This is the best story that Patricia St. John has written. I even wrote a book review on. This book almost made me cry, the amount of love that God shows towards us is amazing, you have to read this book it is a simply amazing story.It is below so I f you don't want the book to spoiled I advise you don't read it. The story focuses on the season of Christmas, with love and forgiveness being the central themes.Annette’s character portrays the fruit of the Spirit throughout the story until Lucien, a mean, lazy boy, who is excellent at wood carving and full of himself, causes Annette heart-break. Dani, Annette’s younger brother, is a merry, spoilt boy who experiences pain as he falls down a cliff face. Grandmother brings up Dani and Annette after their mother dies giving birth to Dani, and she teaches them who Jesus is and what he has done for them. The story is written in the post-World War II era. Travelling up from Monteux, nearing a tiny train station, lies the ‘Pass’ wedged between a long green mountain and a rocky pointed mountain; a low white school building and a wooden church all set the scenes for the magical unfolding of Treasure of the Snow.Dani is picking flowers for Annette’s birthday on the mountain, and Lucien crosses his path feeling frustrated and angry at Annette for embarrassing him at school. Lucien takes this opportunity to take revenge on Annette and threatens to drop Dani’s cat, Klaus over the edge of the cliff. Lucien executes his anger by dropping Klaus off the cliff, causing Dani to break his leg while attempting to rescue his cat. Lucien is ashamed of his behaviour and hides. After the cat incident, Lucien stumbles across an old man, who slowly teaches him day by day about love and forgiveness. Later on, Annette stuck and almost frozen with frostbite, ponders upon Jesus coming into her heart, and finally decides that Jesus is the right way to go. When Lucien finds Annette hurt, he jumps into action and rescues her. After Lucien rescues Annette, she confesses her hatred towards him, and asks for his forgiveness. Lucien, overjoyed, forgives Annette and the two later become friends and support each other living godly lives. Lucien is still sorry and full of compassion for Dani and risks his own life to find the professional doctor for Dani, in hope that he can walk and run again like all boys should. By the end of the story Dani can run with joy and happiness, instead of pain and sorrow.The author’s outstanding depiction of the landscapes, paints a visual image to the readers of the beautiful scenery in the Swiss mountains. The author integrates the theme of forgiveness well into the plot of the story by emphasising the importance of forgiving others, which leads to reconciliation in relationships.This is an emotional story filled with sadness, love, and faithfulness. It teaches people young and old of the love that Jesus shows us. This story filled me with both sorrow and joy, and taught me that I am to love and forgive anyone that comes upon my path. Inspired by love, compassion, and forgiveness, it is a reminder that we as Christians are to show the mercy of Christ to people no matter what they have done. I recommend children aged nine to fourteen years old would benefit from reading Treasure of the Snow, and also people who are struggling to extend forgiveness towards people
I have a list of Christmas books that I read every December--A Christmas Carol, Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and this one are always the first ones to pop into my mind, though sometimes I read Jack and Jill too. But this one is my favorite. I can't even remember the first time I heard the story--I know Muzzy read it to me before I could read myself. It has always just been a part of me. There are so many things that it does right. It starts out with two not-very-nice Swiss children and the growth they go through is something to behold. And then there is Dani, the little cripple. I think I've mentioned before that I collect stories about cripples (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Jack and Jill, A Christmas Carol, The Secret Garden, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Queen's Thief, Shackleton's Stowaway, Pollyanna, Born to Trot, Shadow Spinner, Cinder....) but Dani is a clear favorite. He is such an endearing little boy. I wish I could say that I am as cheerful as he is! But I like Lucien too, even if he is a little beast at the beginning. His journey through the book is one of the most painful I've ever read--yes, in the end he does something great and is regarded as a hero, but he works hard at the seemingly meaningless daily problem of being kind before he gets to that point. Nothing comes easily for him, but he doesn't complain. I love the story too. It is set in Switzerland (!) at Christmastime, for the most part (!!) and the main theme is all about forgiveness. It's a character-driven story (my favorite kind) and the slow melting of their bitterness is a major thread. Patricia St. John pulls it off perfectly. I sorry to say that I don't like many Christian books, though I am a Christian. I get the feeling that most of them are trying far too hard to be spiritual, and only come off as preachy and insignificant.Patricia St. John doesn't have that problem. The love and joy of following Christ simply bubbles off her and into her books. I don't think she even has to try--on the contrary, she would probably have to try to keep it out of them. She's like one of those people who, no matter how the conversation starts, ends up talking about how awesome God is. Not in a preachy, let's-all-be-holy way, but as if they are so filled up with the love of God that they just can't help talking about Him. That is, indeed, the very best thing about this book.
Do You like book Treasures Of The Snow (2001)?
This was one of my favorite books as a child. It played a huge role in my life since it was the book I was reading when I realized I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart. I just read it again with my children, and it's still just as powerful as it was when I first read it!Patricia St. John has a mesmerizing way of writing and drawing her reader into her story. This book is a story of selfishness, anger, loneliness and bitterness and about forgiveness and the power of a Savior who brings love into the hearts of those who believe in him--perfect love which casts all the rest out.
—Joy
This book has 26 chapters and is the perfect Christmas book. My family read this out loud as every December. Starting on December first, my mother would read one chapter aloud to us every night. After we opened presents on Christmas day, we would lie around listening to the end of the story. Even though my brothers and I knew the story inside and out, it's description of sin and forgiveness, and the loving grace of God was still beautiful every time. I can remember my mom starting to cry (every time!) as she read the part where the old man tells his life story. She would have to pass the book to Dad who never managed to finish the chapter without at least a wobble in his voice. It's a fabulous book!
—Keren
Lovely story, with a 'complete' ending, (similar to a 'happy' ending, but more than that, the story is well-crafted and orderly and perfectly balanced, much like a circle that is drawn freehand to near perfection) without all the violence and adrenaline rush that typically drive the plot of many, if not most contemporary novels. Ms Pat proves you can tell a good story complete with good teachings behind it, with just normal everyday objects and circumstances (of course Dani's broken leg doesn't happen every day). She blends the spiritual with natural very naturally, and the gospel is seen, heard and felt multiple times through the story. No, actually it is the central theme of the story. Worth many reads, especially to be read with or by children!
—Clement Lee
