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The Winter Place
There is a middle world between life and death, and Tess must navigate it to save her brother in this heart-wrenching story infused with the fractured and fantastical realms of Finnish mysticism.
Axel and Tess are bewildered when a stranger shows up in their backyard accompanied by a giant brown bear, but before they can investigate the bizarre encounter, something more harrowing happens: their father is killed in a freak car accident.
Now orphaned, Tess and Axel are shipped off to Finland to live with grandparents who they’ve never met, and are stunned to discover that the mysterious stranger with the bear has found them again. More stunning—they come to understand that this man isn’t really a man…he’s a keeper of souls. And the bear isn’t really a bear…it’s a ghost. Their mother’s ghost. Wandering, endlessly, searching for their father.
Then the Keeper invites Axel, who is fighting his symptoms of muscular dystrophy, to join the path of the dead—and when Axel disappears into the deep snow, Tess knows she must find a way to follow. There are mysteries connected to this peculiar man, this keeper, and if she can untangle them, she might not only save Axel, but also bring her parents peace.
Axel and Tess are bewildered when a stranger shows up in their backyard accompanied by a giant brown bear, but before they can investigate the bizarre encounter, something more harrowing happens: their father is killed in a freak car accident.
Now orphaned, Tess and Axel are shipped off to Finland to live with grandparents who they’ve never met, and are stunned to discover that the mysterious stranger with the bear has found them again. More stunning—they come to understand that this man isn’t really a man…he’s a keeper of souls. And the bear isn’t really a bear…it’s a ghost. Their mother’s ghost. Wandering, endlessly, searching for their father.
Then the Keeper invites Axel, who is fighting his symptoms of muscular dystrophy, to join the path of the dead—and when Axel disappears into the deep snow, Tess knows she must find a way to follow. There are mysteries connected to this peculiar man, this keeper, and if she can untangle them, she might not only save Axel, but also bring her parents peace.
Paperback
First published October 27, 2015
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About the author
Alexander Yates
8 books153 followersAlexander Yates grew up in Haiti, Mexico and Bolivia. He graduated high school in the Philippines, where he later returned to work as a contractor in the US Embassy. He holds an MFA from Syracuse University, where he edited the literary journal Salt Hill and won Joyce Carol Oates awards in fiction and poetry. His fiction and reviews have appeared in Salon, American Fiction, Fivechapters.com and the Kenyon Review Online. He currently lives in Vietnam.
If you'd like to contact Alex, the best way to do so is on insta or twitter, where is can be found at @theotheryates
If you'd like to contact Alex, the best way to do so is on insta or twitter, where is can be found at @theotheryates
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 4, 2015
http://melissa413readsalot.blogspot.c...
This book was so amazing. I first saw the cover and new I had to have it and when I read the blurb it sounded really good. And let me tell you it was good. Now, if your looking for some big ole action book, this is not it. This is about a boy and girl that have to go through some tough things, ghosts and random other creepy weirdness that I just loved!
Tess and her little brother Axel have to go live in Finland with grandparents they never knew existed after their father dies. They had already lost their mother many years ago, the one grandfather they had that lived in Florida couldn't take them for his own reasons. So, their landlady Mrs. Ridgeland lets them say with her a couple of nights for the funeral and getting ready to travel. "People in this book are not what they seem!"
So the kids go to live with Jaana (grandmother) and Otso (grandfather) in a tiny little flat in Finland, but they only stay there for a few days before they go off for a little vacation at the grandparents cabin in another part of Finland that the grandparents called The Winter Place.
Axel seems to have visions.... or are they visions.. what is really going on? He has seen a bear in their yard looking in their window even before their dad died. Then Axel and Tess run into a man that is the bears keeper. What is strange, is that the man and bear show up at The Winter Place.....
The bear isn't a threat to anyone, but she is something else. God, I want to do spoilers!
So there is a world that is for the dead and Axel can see this world. He also has a freaking haunted wheelchair that follows him around...YES..a wheelchair. I'm not going to tell you why.
Axel has been warned not to keep walking into the land of the dead but he doesn't listen, he has his reasons. He goes to a house in the woods... he's sees all kinds of ghosts in the woods, but he is on a mission.
Some really messed up things happen that result in learning about another keeper, a death and another almost death. I just loved it, but it is for younger people so think about that when you go to read it. I read everything so I don't care :)
The characters are very well developed and I enjoyed all of them. I think this was a well put together book and the creep factor with the world of the living and the world of the dead makes a very good story line!
I would love to just go and visit.. not encounter not land of the dead though! Just take in some normal Winter scenery! :)
This book was so amazing. I first saw the cover and new I had to have it and when I read the blurb it sounded really good. And let me tell you it was good. Now, if your looking for some big ole action book, this is not it. This is about a boy and girl that have to go through some tough things, ghosts and random other creepy weirdness that I just loved!
Tess and her little brother Axel have to go live in Finland with grandparents they never knew existed after their father dies. They had already lost their mother many years ago, the one grandfather they had that lived in Florida couldn't take them for his own reasons. So, their landlady Mrs. Ridgeland lets them say with her a couple of nights for the funeral and getting ready to travel. "People in this book are not what they seem!"
So the kids go to live with Jaana (grandmother) and Otso (grandfather) in a tiny little flat in Finland, but they only stay there for a few days before they go off for a little vacation at the grandparents cabin in another part of Finland that the grandparents called The Winter Place.
Axel seems to have visions.... or are they visions.. what is really going on? He has seen a bear in their yard looking in their window even before their dad died. Then Axel and Tess run into a man that is the bears keeper. What is strange, is that the man and bear show up at The Winter Place.....
The bear isn't a threat to anyone, but she is something else. God, I want to do spoilers!
So there is a world that is for the dead and Axel can see this world. He also has a freaking haunted wheelchair that follows him around...YES..a wheelchair. I'm not going to tell you why.
Axel has been warned not to keep walking into the land of the dead but he doesn't listen, he has his reasons. He goes to a house in the woods... he's sees all kinds of ghosts in the woods, but he is on a mission.
Some really messed up things happen that result in learning about another keeper, a death and another almost death. I just loved it, but it is for younger people so think about that when you go to read it. I read everything so I don't care :)
The characters are very well developed and I enjoyed all of them. I think this was a well put together book and the creep factor with the world of the living and the world of the dead makes a very good story line!
I would love to just go and visit.. not encounter not land of the dead though! Just take in some normal Winter scenery! :)
January 3, 2016
A promising setup that just doesn't follow through.
Tess and Axel, the children of an American man who has raised them alone since the death of his Finnish wife, lose their father to a car accident. On the same night that this happens they have a strange encounter with a huge man called the Keeper who is followed by a brown bear. In the aftermath of their father's accident they meet their maternal Finnish grandparents and find out that they are being moved to Finland. When they get there, Tess in particular clashes with their grandparents and they have a difficult adaptation to their new circumstances. Axel adapts better, but has further encounters with the enigmatic Keeper and the bear that he learns is the ghost of his mother.
Obviously heart-breaking subject matter dealing with life and death and the grief of young children and new families, the setup is solid. Particularly given that Axel suffers from the same form of muscular dystrophy that killed his mother and that his Finnish grandfather suffers. The Finnish fairy-tale monster that pursues Axel throughout appears to him as a wheelchair, clearly the greatest fear of someone with his condition. However, the ghost story/fairy-tale that weaves through this takes over the main story and unfortunately neither that element or the family elements are satisfyingly resolved by the very abrupt ending.
Probably the most disappointing book I've read for some time because the first half has such promise.
Tess and Axel, the children of an American man who has raised them alone since the death of his Finnish wife, lose their father to a car accident. On the same night that this happens they have a strange encounter with a huge man called the Keeper who is followed by a brown bear. In the aftermath of their father's accident they meet their maternal Finnish grandparents and find out that they are being moved to Finland. When they get there, Tess in particular clashes with their grandparents and they have a difficult adaptation to their new circumstances. Axel adapts better, but has further encounters with the enigmatic Keeper and the bear that he learns is the ghost of his mother.
Obviously heart-breaking subject matter dealing with life and death and the grief of young children and new families, the setup is solid. Particularly given that Axel suffers from the same form of muscular dystrophy that killed his mother and that his Finnish grandfather suffers. The Finnish fairy-tale monster that pursues Axel throughout appears to him as a wheelchair, clearly the greatest fear of someone with his condition. However, the ghost story/fairy-tale that weaves through this takes over the main story and unfortunately neither that element or the family elements are satisfyingly resolved by the very abrupt ending.
Probably the most disappointing book I've read for some time because the first half has such promise.
October 13, 2015
Review by Beth
Steeped in Finnish mythology and some truly evocative settings, The Winter Place is a truly magical tale with a few scary moments perfectly put together. Tess and Axel go through things no children should have to. Not only are they already without a mother, their dad dies too and their entire world is turned upside down. Strangely, and what makes the novel so captivating and unique, just before their father dies both Tess and Axel see the mysterious Keeper who is accompanied by a bear and sets them a confusing challenge.
Once their dad dies and their only relative in America, Grandpa Paul, unfit to care for them, Axel and Tess are sent to Helsinki, to live with their Finnish grandparents, who they have no memory of and who Tess is sure their father had issues with. The prospect of moving to Helsinki has Tess reeling, Axel confused but ever-optimistic and finally Saara, their long-dead mother, also has an opinion about the change, with her own agenda in mind. It sounds more confusing than it is as the book is written so well all these elements blend together in a way that just works.
Once in Helsinki teenage Tess exerts all her will in battles with stern Jaana, their Finnish grandmother, whilst Axel is entirely fixated on other worries, both physical and otherworldly. On one level Axel has fears for his future, he has inherited the condition which killed his mother and means his Finnish grandfather Otso is in a wheelchair. It is a rare form of muscular dystrophy which has an unknown prognosis and we learn in the novel Axel has begun to be haunted by a phantom wheelchair which follows him everywhere he goes but only he can see. The scenes featuring the phantom wheelchair are what I was referring to when I mentioned scary moments at the beginning but they’re few and far between and add just the right amount of tension and fear to the narrative, Axel recognising his worst fears.
In Finland Axel finds the mysterious Keeper once more and he gets to know the bear on more personal terms or attempts to. He also learns all about the Hiisi, a kind of Finnish demon, and learns that’s what the phantom wheelchair is. He also learns more about death and the afterlife than any 10 year old should have to but his life experiences and uncertainty around his own life make it all completely fitting and it’s told in such an evocative and clever way that at no moment does it appear morbid.
The settings within this novel are what stand out most strongly, they are beautifully drawn and so vivid that they make Finland, Baldwin and even a shabby old trailer in Florida come alive. All of the settings of the story are connected and once again it’s cleverly and subtly done in a way which adds even more magic to the novel.
Whilst the novel switches from Tess to Axel’s perspectives it is Axel who sits at the heart of the novel and it’s Axel’s plight which is most compelling.
Original and like nothing else I’ve read before, it truly captivated me and I’m sure it would do the same for readers of all ages.
Steeped in Finnish mythology and some truly evocative settings, The Winter Place is a truly magical tale with a few scary moments perfectly put together. Tess and Axel go through things no children should have to. Not only are they already without a mother, their dad dies too and their entire world is turned upside down. Strangely, and what makes the novel so captivating and unique, just before their father dies both Tess and Axel see the mysterious Keeper who is accompanied by a bear and sets them a confusing challenge.
Once their dad dies and their only relative in America, Grandpa Paul, unfit to care for them, Axel and Tess are sent to Helsinki, to live with their Finnish grandparents, who they have no memory of and who Tess is sure their father had issues with. The prospect of moving to Helsinki has Tess reeling, Axel confused but ever-optimistic and finally Saara, their long-dead mother, also has an opinion about the change, with her own agenda in mind. It sounds more confusing than it is as the book is written so well all these elements blend together in a way that just works.
Once in Helsinki teenage Tess exerts all her will in battles with stern Jaana, their Finnish grandmother, whilst Axel is entirely fixated on other worries, both physical and otherworldly. On one level Axel has fears for his future, he has inherited the condition which killed his mother and means his Finnish grandfather Otso is in a wheelchair. It is a rare form of muscular dystrophy which has an unknown prognosis and we learn in the novel Axel has begun to be haunted by a phantom wheelchair which follows him everywhere he goes but only he can see. The scenes featuring the phantom wheelchair are what I was referring to when I mentioned scary moments at the beginning but they’re few and far between and add just the right amount of tension and fear to the narrative, Axel recognising his worst fears.
In Finland Axel finds the mysterious Keeper once more and he gets to know the bear on more personal terms or attempts to. He also learns all about the Hiisi, a kind of Finnish demon, and learns that’s what the phantom wheelchair is. He also learns more about death and the afterlife than any 10 year old should have to but his life experiences and uncertainty around his own life make it all completely fitting and it’s told in such an evocative and clever way that at no moment does it appear morbid.
The settings within this novel are what stand out most strongly, they are beautifully drawn and so vivid that they make Finland, Baldwin and even a shabby old trailer in Florida come alive. All of the settings of the story are connected and once again it’s cleverly and subtly done in a way which adds even more magic to the novel.
Whilst the novel switches from Tess to Axel’s perspectives it is Axel who sits at the heart of the novel and it’s Axel’s plight which is most compelling.
Original and like nothing else I’ve read before, it truly captivated me and I’m sure it would do the same for readers of all ages.
February 6, 2017
I don't know if it's a case of "it's not you, it's me" with this book, but whatever the reason is, "The Winter Place" by Alexander Yates didn't work for me.
And this despite starting out really promising. I loved the premise of the story and the first couple chapters were great but sadly, it soon started going downhill for me. And it didn't get better.
I couldn't connect with the characters. In my opinion they were one-dimensional and flat. They didn't evoke a single emotion in me other than annoyance.
Then there was the story. It was a great idea and I was looking forward to Finish mythology and lore. I don't feel like I've gotten what I was looking for. The more I read the more abstruse it got. By the end, I was constantly rolling my eyes.
I really wanted to love it and I wanted to connect with the characters, but there was just not anything to them that clicked with me.
But that even wasn't what put me off. I love when a story I read has a message. I don't care what the message is. It doesn't have to be profound or life-changing, but just to have a point to the story. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one in "The Winter Place." Everything become muddled and confusing by the end. I don't know if the story was supposed to tell us to find hope after loss, to share the beauty of the connection between family, to follow your dreams - I don't know. The story picked up a line of thought and then it lost it again. It might be different from others. Maybe it's just me who can't find the point or the message of this story. Maybe it was the wrong story and the wrong time. I don't know. But I know I ended up skimming the last 70 pages just to finish it.
A big issue for me was also the length. Not because I mind long books but because there was so much filler. I love when a book is atmospheric and sets the scene, when I can taste and smell and feel what the characters are feeling. But there is such a thing as too much description and that was definitely a problem here. There was a point where I actually yelled at the book "Yes, I know it's cold and there's snow in Finland in winter. I f***** get it." So yes, I might've been slightly frustrated.
And that's why overall this book wasn't for me.
2 I-really-tried-to-love-it stars.
And this despite starting out really promising. I loved the premise of the story and the first couple chapters were great but sadly, it soon started going downhill for me. And it didn't get better.
I couldn't connect with the characters. In my opinion they were one-dimensional and flat. They didn't evoke a single emotion in me other than annoyance.
Then there was the story. It was a great idea and I was looking forward to Finish mythology and lore. I don't feel like I've gotten what I was looking for. The more I read the more abstruse it got. By the end, I was constantly rolling my eyes.
I really wanted to love it and I wanted to connect with the characters, but there was just not anything to them that clicked with me.
But that even wasn't what put me off. I love when a story I read has a message. I don't care what the message is. It doesn't have to be profound or life-changing, but just to have a point to the story. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one in "The Winter Place." Everything become muddled and confusing by the end. I don't know if the story was supposed to tell us to find hope after loss, to share the beauty of the connection between family, to follow your dreams - I don't know. The story picked up a line of thought and then it lost it again. It might be different from others. Maybe it's just me who can't find the point or the message of this story. Maybe it was the wrong story and the wrong time. I don't know. But I know I ended up skimming the last 70 pages just to finish it.
A big issue for me was also the length. Not because I mind long books but because there was so much filler. I love when a book is atmospheric and sets the scene, when I can taste and smell and feel what the characters are feeling. But there is such a thing as too much description and that was definitely a problem here. There was a point where I actually yelled at the book "Yes, I know it's cold and there's snow in Finland in winter. I f***** get it." So yes, I might've been slightly frustrated.
And that's why overall this book wasn't for me.
2 I-really-tried-to-love-it stars.
January 1, 2016
Overall Rating 5 Stars
-Book Description: 4
-Cover: 3.5
-Plot: 5
-Creativity: 5
-Grammar: 4
-Simile Use: 5 (minimal usage)
-Description: 4 (very well written)
-Show And Tell Balance: 4
This is one of the few books I've picked up recently at a book store as opposed to Amazon, and I'm glad I did. Initially, the cover pulled me with it's glittery coloring and soft hues (however, the girl in the stock photo is slightly redundant, as she is on many covers). What made me buy the book, however, was the quote on the back of the book jacket. It was catchy and beautifully written. The description promised a tale of growth with a strong paranormal undertone, so I picked it up. The beginning of the book, as promised in the description, shows how Axel and his sister Tess become de facto orphans, and the vivid imagination of the youngest of the two. Axel is seeing things he shouldn't, and when they're hauled to Finland with grandparents they didn't know existed it follows him there. The plot of the book is interesting, but it is slow going. I have to be honest, that although this book states it's young adult or middle grade, I don't agree. Here in lies the problem with labeling a book in a genre due to character's age. If I were middle grade or young adult, I simply would have DNF halfway through. The story was intriguing, but not in the paranormal 'mystical' way promised. It was the depth of emotion and growth that kept me reading, and had me thinking that anyone under 18 would typically not read this for enjoyment. The novel would, however, make an excellent summer reading project for an essay. As an adult I thoroughly appreciated the depth and maturity of the novel. In addition to these factors, Mr. Yates is an excellent writer who does not utilize the crutches of similes or overly robust description to guide his story. If you're looking for an engaging adult read, I would highly recommend this. If you're looking for mystical, paranormal intrigue, I would say look elsewhere.
-Book Description: 4
-Cover: 3.5
-Plot: 5
-Creativity: 5
-Grammar: 4
-Simile Use: 5 (minimal usage)
-Description: 4 (very well written)
-Show And Tell Balance: 4
This is one of the few books I've picked up recently at a book store as opposed to Amazon, and I'm glad I did. Initially, the cover pulled me with it's glittery coloring and soft hues (however, the girl in the stock photo is slightly redundant, as she is on many covers). What made me buy the book, however, was the quote on the back of the book jacket. It was catchy and beautifully written. The description promised a tale of growth with a strong paranormal undertone, so I picked it up. The beginning of the book, as promised in the description, shows how Axel and his sister Tess become de facto orphans, and the vivid imagination of the youngest of the two. Axel is seeing things he shouldn't, and when they're hauled to Finland with grandparents they didn't know existed it follows him there. The plot of the book is interesting, but it is slow going. I have to be honest, that although this book states it's young adult or middle grade, I don't agree. Here in lies the problem with labeling a book in a genre due to character's age. If I were middle grade or young adult, I simply would have DNF halfway through. The story was intriguing, but not in the paranormal 'mystical' way promised. It was the depth of emotion and growth that kept me reading, and had me thinking that anyone under 18 would typically not read this for enjoyment. The novel would, however, make an excellent summer reading project for an essay. As an adult I thoroughly appreciated the depth and maturity of the novel. In addition to these factors, Mr. Yates is an excellent writer who does not utilize the crutches of similes or overly robust description to guide his story. If you're looking for an engaging adult read, I would highly recommend this. If you're looking for mystical, paranormal intrigue, I would say look elsewhere.
November 14, 2015
I really enjoyed this superbly-written contemporary fantasy about siblings journeying through both their grief over losing their father, and the ghost-filled, mystically-connected forests of New York and Finland. At times it reminded me of Michael Chabon's Summerland, except that The Winter Place is better. Yates has a talent for characterization and even the minor characters felt like real people. I won't spoil it, but the ending is fantastic.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in YA, fantasy, ghosts, Finland, protagonists with a disability, or the experiences of grief.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in YA, fantasy, ghosts, Finland, protagonists with a disability, or the experiences of grief.
July 26, 2024
The setting of this novel is what stands out to me. Beautifully written and drawn out but also with incredible descriptions that allowed me to see Finland even though I've never been. Just on that alone, this book was enjoyable to me. While I'm not a fan of the plot or all the characters, the setting made the story. I won't rate it lower than 3 stars because of that. It doesn't deserve a lower rating, even with all the issues I had with it. Much like Songs of Snow, the story is unique and has a dash of fantasy magic in a real-world setting
October 11, 2019
A glimpse of what it is like to have terrible grief and remorse.
July 17, 2019
Four years later, I remember how this book started, the relationships of the character, the storyline. No idea why it stuck in my head but it did.
February 24, 2016
-- ...young-adult fiction: a marketing wheeze dressed up as an art form,...
– Anthony Lane, in a review of the movie “The Fifth Wave”,
The New Yorker, February 1, 2016, p. 75
This is the sort of condescending, elitist remark one would expect from The New Yorker. I love The New Yorker. However, I am not too fond of young adult fiction, because (since JK Rowling has, at least for now, quit the field) it is dominated by the sort of sulky humorlessness found frequently in members of its target audience. You may think that this is just a remark of a grumpy middle-aged guy. It is. In my defense, I can only state that I felt that most young adults took themselves too seriously even 'way back when I myself was a young adult.
The author is a Goodreads friend and a real-life acquaintance. When his book was selected for the book club (with the promise that the author will appear at its discussion), I was terrified that I would have to pretend that I liked it. I am bad at sustained pretending (my attention wanders). To my relief, though, I found myself enjoying this book, literally from the first sentence. It's a great sentence: Tess was sitting on the front stoop of her house, kissing a boy, when the knight rode up. Then, two sentences later, I laughed out loud at the punch line. The author can metaphorically slam down the football and do the touchdown dance: that's a successful opening.
Another reviewer here at Goodreads said: If you're looking for an engaging adult read, I would highly recommend this. If you're looking for mystical, paranormal intrigue, I would say look elsewhere. I agree with this statement (especially since, when I read “mystical, paranormal intrigue”, I mentally substitute “bilgewater”). Maybe that's why I liked it – despite the best cogitations of the marketing professionals at Simon & Schuster, this is actually a read for people of any age who understand that comedy sits side-by-side with misery, and that, since reality is often shot through with sadness and absurdity, it's reasonable that fantasy and myth should be, too.
Now that I think about it, I believe, in one of the handful of conversations I've had with the author, he told me that he did not set off to write this book as a young-adult fiction. (I'm not quite sure if I'm remembering correctly – I wasn't completely sober at the time.) Maybe that's why it appeals to me more than purpose-built young adult fiction.
To put it another way: this is a book for thinking readers, and some of that group undoubtedly include people who are not yet old enough to vote.
– Anthony Lane, in a review of the movie “The Fifth Wave”,
The New Yorker, February 1, 2016, p. 75
This is the sort of condescending, elitist remark one would expect from The New Yorker. I love The New Yorker. However, I am not too fond of young adult fiction, because (since JK Rowling has, at least for now, quit the field) it is dominated by the sort of sulky humorlessness found frequently in members of its target audience. You may think that this is just a remark of a grumpy middle-aged guy. It is. In my defense, I can only state that I felt that most young adults took themselves too seriously even 'way back when I myself was a young adult.
The author is a Goodreads friend and a real-life acquaintance. When his book was selected for the book club (with the promise that the author will appear at its discussion), I was terrified that I would have to pretend that I liked it. I am bad at sustained pretending (my attention wanders). To my relief, though, I found myself enjoying this book, literally from the first sentence. It's a great sentence: Tess was sitting on the front stoop of her house, kissing a boy, when the knight rode up. Then, two sentences later, I laughed out loud at the punch line. The author can metaphorically slam down the football and do the touchdown dance: that's a successful opening.
Another reviewer here at Goodreads said: If you're looking for an engaging adult read, I would highly recommend this. If you're looking for mystical, paranormal intrigue, I would say look elsewhere. I agree with this statement (especially since, when I read “mystical, paranormal intrigue”, I mentally substitute “bilgewater”). Maybe that's why I liked it – despite the best cogitations of the marketing professionals at Simon & Schuster, this is actually a read for people of any age who understand that comedy sits side-by-side with misery, and that, since reality is often shot through with sadness and absurdity, it's reasonable that fantasy and myth should be, too.
Now that I think about it, I believe, in one of the handful of conversations I've had with the author, he told me that he did not set off to write this book as a young-adult fiction. (I'm not quite sure if I'm remembering correctly – I wasn't completely sober at the time.) Maybe that's why it appeals to me more than purpose-built young adult fiction.
To put it another way: this is a book for thinking readers, and some of that group undoubtedly include people who are not yet old enough to vote.
June 19, 2019
*I was given a free audio via BrilliancePublishing in exchange for an honest review
See full review here: https://booksintheskye.wordpress.com/...
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, The Winter Place by Alexander Yates was an interesting read. While I thought this was going to focus more on fantasy, I was not disappointed when it didn’t. I loved the focus on the family which lead perfectly into the ending where the fantasy part of the book really took place. This was a character driven book which was done very successfully. I really enjoyed both Axel and Tess. They created such a great dynamic that I was truly invested in them the entire time. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a light fantasy book with a heavy concentration on family.
AUDIO REVIEW
NOTE: The narration does not affect my rating of the book
Lauren Ezzo. What amazing things do I have to say about her? This isn’t my first book narrated by her and it definitely will not be my last. The amount of passion she put into this book really made it special. Each person had their own voice and it just flowed so well. This is definitely an audio I would recommend as I am very happy I had the chance to listen to it.
See full review here: https://booksintheskye.wordpress.com/...
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, The Winter Place by Alexander Yates was an interesting read. While I thought this was going to focus more on fantasy, I was not disappointed when it didn’t. I loved the focus on the family which lead perfectly into the ending where the fantasy part of the book really took place. This was a character driven book which was done very successfully. I really enjoyed both Axel and Tess. They created such a great dynamic that I was truly invested in them the entire time. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a light fantasy book with a heavy concentration on family.
AUDIO REVIEW
NOTE: The narration does not affect my rating of the book
Lauren Ezzo. What amazing things do I have to say about her? This isn’t my first book narrated by her and it definitely will not be my last. The amount of passion she put into this book really made it special. Each person had their own voice and it just flowed so well. This is definitely an audio I would recommend as I am very happy I had the chance to listen to it.
January 11, 2017
Yates, Alexander The Winter Place, 438 pages. Atheneum, 2016. $12. Language: PG-13 (43 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting).
Tess and Axel’s mom died years ago, but when their father is killed in a freak accident, the pair is devastated. Matters only get worse when the siblings learn that their maternal grandparents, whom they didn’t know existed, live in Finland and they are going to have to join them there. Axel, especially, is devastated and feels that it is his mission to connect with his parents in the spirit world. When he disappears, Tess is mystified and desperate.
I don’t know much (anything) about Finnish folklore, so I have no idea if the spirit world portrayed is accurate or a completely new fabrication. Either way, it is very distressing and unappealing as a mythology. While I tried to care about Tess and Alex, it just didn’t click for me. If you have students who love books about death and mourning, this might be an option for you.
HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
Tess and Axel’s mom died years ago, but when their father is killed in a freak accident, the pair is devastated. Matters only get worse when the siblings learn that their maternal grandparents, whom they didn’t know existed, live in Finland and they are going to have to join them there. Axel, especially, is devastated and feels that it is his mission to connect with his parents in the spirit world. When he disappears, Tess is mystified and desperate.
I don’t know much (anything) about Finnish folklore, so I have no idea if the spirit world portrayed is accurate or a completely new fabrication. Either way, it is very distressing and unappealing as a mythology. While I tried to care about Tess and Alex, it just didn’t click for me. If you have students who love books about death and mourning, this might be an option for you.
HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
August 24, 2018
First of all I have to say the book is very depressing - just a warning for possible future readers.
I enjoyed reading it though. I quite liked the supernatural taste of it.
Even though it seems from the story, that Finns only ever watch/read Moomins. Speaking of Moomins - the author writes that the American family had a set of the Moomin books in the original language. He claims the language to be Finnish. However, the books were originaly written in SWEDISH, not Finnish! Tove Jansson was a Finnish writer, but she wrote in Swedish. I think Mr Yates either didn't care to do his research properly or he thought nobody would be the wiser anyway.
Also there is a mention of two teenagers going to the cinema to see a Finnish-dubbed film. As far as I know, in Finland only stuff for pre-schoolers is dubbed as they can't read... and I don't think two teenagers would go to see a pre-schoolers' kind of film.
Still a good book with interesting enough twists.
I enjoyed reading it though. I quite liked the supernatural taste of it.
Even though it seems from the story, that Finns only ever watch/read Moomins. Speaking of Moomins - the author writes that the American family had a set of the Moomin books in the original language. He claims the language to be Finnish. However, the books were originaly written in SWEDISH, not Finnish! Tove Jansson was a Finnish writer, but she wrote in Swedish. I think Mr Yates either didn't care to do his research properly or he thought nobody would be the wiser anyway.
Also there is a mention of two teenagers going to the cinema to see a Finnish-dubbed film. As far as I know, in Finland only stuff for pre-schoolers is dubbed as they can't read... and I don't think two teenagers would go to see a pre-schoolers' kind of film.
Still a good book with interesting enough twists.
April 5, 2016
Thank you to Alex Yates for writing such an enjoyable book with geographic references in central NY that warm my heart. Oh and Finland too.
The story is one of an adventure for 2 kids, a brother and a sister, abandoned by death in their family and brought to Finland by a grandmother they never knew. The lives of these two children are independent of almost everyone around them but their strong connections with other characters that show their need for those ties to something make the story stronger.
There is a bear in the story who may be more than a bear. There is a wheelchair that plays a prominent role and there is a not very pleasant landlady. The characters are all multi-dimensional and more interesting than you think they'll be. I enjoyed the imagery of the places, and despite what Alex said about it, I still think it sets up perfectly for a sequel.
The story is one of an adventure for 2 kids, a brother and a sister, abandoned by death in their family and brought to Finland by a grandmother they never knew. The lives of these two children are independent of almost everyone around them but their strong connections with other characters that show their need for those ties to something make the story stronger.
There is a bear in the story who may be more than a bear. There is a wheelchair that plays a prominent role and there is a not very pleasant landlady. The characters are all multi-dimensional and more interesting than you think they'll be. I enjoyed the imagery of the places, and despite what Alex said about it, I still think it sets up perfectly for a sequel.
November 14, 2015
Alexander Yates has a written a smart and emotionally rich modern fantasy for teens. Yates has an uncanny knack for paying homage to the classics while keeping his own story fresh and unique. This balance allows the novel to be instantly accessible and yet riveting and unpredictable. The characters are brilliantly formed; even the supporting cast is revealed to have complex motivations. By providing that level of depth and intricacy of storytelling, Yates cleverly subverts the standard quest adventure into a powerful story about a family's experience with grief.
November 12, 2015
Mixed feelings on this one. Review to follow @ https://lipsyy.WordPress.com
April 5, 2022
Book Review: The Winter Place by Alexander Yates
Rating: 🐾🐾🐾
Genre: YA Fantasy
Published: 10/27/15
Review: This was an okay book for me. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. I definitely felt for the siblings and all that they lost, but I did not like the direction the book went off in. I felt that it was sometimes all over the place and I had to stop and think about what I read to catch myself up. It went between the POVs of both the siblings, but it wasn’t cohesive and you didn’t know which sibling the chapter was about until you read a bit. All in all, it was meh.
Summary: There is a middle world between life and death, and Tess must navigate it to save her brother in this heart-wrenching story infused with the fractured and fantastical realms of Finnish mysticism. Axel and Tess are bewildered when a stranger shows up in their backyard accompanied by a giant brown bear, but before they can investigate the bizarre encounter, something more harrowing happens: their father is killed in a freak car accident. Now orphaned, Tess and Axel are shipped off to Finland to live with grandparents who they've never met, and are stunned to discover that the mysterious stranger with the bear has found them again. More stunning - the come to understand that this man isn't really a man...he's a keeper of souls. And the bear isn't really a bear...it's a ghost. Their mother's ghost. Wandering, endlessly, searching for their father. Then the Keeper invites Axel, who is fighting his symptoms of muscular dystrophy, to join the path of the dead - and when Axel disappears into the deep snow, Tess knows she must find.a way to follow. There are mysteries connected to this peculiar man, this keeper, and if she can untangle them, she might not only save Axel, but also bring her parents peace.
#mybookfeatures #bookstagrammer #bookstagramit #bookstagram #bibliophile #booksaremylife #readaholic #instabooks #bookcollector #bookcollection #bookhaul #bookcommunity #bookstack #bookaholic #tbrlist #booklover #bookaddict #readinglife #bookshelf #bookrecommendations #bookreview #thewinterplace #alexanderyates #fantasybooks #fantasybooksaddict
Rating: 🐾🐾🐾
Genre: YA Fantasy
Published: 10/27/15
Review: This was an okay book for me. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. I definitely felt for the siblings and all that they lost, but I did not like the direction the book went off in. I felt that it was sometimes all over the place and I had to stop and think about what I read to catch myself up. It went between the POVs of both the siblings, but it wasn’t cohesive and you didn’t know which sibling the chapter was about until you read a bit. All in all, it was meh.
Summary: There is a middle world between life and death, and Tess must navigate it to save her brother in this heart-wrenching story infused with the fractured and fantastical realms of Finnish mysticism. Axel and Tess are bewildered when a stranger shows up in their backyard accompanied by a giant brown bear, but before they can investigate the bizarre encounter, something more harrowing happens: their father is killed in a freak car accident. Now orphaned, Tess and Axel are shipped off to Finland to live with grandparents who they've never met, and are stunned to discover that the mysterious stranger with the bear has found them again. More stunning - the come to understand that this man isn't really a man...he's a keeper of souls. And the bear isn't really a bear...it's a ghost. Their mother's ghost. Wandering, endlessly, searching for their father. Then the Keeper invites Axel, who is fighting his symptoms of muscular dystrophy, to join the path of the dead - and when Axel disappears into the deep snow, Tess knows she must find.a way to follow. There are mysteries connected to this peculiar man, this keeper, and if she can untangle them, she might not only save Axel, but also bring her parents peace.
#mybookfeatures #bookstagrammer #bookstagramit #bookstagram #bibliophile #booksaremylife #readaholic #instabooks #bookcollector #bookcollection #bookhaul #bookcommunity #bookstack #bookaholic #tbrlist #booklover #bookaddict #readinglife #bookshelf #bookrecommendations #bookreview #thewinterplace #alexanderyates #fantasybooks #fantasybooksaddict
January 17, 2024
-- MINOR SPOILERS ABOUT THE FEELING OF THE ENDING, BUT NOTHING MORE --
This book started out really promising, as many other reviews have also stated. Its themes and setup both created a really interesting premise, and I really looked forward to how it would turn out. And yet, the combination of the constant filler and a lackluster ending really did not deliver on such an incredible start.
I feel this story could easily have been shortened, following a somewhat odd rollercoaster of plot continuation. The majority of the book was filler, as I stated before, and it felt like nothing really happened until well into the second half of the book. I kid you not, there were about three chapters in a row of nothing but searching in the snow. To put it simply: the pacing was odd, and it dragged consistently throughout.
I also struggled to find any meaning to reading the story. At the end, I found myself saying, "... that's it?" The ending felt abrupt, and it did not really wrap up anything at all. I was left with a feeling of "well, then why did I just spend a month reading this whole thing?" I got further and further along, waiting for something to click -- to go "ohh, THAT'S the moral!" or anything like that, but it never happened. It felt like reading a lot of nothing, the occassional sprinkle of plot, and then an inconclusive, sudden ending to tie it all off. It has created an odd scenario for me where I am unsure exactly how to summarize the book to others.
Despite all of these flaws, I found the premise to be exciting, and I enjoyed the writing style -- however simple -- of the author, as well as the concept of incorporating Finnish mythology into a book. It really disappointed me that it did not turn out.
This book started out really promising, as many other reviews have also stated. Its themes and setup both created a really interesting premise, and I really looked forward to how it would turn out. And yet, the combination of the constant filler and a lackluster ending really did not deliver on such an incredible start.
I feel this story could easily have been shortened, following a somewhat odd rollercoaster of plot continuation. The majority of the book was filler, as I stated before, and it felt like nothing really happened until well into the second half of the book. I kid you not, there were about three chapters in a row of nothing but searching in the snow. To put it simply: the pacing was odd, and it dragged consistently throughout.
I also struggled to find any meaning to reading the story. At the end, I found myself saying, "... that's it?" The ending felt abrupt, and it did not really wrap up anything at all. I was left with a feeling of "well, then why did I just spend a month reading this whole thing?" I got further and further along, waiting for something to click -- to go "ohh, THAT'S the moral!" or anything like that, but it never happened. It felt like reading a lot of nothing, the occassional sprinkle of plot, and then an inconclusive, sudden ending to tie it all off. It has created an odd scenario for me where I am unsure exactly how to summarize the book to others.
Despite all of these flaws, I found the premise to be exciting, and I enjoyed the writing style -- however simple -- of the author, as well as the concept of incorporating Finnish mythology into a book. It really disappointed me that it did not turn out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2019
I really honestly didn't like this book. I mean this book had some interesting parts. I feel bad for Tess and Axel because there mother and father are dead and they have to go live with grandparents they don't even really know that lives in Finland. I thought it was creepy of Axel taking pictures and there would be a figure in the picture that wouldn't be in the room.
November 14, 2017
I didn't actually finish it as I was too bored. However, this book is great for those people who like Paranormal fiction books. I highly recommend it for younger kids than me. Sorry Mr. Yates, I cannot give this book higher than a 2 stars.
March 23, 2018
The Winter Place is a whimsical novel following an enchanted journey through grief. The characters are strong. The story is clean. It's not as extravagant as Hogwarts, but this book stands alone as an effortless read.
January 22, 2018
3.5 Stars,
An interesting read based on Finnish Folklore. A little darker than I expected.
An interesting read based on Finnish Folklore. A little darker than I expected.
March 22, 2018
It was fair. It takes place in Denmark and at times I had a hard time following it. The paranormal part was ok.
April 14, 2019
A strange, but good and quick read.
May 1, 2021
I didn’t get past the first chapter. Just not my type of book I guess.
November 14, 2018
I liked this book because it was a really good mix of fantasy and realistic fiction. so right when you started to put the book down, something interesting would catch your eye and you would read for another 30 min.
May 25, 2016
I grabbed this book loving the sound of the story, but I am not sucked in as much as I hoped to be. Tess and Axel are all too familiar with tragedy. Having lost their mother years ago to muscular dystrophy, they live with their father who works as a knight in medieval fairs, but then an accident claims his life as well. Now Tess and Axel are to live with their grandfather who has enough of his own demons to battle. They have a strange encounter with a bear and a man called the keeper on the night of the accident. If that is not strange enough, now they meet their maternal grandmother from Finland who informs them she will be taking custody of them and off to Finland they go. Once in Finland they meet their grandfather and begin to learn about their mother’s family and a history they knew nothing about.
Tess does not adapt well to her new life at all. She butts heads with her grandparents and does not make an effort to change.
I felt like this had a lot of promise, but somewhere I felt parts fell flat for me. I did enjoy it, but I was not connecting.
What I liked: I love the setting having be Finland. I cannot say I have read many books (if any) that take place here. I also really enjoyed the legends of their culture. I loved the tales told about the “path.” The bear and the keeper was very interesting to read about; for that alone it was worth the read.
What I did not like: I was not impressed with Tess at all. Through most of the book she got on my nerves. I also found myself lost at a few points trying to follow what was happening.
Overall I would give this a 2.5 rating. I did like parts of it, and the setting was a fantastic idea! But it did not suck me in as I thought it would.
Tess does not adapt well to her new life at all. She butts heads with her grandparents and does not make an effort to change.
I felt like this had a lot of promise, but somewhere I felt parts fell flat for me. I did enjoy it, but I was not connecting.
What I liked: I love the setting having be Finland. I cannot say I have read many books (if any) that take place here. I also really enjoyed the legends of their culture. I loved the tales told about the “path.” The bear and the keeper was very interesting to read about; for that alone it was worth the read.
What I did not like: I was not impressed with Tess at all. Through most of the book she got on my nerves. I also found myself lost at a few points trying to follow what was happening.
Overall I would give this a 2.5 rating. I did like parts of it, and the setting was a fantastic idea! But it did not suck me in as I thought it would.
February 19, 2017
It was pretty deep, and the whole "ghosts and other side" sort of thing is pretty interesting, though it took a bit time to get into. The theme of family is also a nice touch. It's a nice change of pace from the romancey books.
December 6, 2015
A wonderful read full of truly compelling characters. I'll decline from saying too much for fear of ruining the many lovely surprises, but the rich, haunted world Yates creates is well-imagined enough, and the emotional stakes sufficiently high, that the ending was wrenching, rewarding, and truly a surprise. What keeps it from 5 stars is that the final chapters felt a bit hurried - though perhaps I only feel that way because I wanted to linger longer in interconnected and magical forests of The Path.
September 23, 2016
I was recommended this book by one of my year 10 students who really enjoyed it and I was looking forward to trying it. However I found the book to be fairly pointless to be honest. I enjoyed Axel as a character but most of the time the book just did not seem to make much sense. I skim read lots of pages towards the end because I found myself wanting to just get it finished so I could put it down. I definitely would not recommend it in a hurry.
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