A Perfect Snow

by Nora Martin

Seventeen-year-old Ben has just moved from a ranch where his dad was the foreman, to a trailer park where his dad doesn't have a job. His dad has befriended a local mechanic who runs what seems to be a men's support group but is in fact a white supremacist organization. At first Ben finds it easy to believe the rhetoric and is soon blaming gays, Jews and other groups for all his problems. Ben and his brother, David participate in the group's horrible activities, but with the help of new friends who challenge his thinking, Ben soon realizes the danger in propagating hatred. Ben may be able to save himself, but has his younger brother already gone too far?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2002

Reviews

[Abby Stopka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is extremely hard for me to review. You have to read this book and interpret it for yourself. It definitely puts an interesting spin on racism and how you feel about

[Marita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella is the story of Ben, the older son in a family down on their luck and living in a trailer park on the outskirts of a small town in Montana. Ben, his father's favourite, is feeling the injustice of his dad being out of work and of being looked down upon for being "trailer trash". He is troubled by the behaviour of younger brother, David, but ironically it is Ben who lets himself be manipulated into involvement in a racist hate group. But one night he recognises that he has gone too far. As Ben steps back from the group, forms a relationship with a new girl in town and develops a friendship with a rich kid he wanted to hate, David slips into the space Ben has vacated.

A Perfect Snow describes Ben's developing consciousness and the effect his actions have on others in a poetic manner. There is probably too much happening in too short a time to be totally convinced by Ben's conversion, but the symmetry works somehow. Martin's language is lyrical and she uses metaphor to good effect. The complexities of Ben's family are only touched upon but are there strongly in the background. The book also explores what it means to belong in a number of ways - to family, to a place and to significant others - and also what can become of those who feel they don't belong.

[Cari · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Perfect Snow is a thought-provoking young adult book about an impoverished teenager who finds himself caught up with a white supremist group in his home town. Ben feels like an outsider from the wrong side of the tracks and finds a sense of empowerment in committing acts of vandalism against people from different ethnic groups that he is convinced are to blame for all of the problems in his town and country. As his younger brother David becomes involved in the group, however, he starts to see the neo-Nazi beliefs and actions in a new light that fills him with guilt and an overwhelming inner-conflict. These feelings grow as he also starts to date a girl with a wealthy family and befriends a rich kid that he used to hate. As his relationships grow with two of the people he used to target, he starts to wonder what else he was wrong about and whether or not he has any power to fix things.

It was interesting to see how the characters of Ben and David both changed and grew throughout the book. A Perfect Snow also has some great lessons about the ignorance of blindly following the beliefs of others and buying in to prejudices. Overall, it was a short read with a good message. ☆☆☆

[Alex S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book my sophomore English class read. It is about a young boy named Ben who is disaffected with society. He fels oppressed by other races. His bother David, however, feels oppressed by Ben. Ben and David eventually find themselves in th midst of a hate group that seems to cater to what Ben and David think. But when Ben gets a girlfriend he starts to realize his flaws while David delves deeper into the hate. All in all it was a very interesting realistic fiction story. It not only explored the existince of Nazism in society but explored the inner thoughts of a troubled teen and consequently forced some introspection.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes we believe good and evil are simply opposites, and everyone falls into one camp or the other. "A Perfect Snow" reminds us that in between absolutes is where most of life happens, that kids make mistakes AND should know better, that parents are flawed AND lovable, that romance is both thrilling AND risky. Although it is thin, I'll come back to this book again and again because she handles her characters with such honesty. Non-readers may be able to get through this one AND enjoy it.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising tale of a teenager's growth and change over several months during a winter in Montana.

[Robin R Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting little book with surprisingly realistic portrayals of youthful thinking. Captures the beauty of winter in Montana.

[~Shelby~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Perfect Snow, by Nora Martin is about Ben, a High School student who moves from Montana to a small town. When Ben moved he just wanted to fit in so when he met Chuck and Travis he thought he was doing something right. Then Ben got into a couple fights and vandalized a bunch of properties. Once he realized that his choices were not wise at all, he started to change, he hug out with different people and changed his personality.
When Ben met Chuck and Travis(the bad guys) he turned into one of them. He even threw a couple punches at Jason Johnson, when he did that the two of them had to do community service. The two begin to get along so they started to hang out with Eden(Bens girlfriend). So he didn’t have any time to hang out with Chuck and Travis, but his kid brother David did. The three of them were almost completely unstoppable.
I rate this book a four because it keep me wanting to read, it had a lot of great energy.

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very short book and quick to read - 144 pages - did it in two sittings. It was good for YA. It definitely shows how teens can get caught up in events that should best be left alone. The main character gets caught up in a group of people that use violence and vandalism to show supremacy over minority groups and how his conscience finally kicks in to see the real wrong in his doings, especially when his younger brother gets involved and really likes how it makes him feel. It ends well b/c he confesses his dealings, pays the consequences and travels a righter road. He also finds out what it is to really see people for who they are and not just what he thinks they are. A good lesson book for all.

[Katie Acosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. The story follows a high school boy, Ben, who begins to get involved in a hate group and has a change of heart while his brother continues with the group. There is a rather substantial sub plot about falling for a girl who predictably finds out and breaks up with him. While I liked the girl, Eden, as a character, I felt that Bens relationship with the rich boy, enemy turned friend,
Jason was much more interesting and life changing for Ben. I could see where the story could have gone if Ben had come clean with Jason instead of Eden. Also the end seemed a little flat, it didn't give you the satisfaction i wanted in catching the bad guys and teaching them a lesson.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about these guys (Johnson, David, and Chuck) who went to school with each other. They always did everything together. One day something happened that changed there whole relationship with one another. They always make fun of David and is always calling him a redneck and saying that he is dumb. He fixes ranches for a living. They always watch him to make sure that he is doing it. The other two guys sit around and watch him. As soon as he starts working for them a while, something devastating happens. Will they come and give a helping hand to one another to save each other's lives?

[Max · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I didn't quite like this book. Perhaps it's just that the redemption of the main character feels uneven--it's meant to be a book that raises social awareness in the teens that read it (I'm assuming) but doesn't quite go far enough in painting the emotional and intellectual journey from one extreme to the other. His change of heart felt somewhat unreal and vague compared to the vitriolic hate that is quite strongly portrayed in the narrator at the beginning and through other characters throughout.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think is a wonderful book. this book is about two brothers that used to be so close and now they are each other worse enemies. this book tells you about ganmgs, love life, and bully. also it tells you about family. in this book this family really didnt get alone since their dad lost his job as a former and they had to move to another city.

you would love this book just like i did, and im one of those person that like dont really like to read but this book is really good and it would keep you bussy. hiope that you enjoy the book just like like i did.

[Ariana Dragone · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was ok. i didn't want to read it at first but once i had to for english class and had no other book to read i actually became interested in it. it was ok. not the greatest book. actually kind of boring at times.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this bok last year for english. It was about to brothers who get a little caught up in racial acts. While one brother accually realizes the damage he is doing to people, the other falls deeper into the hatred of other races. Overal this was a very interesting book.

[Alex Niemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nora Martin writes a fiction novel that captures reader’s attention from the beginning. Her story demonstrates how social ideas are developed by the attitudes of people in a society. This story is about the modern day judgment of a certain group of individuals.

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quick book...more for teenage readers than adults

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my book review

[Kyle]

good book

[Drea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5...maybe 4. I'm still thinking on it.

[Rory A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!! I love this book, its short and as soon as you pick it up you wount be able to stop its so good! READ IT!

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a good read!