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Touching Snow
"The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone."
Karina has plenty to worry about on the last day of seventh finding three Ds and a C on her report card again, getting laughed at by everyone again, being sent to the principal -- again. She'd like this to change, but with her and her sisters dodging their stepfather's fists every day after school, she doesn't have time to do much self-reflecting. Finally her stepfather is taken away on child abuse charges, and Karina thinks things might turn into something resembling normal. The problem is, he's not gone for good. And as Karina becomes closer with a girl at the community center where her stepfather is not showing up for his parenting classes, she starts to realize a couple things. First, for all the problems her family had tried to escape by immigrating from Haiti, they brought most of them along to upstate New York. And second, if anything is going to change for this family, it is going to be up to Karina and her sisters to make it happen.
M. Sindy Felin's debut novel is the story of a young girl's coming-of-age amid the violent waters that run just beneath the surface of suburbia -- a story that has the courage to How far will you go to protect the ones you love?
Karina has plenty to worry about on the last day of seventh finding three Ds and a C on her report card again, getting laughed at by everyone again, being sent to the principal -- again. She'd like this to change, but with her and her sisters dodging their stepfather's fists every day after school, she doesn't have time to do much self-reflecting. Finally her stepfather is taken away on child abuse charges, and Karina thinks things might turn into something resembling normal. The problem is, he's not gone for good. And as Karina becomes closer with a girl at the community center where her stepfather is not showing up for his parenting classes, she starts to realize a couple things. First, for all the problems her family had tried to escape by immigrating from Haiti, they brought most of them along to upstate New York. And second, if anything is going to change for this family, it is going to be up to Karina and her sisters to make it happen.
M. Sindy Felin's debut novel is the story of a young girl's coming-of-age amid the violent waters that run just beneath the surface of suburbia -- a story that has the courage to How far will you go to protect the ones you love?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 22, 2007
13 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
M. Sindy Felin
1 book5 followersM. Sindy Felin was born in Brooklyn, New York to Hatian immigrants and grew up in suburban Rockland County. She was the first person in her extended family to have been born in the United States, and the first girl to attend college--she graduated from Wesleyan University in 1994. Touching Snow is her first novel. Sindy lives just outside Washington, D.C.
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November 12, 2022
M. Sindy Felin’s young adult novel was a finalist for the 2007 National Book Award in the category of Young People’s Literature. It didn’t win, and it really does have some weaknesses, not the least of which are a somewhat unconvincing conclusion and an inconsistent tone. Still, it’s a solid enough work of fiction, and a fairly brave one, tackling as it does the weighty subject of the violent physical discipline of children within the Haitian immigrant community. The novel begins with an arresting opening paragraph:
The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone. Anyone will do. Accidental killings have the same effect as on-purpose murder. Of course, this is just my own theory. My sister Delta would say that my sample size isn’t big enough to draw such a conclusion. But I bet I’m right.
Touching Snow is narrated in the first person by smart-talking Karina “Katu” Lamond, who lives in a white folks’ neighbourhood in New York with her mother, sisters, very young half-brothers, as well as her aunt, cousins, and her brutal stepfather, Mr. Gaston—referred to throughout as “the Daddy.” Karina and her sisters, Delta and Enid, have been victims of their stepfather’s “beat-ups” for the most minor of offences. Not finishing all their supper, for example, is grounds enough for a beating. The girls have been thrown, slammed against walls and stoves, kicked, punched, and whipped with a belt. It appears that Karina has developed either epilepsy from head trauma or functional seizures (events that look like epilepsy but are not due to an epileptic disorder) from psychological trauma. Karina’s mother is fully capable of similar discipline, but she never goes as far as the Daddy. Excessive corporal punishment is apparently the norm within the Haitian community. (The novel is set in the mid 1980s, but from an online search, I see that the physical abuse of children persists in immigrant communities—not just among Haitians. It appears that social services have put a lot of effort into providing corrective education for immigrant parents who have settled in the US.)
The plot of Felin’s novel revolves around a particular incident in which Enid, Karina’s elder sister, is beaten to the point of unconsciousness. There’s a conspiracy of silence around this violence. If the Daddy’s actions were reported to police and he were charged, the family would be out on the streets and Karina’s aunt, cousins, and a lodger would be deported back to Haiti. The killing that Karina speaks about in the first paragraph is, of course, part of the story, too—though it’s neither as big nor as believable a part as I thought it would be.
I know. I know. This sounds like a very grim read, and, yes, in some ways it is, but Felin leavens the darkness with a lively, blunt, and sometimes funny narrator, who often directly addresses the reader. Karina is also an immensely resilient character.
There’s a secondary, not-entirely-convincing plot strand that concerns Karina’s work as a volunteer at an immigrant centre and her friendship with/crush on Rachael Levinson, the spoiled rich-girl daughter of the community-centre director. In some ways, Rachael is less a credible character than a convenient plot device, one reason things come to a head at Karina’s house.
As far as I know, Felin did not follow her debut with further young adult or other fiction. That’s too bad. I’m not aware of a lot of children’s and young adult literature that provides insight into the culture, customs (including superstitions), and family life of Haitian immigrant families.
The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone. Anyone will do. Accidental killings have the same effect as on-purpose murder. Of course, this is just my own theory. My sister Delta would say that my sample size isn’t big enough to draw such a conclusion. But I bet I’m right.
Touching Snow is narrated in the first person by smart-talking Karina “Katu” Lamond, who lives in a white folks’ neighbourhood in New York with her mother, sisters, very young half-brothers, as well as her aunt, cousins, and her brutal stepfather, Mr. Gaston—referred to throughout as “the Daddy.” Karina and her sisters, Delta and Enid, have been victims of their stepfather’s “beat-ups” for the most minor of offences. Not finishing all their supper, for example, is grounds enough for a beating. The girls have been thrown, slammed against walls and stoves, kicked, punched, and whipped with a belt. It appears that Karina has developed either epilepsy from head trauma or functional seizures (events that look like epilepsy but are not due to an epileptic disorder) from psychological trauma. Karina’s mother is fully capable of similar discipline, but she never goes as far as the Daddy. Excessive corporal punishment is apparently the norm within the Haitian community. (The novel is set in the mid 1980s, but from an online search, I see that the physical abuse of children persists in immigrant communities—not just among Haitians. It appears that social services have put a lot of effort into providing corrective education for immigrant parents who have settled in the US.)
The plot of Felin’s novel revolves around a particular incident in which Enid, Karina’s elder sister, is beaten to the point of unconsciousness. There’s a conspiracy of silence around this violence. If the Daddy’s actions were reported to police and he were charged, the family would be out on the streets and Karina’s aunt, cousins, and a lodger would be deported back to Haiti. The killing that Karina speaks about in the first paragraph is, of course, part of the story, too—though it’s neither as big nor as believable a part as I thought it would be.
I know. I know. This sounds like a very grim read, and, yes, in some ways it is, but Felin leavens the darkness with a lively, blunt, and sometimes funny narrator, who often directly addresses the reader. Karina is also an immensely resilient character.
There’s a secondary, not-entirely-convincing plot strand that concerns Karina’s work as a volunteer at an immigrant centre and her friendship with/crush on Rachael Levinson, the spoiled rich-girl daughter of the community-centre director. In some ways, Rachael is less a credible character than a convenient plot device, one reason things come to a head at Karina’s house.
As far as I know, Felin did not follow her debut with further young adult or other fiction. That’s too bad. I’m not aware of a lot of children’s and young adult literature that provides insight into the culture, customs (including superstitions), and family life of Haitian immigrant families.
November 10, 2012
Reviewed by Dianna Geers for TeensReadToo.com
"The Daddy" is known for his violent temper in New York, just like he was before the family moved from Haiti. Karina is glad that he has to work so many hours as a taxi cab driver. Otherwise the beatings would happen more often. And the beatings were horrendous.
"The Daddy" went ballistic over things such as the children not eating all of their dinner. Karina and her siblings often hid under the table or locked themselves in the bathroom when "The Daddy" began the beatings. Karina felt like a coward, but knew that "The Daddy" would beat his kid of choice just as hard if she didn't hide. Plus, then she'd get a beating, too.
When Karina sees her sister, Enid, hurt so badly that she may be dead, Karina vomits so forcefully that she thinks she herself might die. But then she hears her younger twin cousins calling for her. Karina couldn't die and leave everyone else to deal with "The Daddy" alone.
When "The Daddy" finally gets found out and put in jail, Karina thinks that maybe they will be safe at home. That is until she has to be interviewed individually by the authorities. Does she tell the truth about the atrocities "The Daddy" has created in their home? Would she be safe if she told the truth?
You'll need to read TOUCHING SNOW to see what Karina decides.
As if Karina's life isn't complicated enough, just as in real life, many things happen in our lives at the same time. In addition to dealing with this heartbreaking home life, Karina is the victim of bullying at school, struggles with her grades and learning the English language, and her evolving development as a young woman. How many things can one person juggle at a time?
Read this book to see how yet another resilient adolescent deals with adversity and finds her voice.
"The Daddy" is known for his violent temper in New York, just like he was before the family moved from Haiti. Karina is glad that he has to work so many hours as a taxi cab driver. Otherwise the beatings would happen more often. And the beatings were horrendous.
"The Daddy" went ballistic over things such as the children not eating all of their dinner. Karina and her siblings often hid under the table or locked themselves in the bathroom when "The Daddy" began the beatings. Karina felt like a coward, but knew that "The Daddy" would beat his kid of choice just as hard if she didn't hide. Plus, then she'd get a beating, too.
When Karina sees her sister, Enid, hurt so badly that she may be dead, Karina vomits so forcefully that she thinks she herself might die. But then she hears her younger twin cousins calling for her. Karina couldn't die and leave everyone else to deal with "The Daddy" alone.
When "The Daddy" finally gets found out and put in jail, Karina thinks that maybe they will be safe at home. That is until she has to be interviewed individually by the authorities. Does she tell the truth about the atrocities "The Daddy" has created in their home? Would she be safe if she told the truth?
You'll need to read TOUCHING SNOW to see what Karina decides.
As if Karina's life isn't complicated enough, just as in real life, many things happen in our lives at the same time. In addition to dealing with this heartbreaking home life, Karina is the victim of bullying at school, struggles with her grades and learning the English language, and her evolving development as a young woman. How many things can one person juggle at a time?
Read this book to see how yet another resilient adolescent deals with adversity and finds her voice.
December 9, 2007
touching snow is such a great book and it was well written by M.Sindy Felin, being her first novel. I will admit I first picked up the book because it was written by a haitian author =]. But the book has a lot of different themes such as keeping their culture as they live in America, stuggling to survive under their abusive stepfather's roof, and a mother who neglects this problem so they can afford to eat and pay the bills. The protagonist Karina suffers from epilepsy and also just trying to fit in school, and doesnt want to be compared to her super smart sister Delta who skipped two grades. And she doesnt want to be the head of the house if her sister Enid died from the brutal beatings "the DADDY" gave her. The way Felin uses descriptions and puts kreyol words in the book, it makes me relate more because I actually understand what shes saying and it just shows how similar many haitian families are and how they never want to forget where they come from when they come to America[especially New York].Its a great book to read because Karina is a strong girl who is capable to tell her story in a funny,inspiring and sometimes sad point of view. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.
December 13, 2022
Touching Snow... was a very touching read. Powerful and raw at times. It may be hard to stomach for some readers, as it does cover some sensitive topics such as abuse.
This book is written by a Haitian author, and the book does cover topics around the Haitian culture. Our main FMC Karina is struggling with abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Her mother turns a blind eye this so that "they can afford rent and food.". Which happens way too often in life. Karina also has epilepsy which is compounded by her environment. Karina's sister Enid is also often "beaten" at the hands of the "the daddy," and Karina often fears she will become head of household if Enid dies from the abuse. She also has another sister Delta whom seems to be heavily favored for her intelligence. Along with these heavy factors, she's also struggling to fit in at school.
This was a great young adult book, and I'm so glad I read it.
This book is written by a Haitian author, and the book does cover topics around the Haitian culture. Our main FMC Karina is struggling with abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Her mother turns a blind eye this so that "they can afford rent and food.". Which happens way too often in life. Karina also has epilepsy which is compounded by her environment. Karina's sister Enid is also often "beaten" at the hands of the "the daddy," and Karina often fears she will become head of household if Enid dies from the abuse. She also has another sister Delta whom seems to be heavily favored for her intelligence. Along with these heavy factors, she's also struggling to fit in at school.
This was a great young adult book, and I'm so glad I read it.
May 27, 2009
I'm a sucker for coming-of-age stories told in the first person. It seems like these would be the easiest novels to write, but I don't believe that for a second. If it seems so it's only because there is a very talented writer working extremely hard behind the scenes.
Such is the case with Touching Snow, a beautifully rendered story that takes a searing look at child abuse. The fact that the novel is told from the point of view of 14 year old Karina makes it that much more poignant and real. Karina is precocious, troubled, brave -- a tad weird -- and you will absolutely fall in love with her. I know I did. Her voice is strong and totally her own. Felin tackles the chilling realities of child abuse with an unflinching determinism to tell it like it is and not whitewash it in any way -- for to do so would be to dishonour the countless victims. The story is also richly steeped in Haitian traditions and the challenges facing immigrant families who resettle in America, in their urgent quest to escape crushing poverty and "touch snow".
First line fever: "The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone. Anyone will do. Accidental killings have the same effect as on-purposed murder. Of course, this is just my own theory. My sister Delta would say that my sample size isn't big enough to draw such a conclusion. But I bet I'm right."
Such is the case with Touching Snow, a beautifully rendered story that takes a searing look at child abuse. The fact that the novel is told from the point of view of 14 year old Karina makes it that much more poignant and real. Karina is precocious, troubled, brave -- a tad weird -- and you will absolutely fall in love with her. I know I did. Her voice is strong and totally her own. Felin tackles the chilling realities of child abuse with an unflinching determinism to tell it like it is and not whitewash it in any way -- for to do so would be to dishonour the countless victims. The story is also richly steeped in Haitian traditions and the challenges facing immigrant families who resettle in America, in their urgent quest to escape crushing poverty and "touch snow".
First line fever: "The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone. Anyone will do. Accidental killings have the same effect as on-purposed murder. Of course, this is just my own theory. My sister Delta would say that my sample size isn't big enough to draw such a conclusion. But I bet I'm right."
May 30, 2010
This book is a shocker. It's the story of a Haitan girl and the life she lives with her mother, brother, harmful stepfather, and many members of her extended family in America. This books clues you in on Haitan values and how certain things that aren't appreciated by american children are deeply appreciated by Haitan children. But suddenly the book does a 360 on you and it's no longer the story of a Haitan girl's assimilation in the American society, it's about something very American that I won't spoil for you. The book was terrible for so many reasons. There was poor character development and utter randomness.
March 14, 2017
The book follows a 13 year old named Katrina and her five siblings during the 1970s. Their mom cannot afford to pay for the house and provide for all the children by herself and has therefore gotten a new husband. The six children lives under the condition where whenever the mom is not around their stepfather abuses them and beats them up. Katrina starts helping out at a catholic church, where she meets her new friend Rachel. Rachel finds out about the abusive dad and want to report it to her father, but Katrina convinces her not to. The police is suspicious over Katrinas previous phone call to them and decides to investigate the case closer. Her stepfather ends up in court after Katarina's phone call, when her sister was beaten up on the kitchen floor by their step dad. Her mother makes them lie because she will not be able to provide for the children by herself. Katarina does so and the story continues. Overall i would give this book the rating 5 stars, because it is a good written book that keeps the reader interested. The book is also believable, which in this case means that stuff like this happens today too.
September 3, 2008
I was disappointed when I touched snow for the first time. The first flake that landed on my hand was not as pure as people say, but rather a tint of charred gray. The droplet of water which the snowflake melted into was gray as well. Rip off.
So many people around the world, like those back in my homeland, carry hopes of touching snow, but is snow as pure and serene as many described it to be? Perhaps it was once, and maybe because of that, the reputation of purity still survives.
The title of "Touching Snow" was what hooked me to the book. I thought, what is so great about snow? It's cold and it never lasts too long, right? Why would an author choose this title?
When I opened my copy of the book and read the first line, I couldn't help but keep reading because of the deep sense of readiness that the narrator had in breaking free from her father and her life. It was interesting to see what drives an adolescent girl to the verge of wanting to kill her own father. I've heard people call her a psychopath and say "whoa" when they learned about what she intended to do to her own father, but when I read about the difficulties she contended with, it seemed logical that she would want revenge. However, she is not wholly vengeful, she is a full person who can love and hope.
Hope-- something that some might argue to be the fuel for survival. "Touching Snow" is in a sense a tale of survival, of the narrator's struggle to keep alive her identity and not fall victim to the stereotypes of her world.
Both the narrator's world and mine are polluted by stereotypes that relentless try to contaminate our snowflakes of hope. Perhaps these stereotypes and other foul aspects of humanity did succeed in polluting these fragile snowflakes of hope and made them tainted, but did they necessarily render the inner beauty of hope? As far as it goes, snowflakes are still desired, and so lives hope.
So many people around the world, like those back in my homeland, carry hopes of touching snow, but is snow as pure and serene as many described it to be? Perhaps it was once, and maybe because of that, the reputation of purity still survives.
The title of "Touching Snow" was what hooked me to the book. I thought, what is so great about snow? It's cold and it never lasts too long, right? Why would an author choose this title?
When I opened my copy of the book and read the first line, I couldn't help but keep reading because of the deep sense of readiness that the narrator had in breaking free from her father and her life. It was interesting to see what drives an adolescent girl to the verge of wanting to kill her own father. I've heard people call her a psychopath and say "whoa" when they learned about what she intended to do to her own father, but when I read about the difficulties she contended with, it seemed logical that she would want revenge. However, she is not wholly vengeful, she is a full person who can love and hope.
Hope-- something that some might argue to be the fuel for survival. "Touching Snow" is in a sense a tale of survival, of the narrator's struggle to keep alive her identity and not fall victim to the stereotypes of her world.
Both the narrator's world and mine are polluted by stereotypes that relentless try to contaminate our snowflakes of hope. Perhaps these stereotypes and other foul aspects of humanity did succeed in polluting these fragile snowflakes of hope and made them tainted, but did they necessarily render the inner beauty of hope? As far as it goes, snowflakes are still desired, and so lives hope.
January 29, 2017
This is graphic. "beat-ups" I could almost feel them. I am not sure how much teens will be able to relate to the casual way the Katu describes bulima, molestation, and and sexuality. The child abuse portion was described using raw graphic imagery. But the other issues were so casually mentioned it seemed surreal.
July 17, 2019
This book got my attention because it was an award winner. That is why I decided to read it for my English lit class. But wow. It was definitely a more intense read than I ever expected. It was by far the most intense book that I chose to read for my class. I would recommend this to readers probably 17 and up to be honest. I would also give them quite a warning.
How I would teach this in a high school classroom is that I wouldn’t. There are lots of heavy categories/topics and I don’t want to get fired by handing this to a student. Maybe I would have a discussion about the book at one point to a student but I wouldn’t 10/10 recommend it to any student.If they want to read it after I describe some of its content and they’re interested then they can find a copy of it.
Content Warning:
Drugs/ alcohol- Yes
Sex: Sexual things happen
Language: Yes, quite a bit of swearing
Violence: Yes, yes
How I would teach this in a high school classroom is that I wouldn’t. There are lots of heavy categories/topics and I don’t want to get fired by handing this to a student. Maybe I would have a discussion about the book at one point to a student but I wouldn’t 10/10 recommend it to any student.If they want to read it after I describe some of its content and they’re interested then they can find a copy of it.
Content Warning:
Drugs/ alcohol- Yes
Sex: Sexual things happen
Language: Yes, quite a bit of swearing
Violence: Yes, yes
March 16, 2017
This was a very good book! It is about a girl who's mom is from Haiti and she came to America and had her so she could become a citizen. The only reason she had her was so she could bring her other daughter to America and start a new life there. She gets picked on at school for being different and has no friends. Everyone makes fun of her because she is different not just in the way she looks but she has a learning disorder and acts different from the other kids. During the summer, something happens to her and her siblings that makes her entire family have to go to court. She meets someone at the local community center where her step father has to take parenting classes. The girl doesn't make fun of her like everyone else does. She thinks that this might be her first and only friend. This book takes you through her finding people who accept her for her and her learning how to fit in with her family who are all stuck firmly in their traditional ways. One thing that I really like about this book is that she goes through so many bad things in a matter of days. She doesn't feel bad about herself. She only cares about her only friend and her family. That is the most important thing to her. As long as they are safe she doesn't care what happens to her. Another thing is that this is a very motivational book. This is the kind of book that makes you see that your life could be a lot worse than the girl in this book. It also makes you see all of the more positive things in your life instead of focusing on all the negatives. I would reccomend this book to people who like books that make them rethink what they thought they knew. A book that changes how you look at the world.
July 3, 2018
This book was very good and gripping- I would've finished it quicker, as it's very short, but being on vacation changed things. While the book was good with describing some details (some a little too well- the abuse descriptions were some of the most vivid and graphic I've ever read), there were still some questions I had that ended up unanswered. For example, Also, I think that Overall, very good and realistic (sadly) for a YA book.
March 26, 2011
In Touching Snow, thirteen year old Karina is worried about a few things; her grades (3 Ds, one C), being sent to the principal's office, being the most unpopular girl at her school and bracing herself for being beaten by her stepfather. Her stepfather is finally put in jail on child abuse charges. Problem solved right? Wrong. Karina's family and a few other adults want Karina to take the blame for the injuries her stepfather (called the Daddy) gave to her older sister, Enid. At the heart of this novel is the question of how far people will go to protect the ones they love (along with the idea of some adults only seeing what they want to see "Why did I keep thinking some adult somewhere was finally going to start acting like one?" Karina, pg. 101). This story might have one of the best opening lines ever: The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone." I was instantly transfixed. What was Karina referring to?
I hated this book. Yup, you read that sentence right. But it gets a 5/5. I hated that a story like this one needs to be told. I hate that parents abuse their kids and that husbands abuse their wives (and in the rare case, the wife abuses the husband). I don't want these incidents to happen anymore. I hate that this novel made me want to cry and that oftentimes, I forgot that happiness does exist in the world. I hate the Daddy and at some point I got fed up with all the adults in Touching Snow as well. I also grew angry at Karina, her two sisters and her cousins.
I was amazed by this book (it just seems wrong to say I loved this book). I love that the author wrote about a story that needs to be told, from a different perspective. There are few books on child abuse told from the perspective of an immigrant and their family. The issues run a lot deeper. I wholeheartedly believe that it would be easier for a woman born and raised in America to leave her abusive husband than it would be for a recently arrived immigrant from (insert country name here, specifically a 3rd world or an under developed country) to leave her abusive husband. I loved most of the characters in this novel. Karina lives with her mother, the Daddy (her stepfather), her mother, her older sister Enid, her younger sister Delta, her younger brothers Gerald and Roland, Jack and Joseph (her two cousins) and their aunt, Merlude (Jack and Joseph's mom). Karina is completely crazy and yet she can be very rational. She makes up some strange stories and gets herself into odd situations but she is very determined and resourceful. Her oldest sister Enid is fantastic. Enid really steps up and takes care of the house while their mother works long hours. She protects her relatives when she can and she' makes big sacrifices for them. From Karina's Menudo-obsessed friend Rachel (who happens to be white) to the mysterious Augustin to the Daddy's brother, Uncle Jude, all the characters are fleshed out.
Touching Snow is intense. Honestly, I'm glad I didn't have the time to finish this novel in one sitting because I needed a break from it, to see some happiness and sunshine. Obviously a story about child abuse is going to produce a strong reaction in anyone, but I think the reason this novel really resonated with me is because the author did such a great job with the details. She doesn't shy away from anything and her choice of words to describe the injuries inflicted by the Daddy make it painstakingly clear and vivid in the reader's mind. At the same time, she managed to make me smile through the pain. While we are reading about the abuse, we are also learning about Haiti and its culture and how difficult it is to be an immigrant in America. One of my favorite lines from the novel is when Karina is explaining about her extended family: "Gran and Aunt Jacqueline are more like sisters than mother and daughter, and they don't get along at all, but they live together. My cousin Edner says that's because Haitian people like to torture themselves. They're so used to being miserable that whenever they aren't, they have to go find something to be miserable about. He says that's why Aunt Jacqueline-that's his mom-went and got Gran from Haiti. After Aunt Jacqueline's first husband died, she didn't have anyone to fight with except her kids, and that wasn't enough." (pg.73) Doesn't this sound like someone you know? Ignore the Haitian part for the moment. Don't we all know someone in our lives who likes to be miserable all the time? This statement seemed to be maddeningly accurate when I read about the actions of the characters. Besides the assimilation story, another interesting subplot was about how Haitians don't view themselves as Black. But white Americans do.
Touching Snow is a powerful, compelling debut novel. M. Sindy Felin is truly gifted in that, she injects some light-hearted moments into this novel that threatens to suck you into an abyss of sadness. The apathy of the well crafted characters is so frustrating, you will be absolutely riveted. The worst and best part is that the reader will be able to sympathize or at least understand all the characters and the motives behind their actions. There are some loose ends (nothing too suspenseful), but not everything is wrapped up neatly in life either. My emotions in reading Touching Snow ranged from apprehension to sadness to anger. Although, the very last chapter made me smile (let's just say that the person Karina is telling this story to is a pleasant surprise
I hated this book. Yup, you read that sentence right. But it gets a 5/5. I hated that a story like this one needs to be told. I hate that parents abuse their kids and that husbands abuse their wives (and in the rare case, the wife abuses the husband). I don't want these incidents to happen anymore. I hate that this novel made me want to cry and that oftentimes, I forgot that happiness does exist in the world. I hate the Daddy and at some point I got fed up with all the adults in Touching Snow as well. I also grew angry at Karina, her two sisters and her cousins.
I was amazed by this book (it just seems wrong to say I loved this book). I love that the author wrote about a story that needs to be told, from a different perspective. There are few books on child abuse told from the perspective of an immigrant and their family. The issues run a lot deeper. I wholeheartedly believe that it would be easier for a woman born and raised in America to leave her abusive husband than it would be for a recently arrived immigrant from (insert country name here, specifically a 3rd world or an under developed country) to leave her abusive husband. I loved most of the characters in this novel. Karina lives with her mother, the Daddy (her stepfather), her mother, her older sister Enid, her younger sister Delta, her younger brothers Gerald and Roland, Jack and Joseph (her two cousins) and their aunt, Merlude (Jack and Joseph's mom). Karina is completely crazy and yet she can be very rational. She makes up some strange stories and gets herself into odd situations but she is very determined and resourceful. Her oldest sister Enid is fantastic. Enid really steps up and takes care of the house while their mother works long hours. She protects her relatives when she can and she' makes big sacrifices for them. From Karina's Menudo-obsessed friend Rachel (who happens to be white) to the mysterious Augustin to the Daddy's brother, Uncle Jude, all the characters are fleshed out.
Touching Snow is intense. Honestly, I'm glad I didn't have the time to finish this novel in one sitting because I needed a break from it, to see some happiness and sunshine. Obviously a story about child abuse is going to produce a strong reaction in anyone, but I think the reason this novel really resonated with me is because the author did such a great job with the details. She doesn't shy away from anything and her choice of words to describe the injuries inflicted by the Daddy make it painstakingly clear and vivid in the reader's mind. At the same time, she managed to make me smile through the pain. While we are reading about the abuse, we are also learning about Haiti and its culture and how difficult it is to be an immigrant in America. One of my favorite lines from the novel is when Karina is explaining about her extended family: "Gran and Aunt Jacqueline are more like sisters than mother and daughter, and they don't get along at all, but they live together. My cousin Edner says that's because Haitian people like to torture themselves. They're so used to being miserable that whenever they aren't, they have to go find something to be miserable about. He says that's why Aunt Jacqueline-that's his mom-went and got Gran from Haiti. After Aunt Jacqueline's first husband died, she didn't have anyone to fight with except her kids, and that wasn't enough." (pg.73) Doesn't this sound like someone you know? Ignore the Haitian part for the moment. Don't we all know someone in our lives who likes to be miserable all the time? This statement seemed to be maddeningly accurate when I read about the actions of the characters. Besides the assimilation story, another interesting subplot was about how Haitians don't view themselves as Black. But white Americans do.
Touching Snow is a powerful, compelling debut novel. M. Sindy Felin is truly gifted in that, she injects some light-hearted moments into this novel that threatens to suck you into an abyss of sadness. The apathy of the well crafted characters is so frustrating, you will be absolutely riveted. The worst and best part is that the reader will be able to sympathize or at least understand all the characters and the motives behind their actions. There are some loose ends (nothing too suspenseful), but not everything is wrapped up neatly in life either. My emotions in reading Touching Snow ranged from apprehension to sadness to anger. Although, the very last chapter made me smile (let's just say that the person Karina is telling this story to is a pleasant surprise
July 4, 2023
This book was so unexplainably and unexpectedly good. I was skeptical going into it, but once I started it I would read for an hour if not more when I had the time. I will say that I didn’t quite expect the queer relationship that popped up, but I really enjoyed it. I really liked the story and by the end I felt connected to all the characters. Reading about the abuse was definitely disturbing, but I think it was necessary for me to realize just what some people go through. Loved this book and would read it again. 5/5 stars.
February 5, 2018
Wow. Very good. I could hardly put this down. From the beginning you know that Karina does something that kills “The Daddy” I couldn’t stop reading until I knew the how. From the minute you meet him in this book you know why it can’t come soon enough. There are lots of f-bombs and a little confusion about sexuality for our hero Karina. There’s lots and lots of brutal child abuse. Karina’s family are Haitian immigrants living in the suburbs of New York.
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October 2, 2019Touching snow is a great book. It made see that i am lucky to have the parents i have. i would recommend it for people that like drama to read it because they will really love it. If you want to find out how this little girl and her siblings get away from being hit in a very abusive way by the step dad read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2019
emotional but teaches real-life lessons...goes through abuse and fear and finally being confident..
April 26, 2021
Very fast paced book that doesn't shy away from real violence and issues.
January 2, 2022
Read this book as a young adult. I think high school, resonated a lot with me as a Haitian American. Funny, sad, heartwarming. What else do you need?
May 26, 2022
Haitian immigrant teen struggling in New York state with abusive stepfather and mother. I was immersed in this story and it shares a powerful perspective on immigrant experience and constraints.
May 14, 2010
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin, was a one of a kind book. I have never read anything like it. Its like slavery, but "the daddy" is their owner. Karina, the main character of the book, is an 8th grade girl. The fact that she does so poorly in school adds up to all her stresses at home. Karina and her two sisters, Delta and Enid, are responsible of taking care of the younger children, the little brothers and the twins. The Daddy beats up the children all the time if anything is not the way he wants it to be.
After a very serious beat up of Enid, the daddy ends up in jail. But the community people bail him out, assuming that he was innocent because Karina's mom made up a lie saying that karina was the one that beat up Enid of the, after fighting with her over something. So eventually the Daddy gets away with beating up Enid like a dog and making her bleed all over.
The daddy treats the kids like they are his puppies. You don't even hit your puppies like that; he treats them even worse than dogs. And the whole concept is really sad because their mom doesnt really do anything about it. Sure she got really mad at the Daddy when he beat the living hell out of Enid, but she let him back into their lives after all that. I know that she cares deep down but like she could have left him in the jail. But I get why she did that. Karina's mo can't lead on this life without a mate that would support her family. And i totally understand that, but the thing is, the way her husband treats her kids are very, very harsh.
When the Daddy was about to beat up Karina, it was really brave of Enid to shoot him or stab him or whatever she did back there. I don't know if I could've done the same thing. And then when Karina told Enid to leave with her boyfriend, Mickey, and never come back, I was just like, "Wow! did she just tell her sister to leave and never come back?" I was in complete shock. And then when Karina took charge and burned the house up and everything I was like, "Damn! This girl got guts."
Karina's friend Rachel from the volunteering work was a very interesting flavor to the whole story. The first time I found out that Karina was lesbian I was like woah. And when they made out, it kind of grossed me out to be honest. When rachel was first introduced, I thought that she was one of those really stuck up girls that were spoiled and ended up getting grounded. But I was wrong. It turned out to be that Rachel also had problems. She couldn't fit in, just like Karina, at school. Karina got beat up everyday in school by bullies and everyone mad fun of her. She didnt even have any friends. While meanwhile, Rachel's friends thought that she was a pussy because she wouldnt do it with this guy.
The way Rachel and Karina became so close was very nice. Especially that one time when Karina gave Rachel a present and she put in on her windowsill, giving the sign that she won't be sneaking out anmore. With all the problems in Karina's life, it probably feels nice to know that she could always come to someone that would make her feel special and welcome. And I'm not exactly sure about this, but i think that Rachel and Karina were going out, which kind of officially freaked me out.
This book was a very nice book, that helped me escape the real world and it was very intruging. I don't really like reading unless the book is really good, and this was a really, really good book. I recommend it too everyone. This is a book that all reader's would like, if they like books on reailty, this is a book that is very serious reality.
After a very serious beat up of Enid, the daddy ends up in jail. But the community people bail him out, assuming that he was innocent because Karina's mom made up a lie saying that karina was the one that beat up Enid of the, after fighting with her over something. So eventually the Daddy gets away with beating up Enid like a dog and making her bleed all over.
The daddy treats the kids like they are his puppies. You don't even hit your puppies like that; he treats them even worse than dogs. And the whole concept is really sad because their mom doesnt really do anything about it. Sure she got really mad at the Daddy when he beat the living hell out of Enid, but she let him back into their lives after all that. I know that she cares deep down but like she could have left him in the jail. But I get why she did that. Karina's mo can't lead on this life without a mate that would support her family. And i totally understand that, but the thing is, the way her husband treats her kids are very, very harsh.
When the Daddy was about to beat up Karina, it was really brave of Enid to shoot him or stab him or whatever she did back there. I don't know if I could've done the same thing. And then when Karina told Enid to leave with her boyfriend, Mickey, and never come back, I was just like, "Wow! did she just tell her sister to leave and never come back?" I was in complete shock. And then when Karina took charge and burned the house up and everything I was like, "Damn! This girl got guts."
Karina's friend Rachel from the volunteering work was a very interesting flavor to the whole story. The first time I found out that Karina was lesbian I was like woah. And when they made out, it kind of grossed me out to be honest. When rachel was first introduced, I thought that she was one of those really stuck up girls that were spoiled and ended up getting grounded. But I was wrong. It turned out to be that Rachel also had problems. She couldn't fit in, just like Karina, at school. Karina got beat up everyday in school by bullies and everyone mad fun of her. She didnt even have any friends. While meanwhile, Rachel's friends thought that she was a pussy because she wouldnt do it with this guy.
The way Rachel and Karina became so close was very nice. Especially that one time when Karina gave Rachel a present and she put in on her windowsill, giving the sign that she won't be sneaking out anmore. With all the problems in Karina's life, it probably feels nice to know that she could always come to someone that would make her feel special and welcome. And I'm not exactly sure about this, but i think that Rachel and Karina were going out, which kind of officially freaked me out.
This book was a very nice book, that helped me escape the real world and it was very intruging. I don't really like reading unless the book is really good, and this was a really, really good book. I recommend it too everyone. This is a book that all reader's would like, if they like books on reailty, this is a book that is very serious reality.
October 29, 2014
I didn't care much at all for the first half of this book; I thought it was rather dysfunctional and not very gripping, but the second half was outstanding. The ending was rather vague, but still very satisfying, and it did a good job closing the generally gritty story on a happy note. This is the author's debut novel of course, and therefore we can't expect this to be amazing, although I see great promise in her. This is an author I will probably track, because her prose really is outstanding, and I found it nice that she tackled such heavy subjects so well in her first novel. The characters were built up very well, although there are absolutely zero adults that are good role models. The Haitian culture is a little hard to understand at times, but the author did a pretty good job of explaining why the family acted the way that they did. I would have liked the book to be a little longer, because I felt like it ended just when it was getting good. As I've said before, I didn't like the first half very much, but the book got exponentially better as it progressed, and I was sorry to see it come to such an abrupt close. I think the relationship between Karina and Rachael could have been explored a lot more, and the storyline still had a lot of promise to it. I suppose that it's a good thing that the book didn't go on too long and milk the characters and plot dry before it ended like a lot of YA books do these days, but I was left wanting more.
So I rated the book two stars for the first half, and four stars for the second half, which should be three stars, but as a whole it actually has a pretty lasting impact. I'm really excited to see what this author does next, but she wasn't quite there with this novel.
So I rated the book two stars for the first half, and four stars for the second half, which should be three stars, but as a whole it actually has a pretty lasting impact. I'm really excited to see what this author does next, but she wasn't quite there with this novel.
May 4, 2009
(Best Books YA, controversial)
This was an interesting book with a unique main character. Karina is Haitian and is part of a large family. She and her sisters are regularly and viciously beaten by their stepfather for various, harmless misdeeds. The story begins with him almost beating the oldest girl to death because one of the kids forgot to flush the toilet. Karina’s mom and extended family threaten her so she won’t turn in the stepfather. She stays away from her house as much as possible, to avoid being beaten, and begins a relationship with Rachel. It is this relationship that leads to the harrowing climatic situation.
Karina is a relatable character. She is stuck in a situation she cannot get out of and feels there is no one who can help her. She finds solace in storytelling and so she can easily make up stories about her perfect home life. Teens can relate to feeling trapped and hopefully Karina can bring them hope. Even in the midst of the abuse, she finds someone to love. Teens will understand Karina’s sense of survival at any costs and how she finally finds the courage to protect her family.
This book is set in the Haitian culture, and Karina sets up the family dynamic nicely. The first few pages of the book pull you right in, so I would read those aloud. The cover is not enough to draw you in, so I would have to describe the premise to pique reader interests.
4Q, 4P, J/S
This was an interesting book with a unique main character. Karina is Haitian and is part of a large family. She and her sisters are regularly and viciously beaten by their stepfather for various, harmless misdeeds. The story begins with him almost beating the oldest girl to death because one of the kids forgot to flush the toilet. Karina’s mom and extended family threaten her so she won’t turn in the stepfather. She stays away from her house as much as possible, to avoid being beaten, and begins a relationship with Rachel. It is this relationship that leads to the harrowing climatic situation.
Karina is a relatable character. She is stuck in a situation she cannot get out of and feels there is no one who can help her. She finds solace in storytelling and so she can easily make up stories about her perfect home life. Teens can relate to feeling trapped and hopefully Karina can bring them hope. Even in the midst of the abuse, she finds someone to love. Teens will understand Karina’s sense of survival at any costs and how she finally finds the courage to protect her family.
This book is set in the Haitian culture, and Karina sets up the family dynamic nicely. The first few pages of the book pull you right in, so I would read those aloud. The cover is not enough to draw you in, so I would have to describe the premise to pique reader interests.
4Q, 4P, J/S
February 24, 2009
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
Karina and her sisters are terribly physically abused by their step-father. Their mother stays with him for the financial security. Eventually he is taken away for child abuse after severely beating Karina’s older sister, but he ends up back with the family after Karina is forced to claim she was the one who beat up her sister. Although the children try not to provoke “the Daddy” (this was their way to meet the requirement of calling him daddy), he would always explode and beat somebody up while the others hid in the bathroom. Eventually they could take no more. They got rid of the Daddy – forever.
Aspects that appeal to teens:
Child murders step-father, reality of abuse, not afraid to talk about it.
Will teens relate:
Yes. Way too many children have been abused or know somebody who has.
Developmental areas:
Lack of family support, youth programs, caring, responsibility, interpersonal competence.
Believable or not:
Yes. The reality of the situation with the abuse makes it believable. Even the murder is believable, although not many situations end up that way.
How promote book to teens:
Child murders her step-father.
VOYA codes
3Q3PMJS
Karina and her sisters are terribly physically abused by their step-father. Their mother stays with him for the financial security. Eventually he is taken away for child abuse after severely beating Karina’s older sister, but he ends up back with the family after Karina is forced to claim she was the one who beat up her sister. Although the children try not to provoke “the Daddy” (this was their way to meet the requirement of calling him daddy), he would always explode and beat somebody up while the others hid in the bathroom. Eventually they could take no more. They got rid of the Daddy – forever.
Aspects that appeal to teens:
Child murders step-father, reality of abuse, not afraid to talk about it.
Will teens relate:
Yes. Way too many children have been abused or know somebody who has.
Developmental areas:
Lack of family support, youth programs, caring, responsibility, interpersonal competence.
Believable or not:
Yes. The reality of the situation with the abuse makes it believable. Even the murder is believable, although not many situations end up that way.
How promote book to teens:
Child murders her step-father.
VOYA codes
3Q3PMJS
January 31, 2011
Felin's book is a gripping story of abuse and resilience and protecting what is most important. Karina is a wonderful main character, both spirited and redemptive, and "the Daddy" is a distantly drawn but satisfying villain. Touching Snow would make a nice companion piece to Sapphire's novel, Push. Felin does a similar job of realistically rendering the horror of living in an abusive home, and while her book, of course, is much more appropriate for younger readers, it is similarly touching and inspiring.
I won't give anything away, but I especially liked the narrative technique, particularly effective once you get to the end. This story of Karina and her sisters is not only heartfelt and real; it is also quite well written.
I was disappointed with the author's choice to poorly represent special ed classes, and it is one of the things that keeps me from wanting to sing the book's praises. Karina's fear of entering "retard classes" was probably legitimate for her teenage mind, but for teenage readers, it will probably only do more damage in labeling students with learning disabilities.
In the end, I didn't ever really want to put the book down, and would have been happier with many more pages. I look forward to more novels from Felin.
I won't give anything away, but I especially liked the narrative technique, particularly effective once you get to the end. This story of Karina and her sisters is not only heartfelt and real; it is also quite well written.
I was disappointed with the author's choice to poorly represent special ed classes, and it is one of the things that keeps me from wanting to sing the book's praises. Karina's fear of entering "retard classes" was probably legitimate for her teenage mind, but for teenage readers, it will probably only do more damage in labeling students with learning disabilities.
In the end, I didn't ever really want to put the book down, and would have been happier with many more pages. I look forward to more novels from Felin.
April 12, 2009
This is a brave book that I imagine will be banned form many reading lists. It puts a magnifying glass onto domestic violence with a brutal portrayal. Not only are the descriptions of the beatings themselves graphic, but the psychological implementations are unearthed as well, with Karina’s fainting spells and Delta’s bedwetting problems. If that weren’t enough to raise the conservative parent’s eyebrow, the text also deals with a developing lesbian relationship, which has been generally taboo in the realm of kid’s books.
However, the text clearly deserves its nomination for the National Book Award, and as grim as the story becomes, the text is powerful. It’s important for children to know that even other children have to endure terrible situations and make difficult choices in over to protect themselves and overcome. Felin walks a very fine line between the content and the take-away messages, and had she not done such a masterful job of creating the story, there would be a lot more red flags for this book. I recommend this text to readers 13+.
-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com
However, the text clearly deserves its nomination for the National Book Award, and as grim as the story becomes, the text is powerful. It’s important for children to know that even other children have to endure terrible situations and make difficult choices in over to protect themselves and overcome. Felin walks a very fine line between the content and the take-away messages, and had she not done such a masterful job of creating the story, there would be a lot more red flags for this book. I recommend this text to readers 13+.
-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com
September 22, 2010
I didn't hate it with a fiery passion like most of my other one stars, but I didn't like it.
Why, you ask? Because it was just a waste of time. The main character was very annoying, and the author didn't make her pain relatable in the least. It was just like, "Oh, he hit me hard. I fell and got hurt really bad. I was sad and scared." There were no emotions behind the words, it was just boring.
It seemed as if the character just couldn't give a crap. Plus, she was just freaky. Any character that likes to smell (and I believe she also licked) random people's hair has issues. The plot was dumb. The main issue was discussed, but not in the way it should have been. Plus, it had a shoddy, cookie-cutter conclusion that was both predictable and unrealistic.
It just wasn't good. I can't believe this was national book award finalist.
SEMI-SPOILER: What was up with that the whole lesbian thing? It's was just like, "Erm... okay." One minute her friend is talking about getting jiggy with it with some guy named Larry, and then she's sucking face and looking at female porn with the main character. That was completely unnecessary.
Why, you ask? Because it was just a waste of time. The main character was very annoying, and the author didn't make her pain relatable in the least. It was just like, "Oh, he hit me hard. I fell and got hurt really bad. I was sad and scared." There were no emotions behind the words, it was just boring.
It seemed as if the character just couldn't give a crap. Plus, she was just freaky. Any character that likes to smell (and I believe she also licked) random people's hair has issues. The plot was dumb. The main issue was discussed, but not in the way it should have been. Plus, it had a shoddy, cookie-cutter conclusion that was both predictable and unrealistic.
It just wasn't good. I can't believe this was national book award finalist.
SEMI-SPOILER: What was up with that the whole lesbian thing? It's was just like, "Erm... okay." One minute her friend is talking about getting jiggy with it with some guy named Larry, and then she's sucking face and looking at female porn with the main character. That was completely unnecessary.
November 5, 2007
While I can't fault the quality of writing, pacing, character development, or level of intensity (talk about an intense jumpstart!) of this book, it's just not my kind of thing. It's the type of story I would NEVER have picked up as a teen - gritty, realistic, depicting abuse. I couldn't even make it through Cynthia Voigt's Homecoming as a teen. I picked it up since it's a National Book Award finalist, got through the intro and the major abuse scene, and put it back down. I had my doubts about finishing it. I read some other things. Then I picked it up again and actually got into it. The story got rolling, there were interesting character revelations, a complex family dynamic, a sense of setting and perspective (Haitian immigrants in NY, 1986). The majority of the violence and abuse was contained in those first chapters, and even the violence of the climax was relatively tame in comparison. I would recommend this to teens who like intense, realistic stories, true crime, that kind of thing. It's a strong book.
October 24, 2009
Writer M. Sindy Felin uses a composed character, Karina, to infuse her own personal experiences and fiction to depict hard struggles that are hidden in scarred households. Growing up in a Haitian immigrant house protagonist, Karina deals with much conflict. She deals with assimilation issues, adolescent struggles and abuse as a young girl in suburban New York. The overall conflict of ‘Touching Snow’ is the matter of abuse inflicted on Karina’s family by her ‘Daddy’, Gaston. Karina herself deals with much of the stress of being beaten by her stepfather after her oldest sister is detrimentally hurt in his violent rage. Karina deals with an internal and external conflict. She has to be silent and obedient as children in her culture are expected to be, though she knows the beatings and mistreatment are far from principled. She also fights with the daily fatigue of ill-treatment. Through a guided fate she kills her stepfather and frees herself as well as her family, overcoming her conflicts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2007
A very powerful book about child abuse and immigrant families, with a kicker of a first line: "The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone." Karina lives with her Haitian immigrant mother, 2 sisters, young brother, and cousins in a cramped apartment. The other person in the family is the mean abusive stepfather she calls "The Daddy." He beats them on a daily basis, for not eating all their dinner (when their mother always makes too much food, because she's paranoid from years of starving in Haiti) or other minor infractions, just to maintain his power over them. The oldest girl is even badly burned as a result of one "beatup", but the mother won't report him because she's worried social services will split up the family. It's a very hard book to read, but it's ultimately affirming as Karina and Enid learn to stand up for themselves and finally break out of the bad situation.
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