Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Apr. 1, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 15))
Zenatti’s Batchelder Honor Book, When I Was a Soldier (2005), is a memoir about her conflicts while serving in the Israeli army. This docu-novel is more messagey. It begins when 17-year-old Tal, in Tel Aviv, sends out a bottle with a peace message that includes her e-mail address. Naïm, 20, finds it on the beach in Gaza, and replies. Contrived setup aside, readers will be caught by the immediate personal and political drama, as the two young people speak in instant messages, e-mails, and first-person narratives with anger, sympathy, humor, and sorrow about their history and their daily lives—what separates them (they live just 40 miles apart, but it feels like 6,000), and what connects them, including their shared opposition to fundamentalists and their longing for peace. They also worry about each other, especially when Tal witnesses a bombing in her neighborhood. The Romeo-and-Juliet scenario, translated from the French, will draw teens, as will the urgent headline issues. Grades 7-12

Frances Bradburn (Booklist, Feb. 1, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 11))
Unnamed and rejected by her mother, a girl (known as the lass) jumps at the chance to leave her meager home after a great white bear offers her a deal: if she accompanies him to his ice palace for a year and a day, he will reward her and her family with wealth. At the palace, she is waited on by an odd assortment of creatures, including salamanders and a selkie, but there are sinister undercurrents beneath the luxury, leading to a series of horrifying deaths. George has adapted Norse myths and fairy tales to create this eerily beautiful, often terrifying world in which animals talk, trolls marry humans only to destroy them, and weather forces are actual characters. Mystery, adventure, the supernatural, and a touch of love are woven together to create a vivid, well-crafted, poetic fantasy for readers who have enjoyed works by Robin McKinley and Esther Friesner or who are ready to move from Gail Carson Levine’s fairy-tale adaptations to more sophisticated fare. Grades 7-10

Gwynne Spencer (Children's Literature)
Retellings of old folk tales are always tricky. Those who insist you shouldn’t mess with the old stories will cry out in distress at any changes or variations. Those who are new to a tale and read it without rigid expectations will wonder why the old-fashioned tale seems stiff and clunky. Unlike Donna Jo Napoli’s elegant, imaginative retellings of old tales (e.g., Zel, Beast, Spinners), George’s recitation of East of the Sun, West of the Moon holds true to its sources, only embellishing them with lyrical delight. It’s a joy to read, and it would be a good read-aloud choice. The language is crafted and beckons the reader into the strange world of ice, snow, brutality, magic white deer, powerful supernatural polar bears, runes, and ten-foot tall trolls. It carries the reader from the stark unloving household of the nameless child referred to as a “pika” to her new world in the farthest north reaches of the Troll kingdom. She bargains to stay there a year and a day with the “bear” in return for riches for her family. Young readers familiar with Jan Brett’s not-so-atrocious-trolls will have to stretch their imaginations to accept these tall and ferocious critters and the horrid enchantment they hold over a host of gentle souls for their own selfish pleasures. The girl whose story this is, Bellalyse, must keep her promises, hold fast to hope, and trust her faithful wolf-dog’s words. In the final confrontation between the Troll Princess and the mere mortal child, it is the simple laundering of the prince’s nightshirt which is key. The shirt was stained with the tallow of a candle, and this act focuses the reader’s attention on the consequences of breaking your word, which ultimately causes the meltdown of the troll castle, kingdom, keep and all. There is much to recommend this well-told tale, and much in it that will lead readers to more Norse myths. 2008, Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books, $16.95. Ages 8 to adult.

Gail C. Krause (Children's Literature)
Tal Levine, a 17-year-old Israeli girl, asks her brother, an Israeli soldier, to drop a bottle with a letter in it into the Gaza Sea. Her parents constantly worry about the war and Tal’s letter comes as an inspiration to communicate with those who bomb her city. She hopes her note will be found by a Palestinian and would like to start a correspondence with someone from the other side. However, her note is written in Hebrew. A young 20-year old Palestinian man, who unexpectedly understands Hebrew, finds it. An e-mail message exchange draws the two young people closer. Neither can believe the other is supposed to be the enemy. This book would be considered creative nonfiction as it follows the Israeli-Palestinian conflict closely. An interesting technique used by the author is the use of two different type fonts to represent the two different main characters’ communications through e-mails, which at times are boring and slow up the novel. This novel gives a glimpse of the conflict and hope for both sides of the war. 2008, Bloomsbury, $16.95. Ages 12 up.

Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger (Children's Literature)
When Frida realizes her ninth child is another daughter, she is so disappointed she doesn’t even name the girl. Eventually the child’s oldest brother starts calling her “the lass,” and the two of them form a special bond. When the lass goes to find the white reindeer, she is able to speak with him. An isbjorn (polar bear) approaches the house and asks the lass to go with him to an ice palace. Despite her brother’s misgivings, the lass agrees and accompanies the white bear into the unknown. At the palace, the lass is confused and then terrified by the strange creatures around her. When she lights a forbidden candle and sees the man who comes into her room at night, she plunges herself and her wolf into a quest to save her isbjorn. But who is the mysterious woman named Tova and what is her tie to the lass’s brother? Who can be trusted when the lass must take on the trolls? A fast-paced fairy tale with elements of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” and “Beauty and the Beast.” 2008, Bloomsbury, $16.95. Ages 12 up.

Rachel Wadham (Childrens Book and Play Review, January/February 2008 (Vol. 28, No. 3))
The Lass has been given the ability to understand animals, so when a great white bear appears at the door of her family home she understands that he wants her to live with him for one year. Seeing this as an opportunity to lift her family out of poverty she goes with the bear to his palace of ice where she is immediately engrossed in a horrible enchantment. With the help of the palace's unique servants and carvings in a cryptic language the Lass is able to uncover some of a devious troll princess's curse, but succumbing to her curiosity before the designated time breaks the enchantment and the bear and the palace are swept away. Left alone it is up to the Lass to shoulder the quest to rescue her true love and assisted by others, such as the four winds, to defeat the troll princess. Based on the Norwegian folktale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," George has crafted an unsurpassed fairy tale retelling. Solidly entrenched in the original yet with unique elements that give the tale flavor and depth, each plot element and character is complete and interesting. The Lass is a wonderfully endearing character that readers will cheer for as she completes her complicated quest. Peppered with Norwegian and Old Norse words and phrases the text conveys the setting in a way perfectly crafted to honor the heritage of the original tale. Even though the pacing is not always even readers will certainly be hooked from first word to the triumphant end of this outstanding novel. Rating: Outstanding. Reading Level: Intermediate; Young adult. Category: Fantasy fiction. 2008, Bloomsbury Children, 336 p., $16.95. © 2002, Brigham Young University.

Marsha D. Broadway (Childrens Book and Play Review, March/April 2008 (Vol. 28, No. 4))
The lass, a last and unwanted child by her mother, is not given a name. She bonds and works with her older brother Hans Peter when he returns from a chilling adventure. She discovers that she understands the language of animals. When an isbj++rner, ice bear, offers wealth to her family in return for her staying with him for a year in a palace, she and her pet wolf accompany him to find enchantment and mystery as she unravels the secrets of the ice palace. Based on the Norse tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, this fantasy reads easily and interestingly, adding creative details to the original story. Those who enjoyed Hale's Goose Girl (2003) and Enna Burning (2004) will find this novel equally appealing. Rating: Excellent. Reading Level: Intermediate; Young adult. Category: Fantasy fiction. 2008, Bloomsbury, 328 p., $16.95. © 2002, Brigham Young University.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 23))
With spirit, energy and a puckish sense of humor, George weaves the "East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon" tale into a novel-length saga. The ninth child of an impoverished family, the Pika (girl) or Lass—for her mother will not even name her—grows into her gift of understanding the speech of animals under the tutelage and affection of her oldest brother Hans Peter. He has come from seafaring and is sad and wounded in his soul. When a white bear offers material comfort to the family in exchange for a year of the Lass's company, she accepts, although Hans Peter warns her off. She goes with her companion wolf Rollo to live with the bear in a palace of ice, served by gargoyles, fauns and selkies. A man sleeps in the Lass's bed each night but does not speak or touch her. Like Psyche, the Lass cannot resist trying to see him by candlelight and lo, he is the bear. The troll princess who has enchanted him takes him "east of the son and west of the moon." The Lass rescues her own bear prince, and her brother and his love and reveals her own name in a rousing and happy ending. Rich in Norwegian lore and perfectly delicious to read. 2008, Bloomsbury, 336p, $16.95. Category: Fiction/fairytale. Ages 10 to 14. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2008 (Vol. 76, No. 4))
When a bomb explodes at a nearby cafT on the evening of the tenth anniversary of a peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians, Tal, a 17-year-old Israeli girl, decides to reach out to a Palestinian neighbor. She asks her brother, serving his compulsory military service in the Gaza Strip, to throw a bottle with a letter inside into the Gaza Sea. She soon receives an email reply from 20-year-old Naim. At first the young man hides behind sarcasm and secrecy, but Tal, a persistent would-be filmmaker, draws out his true feelings. Through e-mails, text messages and diary entries, they express their anger and grief over the continuing violence and see beyond the stereotypes of their governments to recognize two young people who still have hope for peace and independence. Although the dialogue is occasionally stilted to introduce potentially unfamiliar historical events, Zenatti uses short, riveting chapters, as in her Batchelder Honor book, When I Was a Soldier (2006), to pack a punch with readers reluctant to voracious. The overall effect is one of a haunting relationship that will help teens understand both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 2008, Bloomsbury, 176p, $16.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 13 up. © 2008 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Catherine M. Andronik (Library Media Connection, March 2008)
From the author of the moving memoir When I Was a Soldier (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2005) comes a novel about liberal-minded Tal, a Jewish girl living in Jerusalem, and Naim, a young Palestinian man. They begin a correspondence via e-mail after he discovers a message stuffed into a bottle. Tal's idealistic, nanve teenage meanderings contrast sharply with Naim's caution and cynicism. The two find that, despite their many differences, they share much in common. The tone shifts sharply after Tal witnesses a suicide bombing. There remains a hope that the two young people, who have come to care deeply about each other, will someday meet. Awkwardly translated phrases are disconcerting. Nevertheless, the book succeeds in giving an ongoing conflict a human face. Additional Selection. 2008, Bloomsbury Children's Books, 160pp., $16.95 hc.. Ages 13 to 18.

Carol Lefelt (Library Media Connection, September 2008)
Females are powerful in this tale of "long ago and far away" where life is bleak and poor. Jessica Day George's novel requires a suspension of disbelief for some silly plot turns and character behavior, but would fit nicely as independent reading during a folklore unit. The brave heroine has a wolf for a pet and meets a magical bear who carries her off to a palace of green ice where she must live for a year and a day served by a staff of enchanted creatures. In order to save her true love, the lass journeys to the troll's land with the help of some ancient women and the four winds. Additional Selection. 2008, Bloomsbury Children's Books, 336pp., $16.95 hc.. Ages 10 to 14.

Katrina Bromann (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, February 2008 (Vol. 61, No. 6))
All the traditional elements are present in this novelized version of “East o’ the Sun and West o’ the Moon”; the heroine is the youngest daughter of a woodcutter living with her large family in the far north until, at the age of seventeen, she is taken by an ice bear to reside with him for one year and one day. By day the lass, as she’s referred to throughout, roams the palace, uncovering the secrets of the enchantment, and by night she shares her darkened bedchamber with a stranger. Unable to contain her curiosity, the girl breaks the rules and lights a candle to look at her bedmate, dooming him to marry a troll princess unless she can win him back. Superb and seamless additions to the story include Rollo, the lass’ protective pet wolf, and Hans Peter, her heartsick oldest brother, who has a sad secret of his own. In a clever twist, the young woman’s experience is not isolated; instead, she is one in a long line of inquisitive females failing to keep their word and fighting to keep their princes. George has a knack for storytelling, and she is at her best when describing her fully imagined world of ice bears, fauns, gargoyles, and selkies. This entry has a sarcastic kick, and while some of the humor initially seems out of place in the setting, the protagonist’s wry comments are sure to generate laughter. While it remains true to the original tale, this retelling has an aura of anticipation, as if it could veer in a new direction at any moment, so the even the well-versed will find it suspenseful reading. George has clearly done her homework; an author’s note describes her journey to the novel, a glossary provides the pronunciation and definition of select Norwegian words, and a bibliography both cites her sources and provides further reading material. With appeal for those new to the classic or already enchanted by Pattou’s East (BCCB 10/03), this should surely enhance interest in folk and fairy tales of the colder regions Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2008, Bloomsbury, 336p.; Reviewed from galleys, $16.95. Grades 7-12.

Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, May 2008 (Vol. 61, No. 9))
Horrified by a suicide bombing in a local cafe that took the life of a young woman on the eve of her wedding, Israeli teenager Tal Levine decides to make her own tiny effort to stop the violent madness by sending her thoughts and her email address to an unknown Palestinian recipient via a message in a bottle. Tal may have fantasized that a girl her own age, with her own desires for peace, would become her new correspondent, but instead the bottle is retrieved by “Gazaman,” a bitter, angry young man who alternately mocks her Pollyanna-ish overtures or ignores her missives altogether. Tal is relentless, though, and at last she softens him up to discuss the way political division has affected their lives and to fill her in on personal experiences that have turned him to pessimism. Zenatti’s novel oozes the good intention of offering equal voice to Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints, but the email exchanges are laden with awkwardly integrated history lessons, and Gazaman’s Big Secret is a rather undramatic letdown. Tech-savvy teens will wonder why it took Gazaman so long to use the internet service in a downstairs office rather than at a dangerously public internet cafe, or why he and Tal didn’t catch on to text messaging much sooner. Moreover, a melodramatic conclusion that has Gazaman inviting Tal to rendezvous with him four years later at the Trevi Fountain in Rome (haven’t Deborah Kerr and Meg Ryan tried this sort of thing already?) is undermined by the fact that the September 13, 2007 date for their meeting has already passed, and readers could logically be apprised of any romantic resolution. Teens impassioned over peace in the Middle East may want to take a pass on this title and YouTube Daniel Barenboim’s West-East Divan Orchestra instead Review Code: M -- Marginal book that is so slight in content or has so many weaknesses in style or format that it should be given careful consideration before purchase. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2008, Bloomsbury, [157p]., $16.95. Grades 7-10.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2008)
After a bomb explodes near her Jerusalem home, Tal, a seventeen-year-old Israeli, asks her military nurse brother to take a message in a bottle to Gaza. The serious, thoughtful young Palestinian man who answers the message cements her commitment to the potential--and necessity--for peace. Strong characterizations, emotional honesty, and vivid descriptions forge a memorable reading experience. Category: Older Fiction. 2008, Bloomsbury, 149pp, $16.95 (hb). Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2008)
This beautifully rendered retelling of a Norse fairy tale involves enchanted polar bears, a woodcutter's daughter who can talk to animals, and evil trolls. George's lyrical writing deftly handles exotic settings and poignant family relationships, resulting in a story of bittersweet sacrifice that's offset by flashes of humor. The protagonist is strong and courageous but humanly flawed. Bib., glos. Category: Older Fiction. 2008, Bloomsbury, 326pp, 16.95. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.

Jenny Ingram (VOYA, April 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 1))
Tal, a seventeen-year-old girl from Jerusalem, places a message in a bottle that she gives to her older brother to deposit in Gaza while on military duty. Naim, a twenty-year-old Palestinian boy, finds the message and writes to Tal's e-mail address, starting the correspondence that makes up most of this book about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The disparities in their lives, the cultural differences, and the contemporary events that make up their surroundings come across in the messages, placing a human face on the conflict and giving the characters hope for peace and reconciliation. A sense of frustration at the wasted talents of bright young people living in this contentious region is embedded in the story. Two familiar traditions, those of pen pals and of novels composed of letters, are present in the book, and they serve to bring large issues down to a personal level and of encourage readers to follow in Tal's tracks. The novel is short, but the e-mail messages are long and drag on at times. The author and translator would have benefited from better exposure to the style of writing that has developed on the Internet. Teachers will find this book useful in the classroom, but it will appeal to few leisure readers aside from those interested in international issues. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J S (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2008, Bloomsbury, 176p., $16.95. Ages 11 to 18.

Robin Guedel (VOYA, April 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 1))
The "Lass" is a young girl from Norway who is so unwanted by her mother that she refuses to give her a name. She is simply called pika, which means girl or lass. But little do her parents know that she has a special gift enabling her to communicate with animals. The girl comes across an isbjorn (polar bear) and begins to realize he might not be all that he seems. She goes on a journey that takes her to a palace made of ice with many interesting creatures. The Lass goes in a wild ride through the four winds to try and defeat a troll queen and save her prince from an evil curse. George creates a visually stunning story that is part fantasy and part fairy tale. Although she uses a lot of words derived from the Old Norse language, there is a comprehensive glossary in the back of the book that defines each one. George makes the characters interesting while maintaining a fast pace that teen readers will enjoy. This book is a nice addition to libraries that have a large science fiction/fantasy following. The fairy-tale aspect of the book provides a nice hook for female readers while also offering good fantasy sequences for male teens. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P J S (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2008, Bloomsbury, 328p., $16.95. Ages 12 to 18.