The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn

by Sam Gayton

Die 12-jährige Lettie Peppercorn lebt in einem Gasthof auf Stelzen. Sie verlässt nie das Haus, ihre einzigen Freunde sind der Wind und die Taube Periwinkle. Ihre Tage verbringt das Mädchen damit, den Gasthof zu führen. Nachts aber träumt sie von ihrer Mutter, die vor langer Zeit verschwunden ist - ohne eine einzige Spur. Eines Wintertages platzt ein völlig vereister, ruppiger Reisender in den Gasthof, der sich als Alchemist ausgibt und eine neue Erfindung an sie verkaufen will. Eine Erfindung, die Letties Leben - und die Welt - für immer verändern wird. Eine Erfindung, die sich Schnee nennt

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Adventure, Family, Magic, Friendship

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2012

About the author

Sam Gayton lives and writes in a basement, where the spiders are big and hungry. He works at a primary school in Kent. The Snow Merchant is his first book. Now it’s finished he’ll go and write another one. He can’t tell you anything except for the first line: I can’t outrun the horses.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look at that cover. Seriously, look at it. Doesn't it scream "Pick me up and read me?!"

The ideas in this book seemed refreshingly new to me. When it comes to a Children's- or Middle-Grade book, it's very important to come up with something that hasn't already been done before. Imagination is the key! And there's absolutely nothing wrong with the imagination level in the Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn. For example, there's a boat which used to be a physical part of someone's grandmother. How cool is that?

The artwork is stunning. Did you see that cover? *blinks* The illustrations in the book are just like it. There aren't a whole lot of them, but I think there's a nice balance text-illustration wise.

The characters are pretty great. The alchemist/snow merchant can fill the role of the typical villain in any children's story nicely. Lettie is brave and smart, as a true heroine should be,  and is already running an inn at the age of twelve because her dad's a drunk idiot who's gambling away their money every night. Noah's just adorable, yet brave as well. The two old ladies who are staying at Lettie's inn could've stepped right out of a Roald Dahl story. I noticed I had some issues in keeping them apart, characterwise, though, but nothing that couldn't be overlooked.

Now, as you may have already seen, I've given this book a rating of 3 stars. It means I liked it, enjoyed it and will recommend it to the right kind of people for it. The reasons to, despite my initial enthusiasm here above, not rating it any higher are the following:

1. Inconsistency. For example, in the beginning, we learn that snow is something which can only be created by following a certain recipe and under certain strict requirements. However, later on, the cloud used for making the snow can produce it on its own accord all of a sudden. It doesn't need anyone to roll dice and add salt anymore. I know, it's Fantasy, anything is possible, yet these kinds of inconsistencies make me frown through the rest of the book.

2. The ending. It was a bit of an open ending and I would've loved to see certain things fixed, at least. Or explained a bit more thoroughly. It just felt quite unsatisfactory, which is a shame because the key elements to the story have such great potential!

I would recommend this as a great book for children, ages 6-12 (I know it officially says 8-12 on Simon&Schuster's website, but I think most 6- and 7-year olds will enjoy it as well) and to people who would like to read a cozy, yet adventurous, children's story, especially during the cold winter months!

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This really blew me away with the atmosphere & magic system especially. Had such a great time reading this. Lettie Peppercorn cannot go outside. Ma told her so right before Ma disappeared forever. So Lettie's house is on stilts, & she is stuck with only the wind & a pigeon for a friend. Nothing exciting has ever happened to her-until the night a strange merchant appears. He claims to be an alchemist-the greatest that ever lived-& he is here to sell Lettie his newest invention. It's an invention that could change Lettie's life-& the world forever. An invention called "snow." But snow is not the only secret he holds. The alchemist knows where Lettie's Ma is. & Lettie will do anything to get Ma back-even if it means risking her own life. I loved the magic/alchemy of this story, the snow & everything about it, the merchant & his backstory, as well as Lettie & her & her family's own backstory. So many amazing details that went into making up this incredible story. Noah's character was also a fascinating aspect of this. Everything about him, his ship, & even the ending with his part of the conclusion-so good! The 2 guests from the Inn are equal parts HORRIBLE & FASCINATING lol. Periwinkle may have my heart though. A great winter read for sure as well. Highly atmospheric, imaginative, magical, heartwarming read. HIGHLY recommend. STUNNING cover & full page illustrations sprinkled throughout by Poly Bernatene too!💜

[Liza Nahas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story moves along quickly with fantastical situations; it's truly for the fantasy adventure reader. The best part of the book is the strong, courageous young girl who drives the story.

[SerialReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical books filled with beautiful illustrations.

[GothChickVibing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: The Adventures Of Lettie Peppercorn



Author: Sam Gayton



Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Children,



Plot: Little Lettie Peppercorn is 12 and she runs this joint. She cooks, cleans, tidies, keeps watch through her telescope and takes in new customers at her inn. She seems quite content with running the show and never misses a beat. There are some odd bits to her world though. Her house is on stilts, her mother told her to never go outside and her mother disappeared. No one knows where she is or what happened to her.



One evening while her father is off drinking at the local pub, a stranger who calls himself an alchemist and has an icy beard arrives. Once he is all settled in with a room, he shows her an incredible invention called snow and sends Lettie off on the adventure of her life when he tells her that he knows where her mother is.



Likes/Dislikes: This is a really cute little story complete with some lovely illustrations to hence the experience for young readers. This book is geared toward kids 8-12 and at that age, I would've been all over this book. It feels special, magical and unique. The best part is there is just enough fantasy and reality to make it believable and a very memorable story for anyone who wants to meet little Lettie for themselves. My girls are too young for the story right now but they are enjoying looking at all the pictures and carrying the book around.



Rating: G-8 and up.



Date Review Written: November 2nd, 2018



I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publishers and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lettie Peppercorn was only two years old when her mother mysteriously disappeared with a promise to return, leaving behind a warning for the toddler to never leave home--or surely die. Now, at age twelve, lonely Lettie, who has followed her mother’s instructions to the letter, is landlady of the White Horse Inn, the family business, while her father spends his days at a local pub gambling away their furniture. When an alchemist, turned con-man, arrives at the Inn trying to sell her snow-as-diamonds, she turns him down, but her two eccentric house guests set out to steal it. This sets off a series of unlikely, fast-paced, supernatural events with Lettie courageously leaving the Inn to search out the fate of her mother. She discovers that alchemy involves much more than turning lead to gold, but will her knowledge be enough to bring her family together? Are family bonds stronger than magic? This page-turning adventure takes readers on a fantasy trip they won’t forget. Pen-and-ink drawings dispersed throughout the text add to the Victorian charm.

[Ronja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch war am Anfang sehr in die länge gezogen und langweilig , später ging es dann. Die Charaktere sind sehr gut in Szene gebracht und die Welt ist gut und logisch aufgebaut. Der Hauptcharakter jedoch war mir zimmlich unsympathisch und dass hat mir das lesen erschwert. Ich habe dem Buch trotzdem 3 Sterne gegeben weil die Bilder darin wunderbar sind und den märchenhaften vibe im Buch unterstützen.

[Sydnie MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, in my opinion it was great because it had magic and things you normally wouldn't imagine. Not in monsters but in alchemy (a magic that can change things).I would recommend this for tween's or/and people with open minds, or not! This book can spark anyone's imagination.

Thanks Sam Gayton!

[Natanya Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book !! It is so creative and so cute . My most favorite character is Noah but why did he have to leave ... towards the end I was like don't go man, just stay .
Noah despite being 9 years old is so patient and wise . I love the world building, though we only get few glimpses , it's still pretty good . The way alchemy works is properly explained and not left underdeveloped .

[Natalie Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book years and years ago when I was a young girl. I absolutely loved it. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down. I spent all day and into the night reading it. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a book for your kids. I think I read it when I was around 11. It has a happy ending and just is such a sweet book.

[Jamie Pinkerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My youngest son won this book at a school bingo night. I read a little of this book to my kids (8-13) every night before bed. They really enjoyed it and it was a fun story to read aloud. There's plenty of adventure and fantasy to keep everyone interested.

[Tantri 0314 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tiga setengah bintang untuk petualangan, kehidupan, dan persahabatan Lettie Peppercorn.

[Ashlea Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent middle grade adventure story.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew Lettie was special but didn't expect that kind of special, and her mom's instructions make total sense. Also...so that's where Snow comes from.

[Katie Flegal Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. James kept asking me to read more

[nyx]

i borrowed this book from my sixth grade teacher and never gave it back. she said it reminded her of studio ghibli and i don't remember enough about the book to say for certain

[julia__na · Rating 4 out of 5]

i want a reunion for lettie and noah

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

A "Girl's Own" Magical Fairy Tale Adventure

First, some housekeeping. This book was published in the United Kingdom a few years ago as "The Snow Merchant". It was reissued a few times, each time with a different illustrator, although the most common edition was illustrated by the very popular Chris Riddell. It has now been released in a new edition with the title "The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn". This "Adventures..." book is not, sadly, a sequel. While it would be great to have two Lettie Peppercorn adventure books, this is the same book as the original, although with yet another new illustrator. "The Snow Merchant" is available in the U.S. as used, and in a Kindle version, but now at least we'll have a new copy, as will readers in the U.K.

It would be great if this new edition helped the book get some attention, because it really is, (at least to me), very rewarding, entertaining, and deserving of attention. The basic story is pretty straightforward; it is the way it is cast that is so inventive. Twelve year old Lettie's Ma disappeared when Lettie was a child. Lettie's Da has fallen apart since Ma's disappearance, so instead of being the daughter of the landlord of the White Horse Inn, Lettie is the landlady of the Inn and Da is consumed by drink. The setup has a vaguely Victorian feel. As all good books must, this book begins when a stranger appears at the Inn during a dark and stormy night. At this point it feels like we will be presented with a standard Victorian-ish spunky ragamuffin adventure. But wait.

MILD GENERAL PLOT SPOILERS. The story goes off the rails almost immediately. The stranger is an alchemist and he's selling snow. Two crooked guests at the Inn want his secret. Lettie is in peril. The boy, Noah, who transported the stranger by boat, shows up with the stranger's luggage. Noah is from the newly discovered "Fifth Continent"; he has a magical sapling growing from his shoulder; it grows what he needs when he needs it. There is a lot of drama and magic and high theater phoney-baloney at the Inn, but as the stranger departs he lets fall the fact that he knows what happened to Ma. Bang - Lettie and Noah chase the stranger, the two crooked guests chase the stranger, and our wild, magical, alchemical ride is in full flow. There are chases and escapes and captures and more chases and more escapes, each ending with some sort of fanciful, imaginative or clever solution dreamed up by either Lettie or Noah. They are becoming friends; Lettie is learning about herself; Lettie is saving her family - this is classic, ripping stuff.

By the way, Da's harborside pub hangout is called "The Clam Before the Storm". Right there, I decided I liked this author.

On the one hand I guess you could say that the plot is nutty and sort of improvised and maybe even a little twee. But in the larger fairy tale world of wooden boys, gingerbread houses, flying brooms, talking dolls, magical mice, and witches, there's nothing here that wouldn't be right at home. More to the point, setting aside the wilder magical and fairy tale aspects, this is basically the story of a spirited, resourceful, stubborn, vulnerable no-nonsense girl who just wants her family to be put back together again. Her yearning for the return of Ma and the return, in a sense, of Da is touching and heartfelt, and it underscores all of the action and plot silliness. You like Lettie from page one, and whether she's grumpy or happy or optimistic or depressed or silly or smart - you like her all the way through to the end.

So, the book has heart, character, adventure, magic, friendship and family love, as well as all sorts of twists, reveals and surprises. It is a happy find. (Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of the new edition of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gayton, Sam The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn, 293 pgs. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2011 (text) 2016 (illustrations). $16.99. Language, Mature Content, Violence: G;

As the landlady of the White Horse Inn, Lettie Peppercorn’s young life was chosen for her, or so she thought. Abandoned by her mother and neglected by her father, Lettie was left to keep the tiny inn afloat with only the companionship of her favorite pigeon Periwinkle, who mysteriously was turning to stone. One night, when Lettie thought things couldn’t get worse, she met the alchemist and his snow. Little did Lettie know, but that night would change things forever.

Excellent adventure for readers who enjoy young protagonists, magic and adventure.

EL, MS- ADVISABLE. J. Hafen
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn introduces readers to a world where anything can happen. Well, anything can happen to anyone besides Lettie herself, who has been forbidden to step foot on the ground in a mysterious note her mother left when she disappeared. At least Lettie's family owns an inn, where occasionally interesting people come to her. However, all that changes when a man comes to the inn who claims to sell something called "snow." Oh, and he knows something about Lettie's mother. Suddenly facing whatever dangers are on the ground seems very worthwhile to Lettie.

The story has an incredibly unique premise--that snow is something the world have never seen before, and it's something magical that can be whipped up by alchemist. That makes it rare, valuably so, and some people will do anything to get their hands on it. I give mad props to author Sam Gayton for writing a story that simply does not remind me of anything else I've ever read. It isn't a "fun take" or a "new twist." It's simply new, and for that I quite appreciated it.

The characters are also a pleasure to read about. Lettie is spunky, those she doesn't necessarily have a lot of real-world experience. And she makes fast friends with a charming and brave boy from a land where people are born with stalks on their shoulders. There's also a delightful pet bird, because who doesn’t' love cute animal companions in stories?

However, the book introduces a number of scenarios it doesn’t fully explore. More than once, a character leaves another character in a situation where it’s enormously likely they would die…and there’s simply no comment on this. It’s as if because killing the person wasn’t the primary intention and because the person didn’t die anyway, the fact that they were left to die doesn’t count. If anyone does die, it’s implied they deserved it. I’m not entirely pleased with this morality, especially as the primary vice in the novel is greed—which doesn’t seem like a capital offense. There’s also little done to distinguish between greedy characters who can be redeemed and ones who cannot. Perhaps I should just shrug and say, “Well, real life is arbitrary about these things, too, so the book is just mirroring life.” But I get the sense that wasn’t the author’s intention, so there’s definitely some sort of failing here.

I liked The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn, and I am quite pleased that it’s a story I cannot immediately compare to any other story. I give it many points for being unique. However, I just didn’t fall in love with it or with Lettie as a protagonist, so I’m giving it three stars. I think a lot of readers will enjoy it; it’s just not going on my shelf of favorite books.

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lettie Peppercorn ist so ziemlich auf sich allein gestellt. Ihr Vater verspielt und vertrinkt das gesamte Geld und überlässt es seiner Tochter sich um das Gasthaus zu kümmern. So hat die 12jährige Lettie allerhand zutun, bis eines kalten Wintertages ein geheimnisvoller Alchemist um ein Zimmer bittet, der sich selbst als Schneehändler bezeichnet.
Von diesem Tag an wird nichts mehr so sein wie es einmal war und Lettie landet in einem turbulenten Abenteuer. Zusammen mit dem Jungen Noah begibt sie sich auf die Suche nach ihrer Mutter und muss beweisen was in ihre steckt, denn Lettie auf den Fersen sind zwei Frauen, die vor nichts zurückschrecken würden.

‚Lettie Peppercorn und der Schneehändler‘ ist ein wundervolles Kinderbuch und passt gut zu den kalten Tagen des Jahres, denn zwischen den Buchdeckeln lebt nicht nur der eisige Schneehändler, sondern es wird auch so einiges zum gefrieren gebracht.
Trotz des eisigen Umfelds punktet das Buch in Sachen Herzenswärme. Lettie ist ein starkes kleines Mädchen, dass sich durchzusetzen weiß, aber auch unheimlich mitfühlend ist. Ihre besten Freunde sich ein kleiner Vogel und der Wind. Nie konnte Lettie mit anderen Kindern spielen, denn kurz vor ihrem Verschwinden verbot ihre Mutter ihr aus dem Haus zu gehen, denn dann würde Lettie um ihr Leben fürchten müssen.
Dieses Kinderbuch ist ein wahres Feuerwerk an neuartigen Einfälle, verrückte Ideen und skurrilen Charakteren. Die Fantasie des Autoren ist beachtlich und es macht Spaß zu lesen was er sich als nächstes einfallen ließ. So gibt es in Letties Welt Zaubertränke, die einen in die letzte Mahlzeit verwandeln, die man zu sich nahm und es gibt Menschen denen ein Zweig aus der Schulter wächst.
Dennoch sind die Gefühle real denn es geht um Freundschaft, Vergebung und Liebe. Ohne dabei kitschig zu werden.
Unterstützt wird der Text grandios von den Zeichnungen des Illustrators Chris Riddell.

Wer auf der Suche nach einem schönen und spannenden Wintermärchen ist und wissen will wie sich der Schnee sich auf der Welt verbreitete, der sollte sich von Lettie verzaubern lassen. Sie ist ein richtiges Powergirl umgeben von Eis und Schnee. Es ist das richtige Buch für kalte Winterabende und sollte mit Tee oder Kakao genossen werden.

Ich würde gerne mehr über Lettie Peppercorn und ihre seltsame Familie lesen.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lettie Peppercorn is a 12 year old landlady of the White Horse Inn who has never stepped foot outside of her house. Her Ma, who disappeared when she was a baby, told her not to in a note flown in by her current best friend, Periwinkle the pigeon. Her only other friend is the Wind. Her Da spends all his time in taverns drinking and gambling away the inn's earnings. And so Lettie lives a rather uneventful life making tea for her room renters until the day an alchemist comes to the inn and tries to sell her something. Something so beautiful and rare that her renters, Walrus and Goggle, will do anything to get their hands on it. Once Lettie realizes that the alchemist knows something about her mother she goes after him with the help of her brand new friend, Noah, with Walrus and Goggle close at their heels. Lettie finds herself on a journey to find her ma, make real friends, and discover things about herself that she never thought was possible.

The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn is full of lessons, magic, and colorful characters. This imaginative story will delight middle grade readers! I enjoyed every moment of it! There aren't many illustrations but they are just as magnificent as the cover and portray the story just as I saw it in my head.

The characters in this book are fantastic. They are all interesting, down to Lettie's pigeon friend. Gayton has created a cast of characters that I won't soon forget. They are so vibrant that I can easily see this as an animated film!

There are a few things that I didn't exactly love about the story. For instance, I started out believing this is a fantasy world unconnected to our own but then the author mentions Jesus, the author Ovid, and locations such as Bavaria. That is all well and good but how would Jesus's existence be known in this world? We start out the story on an island called Albion which immediately made me think of the game Fable. While I loved the story, the small inconsistencies bothered me enough that I couldn't give it a full five stars.

I received a temporary ecopy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lettie Peppercorn is 12 years old, and is the landlady of the White Horse Inn. It would be more appropriate to be the landlord's daughter, but Lettie's Da spends his days gambling and drinking at the pub. Of course Da didn't use to be like that. He changed the day he lost hope in Ma coming back. Lettie's Ma was an alchemist. Not the boring kind of alchemist who turns steel into gold, but the type who turns stones into pigeons. Ten years ago Ma vanished leaving a note for Lettie behind. In the note she says she is leaving to save Lettie's life, and that Lettie mustn't put a foot outside the house since it might kill her. Ma also promised to come back. Meanwhile this is Lettie's life, bounded in her house, bearing insolent guests, and taking care of Da, with Periwinkle the pigeon and the wind as her only friends. Until the Snow Merchant arrives to the White Horse Inn on a cold, dark, winter night, carrying the secret to the most amazing invention in his mahogany suitcase.

The adventures of Lettie Peppercorn is a magical story with many condiments in it: alchemy, adventure, a great friendship, a strange but loving family, and a recipe for making snow. Lettie will travel a long way to have her family together again, an every single page of this trip is pure amusement. This is my second book by Gayton. I read Lilliput a few months ago and also enjoyed it. Gayton's books makes me feel like reading an old book with modern words. The type of fantasy he writes and the way he braids it is his distinctive trait.

Bernatene's illustrations are beautiful, and they bring to life all the Victorian atmosphere of the book.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Lettie Peppercorn would love to have an adventure. But when her ma disappeared many years ago she left a note warning Lettie to never leave their home. Now she watches over her family seaside inn while her da drowns his sorrows at the pub. But one day the wind blows in a mysterious man who claims to be an alchemist who can make something new: snow. And while he is soon exposed as a fraud, he claims to know her ma.

In the blink of an eye Lettie is off on a true adventure. Aided by a boy who owns his own ship, sailing where the wind takes her, followed by two greedy women, and up against incredible odds, Lettie finds out the truth about her family and figures out how to make them all happy again.

The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn by Sam Gayton is a story as original as its heroine’s name. Lettie and her friend Noah use their imagination and a little bit of alchemy to get out of all kinds of tight spots. The women and men who want to stop them are driven by their greed, which also limits then and blinds them to anything other than personal wealth and recognition.

Illustrator Poly Bernatene captures the magical feel of Lettie’s world and enriches this story that transports readers to another world that almost seems like it could exist here on Earth, if the wind would just blow us there. I highly recommend The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn with mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 8 to 12.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Maranda Melange of Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn was a cute and whimsical story. It's rating is comparative to other middle grade books. Middle grade books tend to do a good job of being readable but leave holes here and there. For instance it's not always clear why the bad guy is bad at this age range, but they don't get as much flak for it as adult fiction would. It makes sense of course, kids don't over-analyze books. I, unfortunately, can't seem to stop analyzing so harshly.

It was a good middle grade book. Fun from start to finish, magical, and friendship as a main theme. There was something that bugged me about the book and made me knock it down a half star, everyone seemed to be rude. The bad guys were rude which is acceptable but by the end of the book the only thing I knew about them was they were greedy. The good guys were a bit more complex in that they had motivation but they were still needlessly rude. I'm sure this seems like a strange complaint but it's a bit weird for all the characters to act so similarly.

The illustrations are done in such a beautiful style. It was the perfect illustrator for the job, they fit the overall mood perfectly. If you have kid that likes tales that are a bit strange then give this one a try. Any kid would love the imaginative nature of the story. Honestly I feel bad that my rating is only 3.5, because children will love it!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! If only there were more stars to give. This story, featuring alchemy, mystery, adventure, and a liberal dash of hope and love will work its magic on your heart.

Lettie Peppercorn is a young girl who lives out her days in her house on stilts in a harbor town. She cannot go outside, her Ma has told her so in a letter carried to her by pigeon from afar. Right before her Ma disappears forever. Thus our story opens.

Plagued by the drab life of "landlady", acting in her father's stead while he drinks and gambles away the meager earnings, Lettie is intrigued by a mysterious stranger who appears one evening, known as only as "Snow Merchant". He claims to be the greatest alchemist ever to have lived and wishes to sell her something not seen before; snow. But what is his intention? And what is his connection to Lettie's long lost Ma?

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Enjoyable for adults and children, read it aloud to someone you love as soon as possible..

[Kathrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are someone who has said, "They don't write children's books like they used to", this is the book for you! This is a marvelous, magical story that takes you from a house on stilts over the ocean to an iceberg and back. Lettie Peppercorn is the most unique main character I've met in a long time.

Lettie is a 12 year old landlady who cooks and cleans and tries to keep her Da in line. She is not allowed to leave the house. When her Ma disappeared she left Lettie a note with instructions not to touch the ground. When a mysterious stranger comes to her inn she is forced to venture outside. At first she is met with discouraging challenges and horrible, selfish and silly rivals but her bravery, hope and love cause magical things to happen.

This book is a delight for all ages. It would be a perfect read aloud for everyone to share in the magic!
I was provided an ARC for a review.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about a young girl called Lettie who will discover just how special she really is. And it all begins one day when a snow merchant presents himself at Lettie's inn and declares he is there because she and only she is the right customer for his wares. What the snowflakes set into motion is the adventure of a lifetime as Lettie sets out to find her missing mother and uncovers a story years in the making which will reveal a story about the powers of love and the destruction of jealousy set in a world where alchemy is alive and well. Where young men carry their future on their shoulders and evil grannies greedily grasp for treasures they cannot comprehend. A world where the first snows fall for a very special reason. Full of imagination, laughs, and warmth, this is a lovely book for a young reader to add to their collection.

[Dale Safford · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just too strange. A person made from rock? Another with things growing out of his shoulder? A huge deal made over snow? A mother who has been missing for over a decade because she is captured in ice? huh? I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but I did finish it.

Lettie Peppercorn cannot go outside because she cannot touch the ground. Her father Da can, and he does - to drink. Her mother disappeared when Lettie was just small. Now a strange and magical man Blustav has appeared and he brings crystal snow. Lettie's two lady borders, the Walrus and the Goggler, want this snow more than anything. Then Noah appears, and the adventures begin. Blustav seems to know where Lettie's mother is, and even though he has turned Da into a bottle of beer, Lettie and Noah capture him and take him on Noah's boat so they can go to her mother. Will they find her?

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lettie Peppercorn lost her mother years ago, yet this 12-year-old is the landlady of the White Horse Inn, running it all by herself while her father drinks and bets their money away. The town of Albion is dangerous for Lettie, according to a note her mother wrote before she mysteriously disappeared, she is forbidden from leaving the inn until her mother's return. When a wicked Snow Merchant visits the White House Inn, and displays his feats of alchemy, trouble brews. Lettie must decide whether she should break her mother's decree in order to set out and find her. This mysteriously beautiful tale is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland in the outrageous magic which occurs. Yet it is so convincingly written readers will be hooked until the very last page.