Middle-grade Books Set in the Cold
In the northern hemisphere, we are currently in the depths of the cold months. Much of the U.S. has been hit with big snow storms of late. After you’ve built your snowman and done your sledding, make a cup of cocoa and curl up with one of these cold-set tales.
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1940)
I freely admit that the Little House books are problematic, but there is a special place in my heart for The Long Winter. I love the details of how the family survives (just barely) through the difficult season, finding ways to stay fed and warm in the toughest environment. I actually tend to reread this in the summer — a delightful way to cool down in the heat.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (1950)
Narnia — a cursed world where it is always winter but never Christmas — is the perfect setting for a cold-weather read. I am not really excited by the Christian allegory, but I certainly enjoy the tales of the Pevensie siblings. They escape from wartime England to a world in which they turn out to be royalty!
A Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill (2000)
Fredericka’s village in Alaska has a small school but has trouble keeping a teacher — the kids are too good at scaring them away. When Miss Agnes is recruited from a nearby village, the children realize that she is a different kind of teacher. She makes learning tangible and accessible. They know she is only there for a year before she returns to her home in England, so they make the most of the time with her. Miss Agnes makes a historical timeline that wraps around the classroom. She convinces the parents of a deaf child that she deserves an education as well. She respects their traditions and families and cultivates that knowledge as part of her lessons.
First Light by Rebecca Stead (2007)
Peter joins his parents on an expedition to Greenland. Thea lives in a secret world entirely underground. The two are inexorably drawn together. Aboveground, Peter’s parents investigate the effects of climate change. Below, Thea discovers secrets about her world and the special powers her community possesses.
Greenglass House series by Kate Milford and Jaime Zollars (started in 2014)
In Agatha Christie style, a handful of strangers end up stranded in Greenglass House during a storm, and all seem to be keeping secrets. Milo, the son of the owners, works with Meddy (the cook’s daughter) to uncover the truth and solve the mysteries. Spooky and gothic fun.
Winterhouse series by Ben Guterson and Chloe Bristol (started in 2018)
This series is packed with old-fashioned charm, mystical magic, and puzzles galore. Orphan Elizabeth is sent alone to the Winterhouse Hotel by her guardians. She is intrigued by the hotel and the family that founded it. When she discovers a book of puzzles in the library, she begins to collect clues about the hotel and its secrets.
The Sea in Winter by Christine Day (2019)
Maisie’s world is focused on ballet until she tears her ACL. Forced to stop dancing, she mourns a life without dancing and without her friends. Her blended Native family goes on a trip over winter break to visit her mother’s tribal lands. While traveling the stories of her heritage and the support of her family helps her heal.