an ever present feeling of danger and time running out, as more and more children are found frozen in the park and the book hurtles towards a winter solstice deadline.

M G Leonard has cleverly and lightly entwined a serious message about climate change into her story, and characters who seem simply villainous and cruel at first are developed when the reasons why they are behaving in this way are revealed. All is not cut and dried, and there is opportunity to empathise with their situation. The book also sparkles with descriptions that capture the beauty and harshness of winter in both the real and the fantasy world, and the simple illustrations are perfect to spark imagination.

The book is not only a thrilling story but a celebration of winter, imagination and the power of love. Adults play a minor role and are generally well meaning. I am glad it features a kindly, helpful librarian, always a bonus! I would recommend for school years 6 or 7, so a great addition to primary or secondary school libraries and Christmas/winter book lists (It doesn’t mention Christmas but the older, more pagan solstice). Definitely to be enjoyed with a mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows, snuggled up in a cosy place on a cold and blustery day.

M G Leonard is one of the best contemporary children’s writers who can spin together tales of adventure but also with a message. The Ice Children is a magical winter tale- ideal for the run up to Christmas. Children are being turned into ice statues and nobody can understand why. Bianca’s brother Finn is one of the children and she is determined to discover what is happening. There follows an adventure to a different dimension where Jack Frost and the Ice Queen are present and the residents of Winterton including the frozen children: they along with the animals living in icy climates are concerned about the change in the climate and the potential death of winter and all of its seasonal elements - which will ultimately impact on so many animals and ways of life. Bianca’s escapades to rescue her brother and the other children is fast paced and fun but M G Leonard has cleverly highlighted how it is children who can collectively be the ones to make the difference to save the planet now and in the future and also the importance of seasons and the joy winter can bring. This a great read for 9-12 year olds. It would be easy to visualise an animated film from the vivid descriptions and heart felt created characters

A perfect, Winter read.

When Finn brings the most beautiful book home from the library, but refuses to let his sister Bianca read it, a chain of events occurs that could threaten the entire towns children. Finn is frozen, encased in ice in the local rose garden, yet Bianca can’t find the book anywhere. When she sees a girl from school with the same book, she’s surprised to find out that she didn’t get hers from the library, but from the local market and when she also refuses to let Bianca view the book, and is later found frozen in the park, she realises the book isn’t all it seems.
Bianca sets out on a quest to find out more about the book and unfreeze Finn, but in doing so, endangers herself.

This modern day fairytale (think, The Snow Queen, The Lion,the Witch and the Wardrobe), with a slight Victorian feel and many underlying themes. Its main theme, appears hidden for a large portion of the story, yet its importance is felt throughout, which I feel keeps the reader eagerly turning the page, it is a truly magical, mysterious way to explore the subject of Climate Change. The story teaches readers how important their own role is in protecting the environment to ensure, not just Winter, but all seasons continue and are protected. It’s explored with a strong thread of the importance of family and sibling relationships, friends and how working together can make the changes we need, no matter how small, to protect our world. Bianca, has the heroine, shows us that with persistence, determination and a little help from our friends, we are able to change our own stories and impact on those around us, and wider.
That aside, this is a beautifully written story, that’s perfect for curling up with on a cold night and becoming completely absorbed in. Its descriptive style and stunning illustrations from Penny Neville-Lee, make for an adventurous, magical read that will keep you turning the pages.

Huge Thanks to MacMillan Children’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced read.

When her brother turns to ice, Bianca must find a way to save him. Why did the book that he borrowed from the library disappear when he turned to ice? And why are other children starting to turn to ice each night? Bianca sets out on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth about the strange book and the children turning to ice.

This modern re-telling of The Snow Queen takes the reader on a journey into a fantastical winter wonderland with an underlying message about climate change.

A great book for a key stage two classroom.

What a delightful wintry fairytale adventure! A terrifying amd icy problem has hit the children in Bianca's home town and she is an engaging and strong main character determined to save the day.
Very powerful climate message which would work very well as a class novel for Yr 4, 5 or 6 studying climate change, the Arctic or fantasy setting descriptions.
A lovely wintry, cosy read that I will highly recommend to the children I teach, especially around Christmas time.

I requested to read this book because I loved M.G. Leonard’s Beetle Boy books and the Twitcher series and I was instantly drawn in by the narrative of this modern day fairy tale.
M.G. Leonard explains in her acknowledgments at the back of book how she was inspired by the familiar stories of The Snow Queen, Pinocchio, and The Selfish Giant to create an imaginative new story which will linger in your mind as do many timeless classics. The brilliant action-driven plot does not spend unnecessary time world building without moving the story forward. I can imagine The Ice Children making a lovely magical children’s Christmas movie.
The main character, Bianca has to use her detective skills to work out why more and more children are appearing as frozen statues in the park. She links the strange happenings to a mysterious silver book her brother had discovered in the library. M. G. Leonard realistically portrays how children are not listened to in times of emergency and their ideas dismissed as childish fantasies. The only thing Bianca can do is to sort it out on her own and find out who is responsible for turning her brother and friends to ice. She uses the clues to transport herself to a wintery wonderland, highlighting how books really are doorways to other worlds. I particularly enjoyed reading about the different spirit animals each of the children had in the magical world. I wondered what my own spirit animal would be long before I reached the end. I decided it was probably a bear.
I adored the cover and illustrations by Penny Neville-Lee and believe they would be even more magnificent in a real book format rather than reading on my kindle. The short chapters made this a quick and easy read. I seemed to fly through the pages, devouring every word.
It was evident about half-way through their was no real antagonist. In fact the real villain of the book is us - the human race - whose extravagance and negligence has caused the global warming which the world is suffering from causing a world ‘where winter cannot survive.’
Bianca strives to show the children of the world that they can make a difference as they are the adults of the future. They have the power to make changes to build better habits which will help the environment. In this way, M. G. Leonard has pro-actively crafted a spell-binding novel, which successfully treads the thin line between conveying an important message and preaching. The Ice Children gives children the power to do something now to prevent climate change.
This book leaves you with hope that it will indeed touch people’s hearts and change the way they think.

When children start being frozen into statues overnight, 10-year-old Bianca crosses over into the winter land of Winterton to try to save her brother from having his heart permanently frozen. There she comes up against and ultimately joins forces with Jack Frost in a campaign involving the children of the world to save our winters from the effects of global warming

Successfully draws on folk and fairy tales to produce a beautiful and powerful story with a strong environmental message at its core. Wonderful just to read as an adventure, compelling for themed reading support and highlighting the devastating impact we are having on the climate. Leonard's strong feelings on the matter shine through in her engaging writing and leave you feeling both desperate and hopeful. We all need a winter spirit animal (think mine would be an Arctic Fox)!

As soon as I saw the author, I knew I had to read this and I was not disappointed.
The Ice Children is all about the power of stories and how they can both change and educate at the same time. It is a powerful combination of modern-tale fairytale but with elements of the real issues facing the world -climate change. The characters, particularly Bianca, are believable and you feel great empathy for them and the various situations in which they find themselves.
I think MG Leonard has produced another stunning story here and that this will become a modern-day classic which is enjoyed by both children and adults alike during the winter months.
I can't wait to purchase my copy to share during story time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it would be great for KS2. The message delivered to protect the planet from climate change was delivered with fun and intrigue in this unusual wintery tale. MG Leonard does it again. A future classic.

The Ice Children
By M.G. Leonard
Published by Pan Macmillan

This wonderful new winter tale from M. G. Leonard, takes you on a journey of magic and mysteries.

At the stroke of midnight in December, five-year-old Finn is found frozen in the city park standing on a pedestal of ice. His heart is beating and he is smiling but no one can wake him.

Finn's big sister, Bianca, who is both curious and determined to save her brother needs to find some answers. Suspecting the beautiful sparkling book Finn got from the library has something to do with it, alongside a tall mysterious stranger, Bianca has no time to waste as each day, more children are found frozen.

Her job is to discover the truth and rescue her little brother from a fantastical winter wonderland, full of beauty and danger, where all is not as it seems.
A fabulous winter adventure story perfect for a class read with a strong, determined female character who knows she has a job to do - to save the children before the magic takes over!

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgalley

One sudden frozen child is a curiosity but a park full of statues is an urgent mystery that needs solving before lives are lost forever. Bianca has an idea about the cause but the grown-ups are too busy fretting about the statues to listen to bizarre notions. Time is running out and Bianca is going to save not only her brother but all the ice children.

The charming illustrations sprinkled through the story are lovely. I loved the idea of the vanishing children’s book being involved in the mystery, perfect for us bibliophiles. It’s a delightful modern fairytale that is perfect for bedtime reading during the festive period. I hope it will bring lots of joy to children and adults alike.

A magical winter mystery woven through with, among others, Oscar Wilde and Hans Christian Anderson and stitched together with modern themes of climate, love and empathy. Leonard takes us seamlessly back and forth between the real world and Winterton at perfect pace. A story for reading aloud or under the covers for 7+.

Bianca Albedo, like any big sister thinks her five-year-old brother, Finn, is annoying! Then he disappears leaving her parents devastated and Bianca knowing she has to do something. When he is found, a frozen statue, barely alive, she is determined to save him and the other children who continue to disappear.

A tall, strange, young man, and his companions, seem to have something to do with what has happened and, as Bianca follows the clues, she finds herself in a totally different world where nothing is quite as it seems. As she begins to work out what's happening, Bianca also realises she has very little time in which to achieve her goal and save her little brother.

This is a wonderful story with illustrations which compliment it in every way. Bianca, as a main protagonist, is instantly likeable and although her quest is set in a fantasy world it is both easy to understand and realistic with regard to its ultimate message.

There are strong environmental messages here relating to the threat global warming carries for all of us but I would have liked the consequences for our planet through all four seasons to have been mentioned. With its beautiful writing, illustrations, and message this story should become a family festive favourite to be read regularly in the run up to Christmas.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Macmillan Children’s Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This was an absolute pleasure to read, it's in no way preachy and I loved it.

I listened to this story on audiobook some time ago and loved it then, reading it again has reminded me of the magical yet sinister storyline. M G Leonard’s world building is always spot on and main protagonist Bianca is wonderful, fiercely brave in protection of her brother, even when faced with darkly seductive and pretty scary circumstances. The story is very reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen (which I had on long playing record as a child - yes I’m that old!) and I very much enjoyed the nods to this spellbinding fairy tale.

This is a delightful book to read. The story revolves around Bianca who is trying to save her brother, Finn who has been frozen along with other children in a bid to stop the Snow Queen from melting, which would in turn cause winter to cease to exist.
The story is one of conservation in a bid to show children that global warming is having disastrous consequences and if people work together they can make a difference.
It is an important story for 8 to 12 year olds, beautifully illustrated and well written, I can highly recommend it..

Young readers will love this enchanting fantasy fairytale winter story. The artwork is the finishing touch. Thank you to Macmillan’s Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Not only was I pulled in by the beautiful artwork and book cover, the name and synopsis was intriguing and I couldn’t pass it by. Children turned to ice? A young girl up against it all to solve the case of the frozen children before the whole town of its youngest inhabitants succumbs? Yes please.

I loved the creeping sense of looming threat and suspense at the beginning as more children are disappearing and turning up captured in ice. With a serene look on their faces and mysterious circumstances, Bianca takes it upon herself to crack the mystery.

Her brother, Finn is the first to succumb and she notices he was in the possession for a certain strange book, could it be the key to saving the children?

It’s a perfect wintry book and reads so easily. It’s perfect for younger (and older) audiences and it’s impossible not to enjoy from start to finish. It was fun, intriguing and well written and the accompanying illustrations in with the text was a perfect touch.

Enthused with winter magic, it’s an beautiful book with an important story and will leave you with a warmer heart and a positive hope for the future.

I am a huge fan of @mglnrd ‘s writing – The Adventures on trains are one of my favourite series ever!

This story is written slightly differently – but equally as beautiful. It has a combination of important environmental elements such as global warming, and fairy tales intertwined together. It is a modern and fresh retelling of The Snow Queen.

The story starts on a December night in a rose garden in the centre of a city where a statue of a small boy, Finn, is found. He has been frozen solid but is still alive, all the adults are puzzled and confused as to how he is still alive and how they can thaw him out. They all try and find solutions to the problem. More and more children become frozen statues. Only Finn’s sister, Bianca seems to be able to solve the problem.

Bianca is a brilliant heroine who stops at nothing to help her brother and the other children. She is brave aswell as thoughtful, reflective and intelligent.

The story itself is fast paced and written wonderfully. There are twists and turns throughout which holds the readers attention.

A fantastic fantasy adventure, a must-read story for children and adults!

This modern re-telling of Hans Christian Anderson's story of the Snow Queen is beautifully done, and the illustrations match the story well.

Bianca Albedo may consider her 5-year-old brother a pest, but she and her parents are devastated when Finn disappears. When he is found, he appears to be frozen - although his heart is beating, he cannot be revived for the time being.

Then, it turns out that this is happening to other children as well. In the hope of saving them all, Bianca sets her keen intelligence to the task of figuring out what is actually happening to the "Ice Children".

She soon begins to suspect that the mysterious young man in the top hat and his associates have something to do with this, as does the strange book that Finn brought home, which has now disappeared. But can Bianca figure it all out swiftly enough to save her little brother, when time is clearly running out?

This is a terrific story, which weaves in a number of themes, not least that of climate change and the need for urgent action. There are recognisable figures such as Jack Frost and the Snow Queen, not to mention a plethora of wintry flora and fauna that combine to deliver atmospheric storytelling that is also strikingly creative.

This should be a great hit with young adventurers in the target age group, and has the potential to become a classic in its own right.

We adored this book. Part traditional old fashioned fairytale, part climate change alert. Strong intelligent female lead and traditional family adventure. A real winner, this book will take pride of place on our family bookshelf. We especially liked the idea of the winter animals, they reminded us of Philip Pullmans daemons.

Apart from the excellent Adventures on trains books with Sam Sedgeman I haven't read any MG Leonard books but this looked really good so I requested.
Was I happy with my choice? Yes I was! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The real family that are the main characters in the book were likeable and seemed normal. The magical characters....well lets say I need to find out what my winter animal is!

In the dawn of a December day a five year old boy is found in the park - frozen. His feet attached to a block of ice, dressed in pyjamas with a smile on his face, but completely frozen....except his heart is still beating inside his frozen body. Finn Albedo, went to bed as normal - except he'd had a fight with his older sister Bianca, who he wouldn't let look at his shiny silver book from the library. And now he was here, in the park, frozen and all she could think was that they had quarrelled, and she had been nasty to him.
As Bianca looked around at the people in the park she saw a tall thin man in a top hat, he was watching her. She is angry and asks the police if they are interviewing people, somebody had done this to her brother, but who? As she looks closer, she sees hailstones around the frozen base, they are words on the base too, a rhyme....and it doesn't sound good. The last two lines say
"With the hearts of children,
Winter will live on."
Bianca makes a promise there and then to help Finn, to save him from whatever has done this. The first thing she does next morning is look in her brother's room, there must be a clue. He hadn't taken his beloved cuddly rabbit Sposh, but where was that library book, that they had fought over? It wasn't there, the top book on the pile was wet as well. But when Bianca goes to the library Mrs Dorcas says Finn didn't take a book out...on the way out Bianca sees another child, Sophie, with the same book. But again, she won't allow Bianca to even look at it.
Bianca's mum doesn't even know if she read the story to him...it's all a bit much. Bianca and her parents sleep in the park and when she wakes with teh town clocks at midnight, she sees a lady running past - another child has been found frozen in the park. Sophie. And then another, Casper, Bianca's friend. And they both have that same poem around the ice base. And yet again she sees the tall, thin man with the top hat.
After this Bianca is determined to find out what is happening. It has to be something to do with that book and that tall man. Bianca follows him, But he's not a tall man...he's four children in a pyramid....the names she hears are Pitter, Patter, Quilo, and Jack.
She returns to the park, and her sleeping bag. Her parents think she's safer at home but Finn had been at home. Bianca tries to talk to everyone, tries to tell them about the tall man who isn't, but no-one will listen, not even the police when she goes there with a stolen book (you need to read it to find out where from) so she has to do the one thing she said she wouldn't ...she has to read it.
Penny Neville Lee's illustrations are already in this copy and they too are beautiful, reflecting the nature of the story. Particularly like 'The Snow Pony' that isn't!

I totally loved this story. The message of the story is very powerful. We need a world of Ice Children to bring about change. Bianca and Finn and their friends can help by telling this story.

Book Review 📚
Ice children by M.G Leonard - 4.5/5 ⭐

I requested this ARC to read with my son, and it's safe to say we both have a new favourite. We always enjoy reading a book together and it's always great to find a book that we can enjoy without the pressure of "reading more" and just enjoy it.

There was a great mix of adventure and suspense, with a dabble of a fairytale retelling. We both thoroughly enjoyed the story and how it all came together, it was informative but yet not to much information that it became confusing.

The illustrations along the way were beautiful and so incredible. It really is the best story we have had the pleasure of reading. It's gonna be tough trying to top this one, for both of us!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Childrens Books for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

Nothing much to say.. i love the book!! I’m a fan of her Adventures on Train series, and i think this book deserves a five star!

Bianca was shocked when she saw that her little brother Finn has been frozen! The next day, she heard another child was frozen. Everyday there are more and more children were frozen, and her clue is only the sparkling book that she saw every children have.

I love Bianca. She’s brave and love her brother fiercely. When i met Jack, i was instantly reminded of Jack Frost. And i think that the author wrapped the story very well while telling us that our earth is not okay. That we are the children of the world that need to do something so we can preserve our earth. Highly recommended book.

A perfect winter story by the wonderful M.G. Leonard. The story begins with a 5 year old Finn, who is found frozen in a block of ice in a local park. Finns's sister Bianca, sets out to try and rescue him as well as the other children who are being frozen. With the discovery of a silver book, four strange children and a fantastical winter wonderland the story embeds the theme of the power of reading as well as highlighting the issues of climate change. The winter descriptions are wonderful but I did think that the climate theme was a little "shoehorned" into an otherwise very engaging fantasy winter story. However I know this will be a huge success.

Interweaving classic fairy tale with Old World mythology, M G Leonard has created a fairy tale for the modern day full of magic and hope to inspire a generation.
When Bianca’s brother is discovered frozen in ice, she is determined to discover the truth of what happened. When several other children suffer the same fate, Bianca is convinced it is linked to a mysterious silver book. But all the adults are far too pre-occupied to listen to an 11 year old with an over-active imagination, so it falls to Bianca to solve the mystery herself. However, along the way, she will find help in unusual places.
Although there is a strong environmental message about the effects of climate change, it never feels moralistic or preachy. Instead, we are reminded of the fun and excitement of winter and of the beauty of the changing seasons.
I think, by the end of this story, it would be a very icy heart that would not be standing up and declaring themselves an Ice Child. This is a rally call to future generations and I can’t think of a better, more magical way to do it.

This book is the perfect winter fairytale which will sweep you into another world - the world of Winterton. This is a world where Winter rules. But where Winter is warming in one world, The Snow Queen begins to melt in this other magical place. And that must not be allowed to happen.

Full of dazzling illustrations by Penny Neville Lee, you too will be whisked off to that other world on a journey you will never forget.

At its core this is a book with an important message about global warming, about the shift in the seasons, about how we, each and every one of us, must make a difference.

This new fairytale will touch your heart. With elements reminiscent of Labyrinth (not so scary of course), the Snow Queen, Narnia and His Dark Materials, there’s a bewitching nostalgia about the brand new story. It’s comforting and enchanting.

Recommended reading with a hot chocolate!

The Ice Children is a magical, mesmerising, wintery read with a timely underlying ecological message, and is a story that completely captured me.

Five-year-old Finn Albedo is found frozen in the city rose garden with his feet encased in a pedestal of ice. Although he cannot be awoken, his heart is still beating, but can he be saved by the love of his older sister, Bianca, as she determines to investigate what has happened to him – and the other children who are appearing frozen. Could it be something to do with a mysterious silver book and a group of strangers who rely on the coming of winter for their existence? Bianca, using all her ingenuity and courage, finds herself in a beautiful and dangerous winter wonderland where she endeavours to save the ice children, and winter, before time runs out …

This is a stunning adventure – a modern fairy tale – drawing on well-known tales including The Snow Queen and The Selfish Giant but with a fresh twist to include an important and timely ecological message. I loved the setting of Winterton with its snow queen fortress, fairground, circus and companion creatures, especially the reindeer, Pordis. Like all fairy tales, the magic has an underlying darkness, but there is also hope that there can be a better future when action is taken.

I found Bianca an incredibly sympathetic character who clearly loves her little brother and desperately wants him back home with her and their parents. She is courageous, determined and empathetic and comes to understand that the ice children are not the only ones in danger of no longer existing in our world. She shows kindness and understanding and brings hope when it appears to be lost. I also loved that she believes in the power of stories to change the world!

This is a truly mesmerising, magical modern fairy tale that is just perfect for young children to enjoy this winter, hopefully whilst the snow swirls outside.

In a Nutshell: A nice novel for middle graders, with a gripping storyline and a powerful message. Balances between scary and sweet. Good for the age group, though it has some disturbing content.

Story Synopsis:
Five-year-old Finn is found in the park at dawn on 1st December. He is alive, but completely frozen, standing on a pedestal of ice with a serene smile on his face. His sister, eleven-year-old Bianca, suspects a mysterious silver book that Finn had borrowed from the library the day before, to be somehow connected to his current state. But the book is nowhere to be found, and the mysterious tall stranger in a dark hat, who was watching the events in the park from a distance, has also vanished. The next day brings some horrid news – two more frozen children have been discovered. No adult believes Bianca’s claims about the silver book, which means that she has to save Finn and the other kids herself.
The story comes to us mostly in the limited third person perspective of Bianca.

Note: This review contains spoilers about the themes in use.

I adored the first half of the book. Right from the start, the story had me in its grip, with a feel of danger lurking on every page. The frozen children, the perplexing silver book, the strange tall man – all add the right level of chills to this already chilly story.
Midway, the story changed direction, entering a new realm (literally). This portion initially disappointed me, as the threat of the tale seemed to reduce in intensity when the opposite should have happened. Soon though, the danger quotient went back to its original level, and stayed so until the final quarter or so, which left me somewhat mixed feelings.

Bookish Yays:
❄ The combination of a modern-day global issue with some fantastical mythical characters. The story is very imaginative.
❄ The closeness of Bianca’s family, and the love-hate sibling relationship between Bianca and Finn. I really appreciate how parents are portrayed in a good manner in this MG work. It’s tiresome to see children’s books have at least one parent always being villainous.
❄ The ode to all things wintry. I loved reading about the snow, the frost, the hail, the animals, and many other elements that were perfect for this winter wonder-book.
❄ The mystery comes with its share of clues that our young little detective unravels well. Enjoyed the use of riddles.
❄ The inclusion of an environmental message, which I did not see coming at all but is a relevant theme.
❄ The loving testimonial to the power of books and stories, and the important role these play in our lives – mostly good, sometime bad.
❄ The steady pace and the action-oriented plot, that keeps things happening from the first page to the last.
❄ The allusions to several folk tales, fantasy characters, and classic short stories. While awareness of the original works isn’t required, it would help in admiring the references.
❄ Though set in December, the story focusses more on the solstice than on Christmas. The strong wintry undercurrent makes it a great option for the festive season, but the lack of religious affiliation also makes it suitable to those who don’t celebrate Christmas. (There is a small mention of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Selfish Giant’. Don’t know if this would be considered by some readers as a ‘Christian’ reference. To me, it’s a classic story first.)
❄ Usually, kids in children’s books handle all dangers on their own and I always wonder why they don't ask for adult help. However, that aspect is covered well in this story, by showing how Bianca does try to enlist adult support but fails. I cherish this realistic depiction.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌨 The final quarter is what will make or break your experience with this book. I love books talking of the environment and climate change, so seeing it pop up unexpectedly was a surprise. The story does connect this theme nicely with the earlier events, so the radical transition of topics doesn’t seem *that* out of place. However, I think the book went a step too far as it almost absolves the villains just because they had good intent.

Bookish Nays:
💦 Though aimed at middle graders, some events might get too scary for the younger segment. There are kidnappings and death threats. There is also one mention of a frozen child possibly shattering - though this doesn’t happen, it is still an alarming possibility.
💦 I hated the epilogue. It felt farfetched, and too neat. I’d have rather ended the story with the call for change than by depicting the changes. It somehow negates the intent.
💦 I’d have liked a handy list of what exactly children could do to counter the effects of climate change. It’s very easy for us adults to say to kids, ‘Saving the planet is in your hands now’, but can we please also have a realistic actionable plan for them to implement, before putting such pressure on their young shoulders? This book would have done well to include some practical ways by which kids (and their families) could help mitigate global warming.
💦 The book has many (B&W) illustrations – a fact that I usually adore in middle grade fiction. However, I didn’t like most of the sketches. The characters in the drawings seem tranquil, even when they are depicted in a dangerous situation. Varying emotions on the characters’ faces would have suited such a story better.

All in all, though the finale and the illustrations were a bit disappointing to me, I still enjoyed most of this story. The message and the danger level gets a bit heavy-handed, but to older middle graders and younger teens, it would still be an interesting story.
Recommended to home and school libraries. Would suggest parents to read this first so that you can judge the scare factor for your child. The book will also work nicely for discussions.

4 stars. (The book was a solid 4.5 stars for me until the final section.)

My thanks to Macmillan Children's Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Ice Children”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

THE ICE CHILDREN takes Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen and brings it into the modern day with a climate change message.

Children are going missing, freezing in place, and Bianca is determined to rescue her brother. It's a tale of sibling love and determination to help those dear to you as Bianca plunges into a wintry wonderland full of snow creatures, hot chocolate, and snow. It is also a tale about the power of stories. I loved how the magic of stories was woven into this book, with them playing key roles in the plot.

The book is illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee. They really help bring the story alive. I liked the style - some seem like the rough, initial sketches you see in the "behind the scenes" of movies when the team are still settling on a style before they go detailed. It blended well with the idea of the world being created from imagination of winter.

It is a really nice way to bring up the topic of climate change with children, wrapping it in a story of magic and showing some of the things that will be lost forever if the planet continues to warm - snow and winter. It ends with a rallying call to put pressure on governments to act, showing that children have such powerful voices when it comes to the future, and also shows what sorts of action can be taken.