Snow Place Like Home (Diary of an Ice Princess #1)

Gr 2-4—Princess Lina isn't like other girls. She is a Windtamer who controls the wind and lives in a palace in the clouds. But she isn't like other Windtamers, either, since her dad is a Groundling (a human) and her wind powers have a knack for turning icy cold. When Lina convinces her parents to let her go to her best friend Claudia's human school, her powers really get out of whack, creating icicles in the classroom and snowdrifts in the gym. Thankfully, Lina has the support of Claudia and her family, as well as Windtamer lessons from her granddad, the General of the Wind, to help get her through. Written as Lina's diary, this book touches on issues of feeling different, making friends and coming into your own and embracing what makes you special. The characters are diverse, though there is no mention of their ethnicity. Two-tone, pink-and-black illustrations set the scene with friendly-faced characters and a perfect pink palace. Lina's world is depicted as fun and unusual while at the same time relatable to anyone who attends a "Groundling" school. VERDICT With a protagonist who could be buddies with Disney's Queen Elsa, this is bound to be popular among readers who love magic and friendship. A solid purchase.—Erica Deb, Matawan Aberdeen Public Library, NJ