North Child

As a north child, Rose is destined to be a wanderer and travel far from home. Her mother has kept her true nature a secret to protect her from the prophecy that she will die a lonely death, buried beneath ice and snow, but when an enormous white bear appears and demands she go with him, it seems that Rose cannot escape her destiny. Rose defies her father and her beloved brother Neddy to go with the bear and save her family, but after a long journey on the bear's back, she arrives at a mysterious empty castle, inhabited only by the bear and his two strange, silent servants.

What does the white bear want from Rose - and who is the unknown, unseen stranger who appears in the dark, night after night? Overwhelmed by curiosity, Rose betrays her host's trust, with terrible consequences - and soon finds herself setting out on an epic journey to put things right.

Inspired by the traditional Scandinavian story 'East of the Sun and West of the Moon', this is an enchanting, sophisticated and beautifully-written fairy-tale for older readers full of romance, magic and adventure. Through a series of interwoven first-person narratives, Edith Pattou creates an evocative, rich and emotionally-resonant story, drawing on the traditions of Norwegian folklore, and with lots of atmospheric descriptions of snowy landscapes.This new gift edition complete with maps of Rose's journey, makes perfect reading for cold winter nights.