★"Hargrave effortlessly sweeps the reader along with her protagonists. Bravery in all its forms proves invaluable to the quest, and the notion of myth-made-reality adds a sheen of magic to the narrative. Readers enamored with the works of Matilda Wood or Katherine Rundell's The Wolf Wilder (2015) will revel in this wintry adventure."
—Booklist, starred review
A Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Year
An A Mighty Girl 2020 Book of the Year
The Way Past Winter is a riveting adventure about magic, an eternal winter, and one girl's unbreakable determination to reunite her family.
Mila, her sisters, and her brother, Oskar, live in a small forest cabin, surviving in a world gripped by frost and snow.
When a mysterious man shows up on her doorstep, Mila and her family grant him shelter for the night. But in the morning, the man is gone—and he's taken Oskar with them.
- Written by award-winning and internationally recognized author Kiran Millwood Hargrave
- Inspired by European folklore
- Middle grade novel that explores deeper topics—grief, inner strength, and the unbreakable bonds of family
Determined to save their brother, Mila and her sisters set out on a mission to rescue him. But challenges await them at every turn: wolves with the speed of demons, tempestuous gold, an untrustworthy mage—and always the relentless, stinging freeze of winter.
The Way Past Winter is a classic adventure story in the vein of Phillip Pullman, Anne Ursu, and Kelly Barnhill that evokes the best of the middle grade fantasy genre.
- A beautifully written, smartly paced tale of riveting adventure with a focus on family
- Perfect gift for children ages 10 and up who love fantasy and magic
- Great for librarians and teachers looking to expand their classroom novel collection
- Add it to the shelf with books like Greenglass House by Kate Milford, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend, and The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
★"Hargrave effortlessly sweeps the reader along with her protagonists. Bravery in all its forms proves invaluable to the quest, and the notion of myth-made-reality adds a sheen of magic to the narrative. Readers enamored with the works of Matilda Wood or Katherine Rundell's The Wolf Wilder (2015) will revel in this wintry adventure."
—Booklist, starred review
"A young heroine sets off into an endless winter to rescue her brother from a mythic bear. . . . Imagine Narnia’s Lucy rescuing brother Peter from Philip Pullman’s armored bears. The focused plot contains Brothers Grimm-like scenes . . . An atmospheric tale for older readers wanting an action-focused fairy tale."
—Kirkus Reviews
"With this chilly fable, Hargrave (The Deathless Girls) invokes a feeling of folklore set in an ambiguous era and location. Sibling bonds and resilience run strong as the sisters trek through forbidding territory to face an enemy capable of controlling their very thoughts. [The Way Past Winter is] a tense journey that boasts a mythic essence and a well-earned end."
—Publishers Weekly
"Hargrave balances the narrative between wintry adventure and spellbinding fairy tale. . . mingling magical elements with thrilling survival episodes. . . A generous helping of action adventure flavors this engaging folkloric fantasy."
—The Horn Book Magazine
"Author Kiran Millwood Hargrave paints her wintery world with poetic, lyrical prose. Her story’s complex magical elements never detract from the page-turning adventure and underlying themes of sibling relationships, responsibility and love of the natural world. The Way Past Winter is a winning and memorable combination of classical fantasy and a call for environmental activism."
—BookPage
"Hargrave’s lush language and imagery completely immerses readers in a Nordic-inspired world where legend mingles with reality. . . . This rich title begs to be read while wrapped in a warm blanket, sipping a cup of hot chocolate. Recommended."
—School Library Journal
"[S]o twisty and fantastical. . . [it] might captivate young readers. I was won over. . . by the beautiful descriptions of frosty branches and starry night skies, of flying across the snow on a sleigh pulled by dogs, [and] most of all by its heartening message: 'We will weather this together.'"
—The New York Times