Frozen

 

Sixteen year old Sadie Rose hasn't said a word in eleven years--ever since the day she was found lying in a snowbank next to her mother's body during a howling snow storm. Set in the 1920's in far northern Minnesota, this is Sadie Rose's story--how she was found in a snowbank, couldn't speak, and had only fleeting memories of her mother.  She is taken in by a corrupt state senator, and has a good life until she stumbles onto some pictures of her mother.  Who was she, and how did she die? There is evidence her mother worked in a brothel, but why? This story is set in a time of historical drama--prohibition, women's right to vote, political corruption, and a fight over lumbering and the use of the wilderness all come into play in this story. This is a suspenseful story about how Sadie Rose finds her voice again; and has several themes including power, corruption, class inequality, the environment, and the strength of family.  Written by Mary Casanova, it is recommended for readers in junior and senior high school. A trailer is available here.