For many years, the North has been locked in a state of eternal winter. During one such year, the local woodcutter's wife gives birth to her ninth child. When she learns the newborn is her fourth daughter, the wife becomes so upset that she refuses to give the girl a name. Since naming daughters falls on the mother, the girl remains nameless, only being referred to as pika or the lass.
Thankfully for the lass, most of her family doesn't share in her mother's bitterness. She finds a confidante in her eldest brother, Hans Peter, a kind and gentle man who went off on a ship some years ago. However, he returned with a beautiful white parka with strange embroidery, a pair of matching boots, and a sadness in his eyes that steadfastly remains. No matter what the lass does, she can't seem to ease that sadness and their mother is less than helpful. Not even the magical white reindeer she rescues can help.
Instead, the white reindeer gives the lass a name and the ability to talk to animals. As the years go by, the lass' gift with animals makes its rounds throughout the land, eventually drawing in a large isbjørn. The isbjørn wants the lass to live with him for one year and one day. In exchange, he'll give the lass' family an opportunity at wealth. The lass agrees to the deal on condition that her wolf companion, Rollo, goes with her. After the isbjørn reluctantly agrees, he, the lass, and Rollo set off for the isbjørn's ice palace.
As her months in the ice palace roll by, the lass picks up clues regarding the truth behind the isbjørn and the true owner of ice palace. With help from Rollo, an unexpected ally, and a little bit of luck, the lass may just be able to break the enchantment on the isbjørn and the frigid lands of her hometown.
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow is a 2008 young adult fantasy novel by Jessica Day George. The novel is a retelling of the Norwegian fairy tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon".
This novel provides examples of:
- Elective Mute: Fiona the selkie can speak, but doing so in front of a human will put them in her enthrall. It isn't until the lass points out that she's immune to any selkie enchantments that Fiona finally speaks in the lass's presence.
- Fluffy Tamer: Thanks to receiving a name from the white reindeer, the lass can communicate with any and every animal. This includes Rollo, her wolf companion, and the isbjørn that she has to live with for exactly one year.
- Friend to All Living Things: The lass is generally friendly to anyone she encounters. This extends to the fae servants; once she gets over their startling appearances, she does her best to be kind.
- Massive Numbered Siblings: The lass is the youngest of nine children. She has three older sisters and five older brothers, the eldest of them all being Hans Peter.
- The Nameless: The lass was never given a name by her mother, and since naming a daughter is left to the mother, she remains so. Even after receiving a name from the white reindeer, the narrative defaults to calling her "the lass".
- Parental Favoritism: Frida vastly prefers her third son, Askeladden, over her other children. In the North, third son's are considered lucky, so she doesn't heap any unkind words on him like she would the lass or Hans Peter.
- Tongue-Tied: The enchantment over the isbjørn and his servants keeps all of them from being able to be frank with the lass. And if they do happen to get around the enchantment and let her in on their unpleasant situation, whoever did so is killed.
- Twice-Told Tale: The novel is a retelling of "Østenfor sol og vestenfor måne" ("East of the Sun and West of the Moon"), a Norwegian fairy tale. It's a pretty faithful retelling too, including some minor details in addition to the bigger plot beats.
- The Un-Favourite:
- The lass's mother, Frida, disparages her existence to the point of refusing to give her youngest daughter a name. Frida usually ignores the lass and when she does deign to acknowledge her, its mostly to snap out some order or unpleasant remark.
- Out of her sons, Hans Peter is her least favorite. Despite being obviously depressed, Frida can only badger him about making himself useful.
