SnowMan

by Diane Stringam Tolley, Jodi Crisp (Photographer), Caitlin D. Clark (Editor)

Driving a busload of happy, young scouters on rain-slick roads John Benjamin Frosst is faced suddenly with the unimaginable. In a fraction of a moment, he makes a decision, selflessly offering his life in exchange for the lives of innocents. Now confronted with the knowledge that the comfortable existence he had expected is in tatters, Ben realizes that, instead of doing the serving he loves, he must now humbly receive it from others. Hampered by this new reality, the fine man that is still Ben Frosst discovers the term 'handicapped' is only a starting point from which to find new ways to give and to help. That service comes in many forms. And, with enough love and support, anything is possible. Sometimes, life simply doesn't turn out the way you plan. And that's just fine. Diane Stringam Tolley's newest Christmas novel is a charming, heart-warming story of sacrifice, love and the strength of family and community.

127 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2015

About the author

Raised on the last of the great old Southern Alberta ranches and trained in journalism, Diane recounts tales of growing up in the bend of the north fork of the Milk River. Author of countless short stories, articles, poems, plays, songs and novels, she brings a wealth of western family ideals to her writing.
Nothing intrigues more than a background story. And nothing is quite as peaceful as reliving the past.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitter-sweet child's book about simple pleasures and wholesome values. The protagonist saves his bus load of kids in an accident at great injury to himself. The story is about what happens

The entire story covers about 6 months of time and essentially everybody behaves completely nobly at all times. Not realistic, but perhaps realism is not the goal is to illustrate the opposite of what we normally hear on the news and notice around us.

This is perhaps a story which parents might read to their children. Definitely a family-oriented book.

Full disclosure: My aunt wrote this book, and for me there was the additional pleasure of trying to read between the lines to understand how my aunt's personality shines through.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE snowmen and knew I just had to read this one!
What an amazing tale of a man who loves with all of his heart--
And when the tough times came to him he found a way to turn it around in order to serve someone else-- a whole town even :)
A very heart-warming story amongst the chill of winter!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful,heart warming book. Could be where Frosty the Snowman began. A good read.

[Susan Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-warming enough to melt a winter storm away!
I will never build or see a snowman again without thinking of this heartwarming tale.
Diane writes in a magical way that makes her characters come alive - - just as Frosty the Snowman is said to have done. I loved this story and have already recommended it to several people.
(This is a copy of a review previously posted on Amazon.)