The Snows by Sharelle Byars Moranville
Henry Holt and Company, New York: 2007
ISBN: 0-8050-7469-4

Plot Summary:
The Snows is told from the point of view of four different family members, all when they are 16 years old. Unlike other stories told from multiple perspectives, The Snows continues chronologically, rather than describing the same events four times over. It begins with Jim Snow in 1931. He lives in a small town in Iowa and his father has sold his barber shop and takes the family on a road trip out West in the hopes of opening a grocery store in Colorado. This story is sort of in the spirit of The Grapes of Wrath, in that they encounter a lot of hardships on the road during the Great Depression. However, unlike the Joads, they end up turning around and going back to Iowa, where Jim ends up marrying Julia, the girl he thought he was leaving behind for good.

The next section is narrated by Cathy, Jim Snow's younger sister. It is 1942 and men are being drafted to fight in the war. Cathy ends up falling for Julia's brother, and they make love right before he ships off for training. Of course, she gets pregnant and he dies in a Jeep accident. She is shipped off to a home for unwed mothers, however, instead of giving her child up for adoption, Julia and Jim end up keeping her daughter and raising it as their own.

Jill is the daughter of Jim Snow, and his second wife Alice, Julia had passed away from cancer. It is 1969 and Jill is a peace protester and smokes a lot of pot. He father ships her off to live with her older sister, who teaches at Kent State. Of course, Jill gets caught up in the shootings at the protest and her father comes back to get her.

The final section is narrated by Mona, Jill's daughter who is 16 in 2006. Jill is a famous reporter, and Mona feels like she's in her shadow. They have to return to Iowa to attend Cathy's funeral, and it turns out that after she had her baby, she went on to live a wonderful, prosperous life. Mona starts to appreciate her family more.

Critical Evaluation:
This was a very enjoyable book. I liked having to put together the pieces of the family story as it continued its trajectory into the future. It really made me want to learn more about my ancestors and reminded me that the people who I've only known as senior citizens were once young and probably did crazy things as well. Moranville's used major events in U.S. history not only as a backdrop, but something her characters participated in. All the events she chose: the Great Depression, WWII, Vietnam and Kent State would be ones that older teens would recognize (hopefully) and use to make sense of the characters' situations. The fact that all the characters were narrating their sections at the age of 16 brings a sense of importance to that age and would really make a teenager appreciate what teens of different eras experienced.

Reader’s Annotation:
Being 16 is hard no matter what generation you're from. The Snows all get through it with the support of their family.

Information about the Author:
Sharelle Byars Moranville teaches creative writing to children and adults in Des Moines, Iowa. She was a student at Kent State during the 1970 shootings, which she wrote about in The Snows.

Genre: historical fiction

Curriculum Ties: American history

Booktalking Ideas:
I would introduce the four characters and the different time periods they are 16 years old in. I would say they are all Snows, but would probably keep secret exactly how they are all related so the audience will have to read to find out.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
The reading level is not very difficult, but older students would appreciate the story more since they would be aware of the different times in history. Ages 16 and up.

Challenge Issues:
This book might be challenged because one character is an unwed mother and another smokes pot. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this book:
I was a fan of A Higher Geometry by Moranville, and thought the concept of this book sounded interesting. I think older teens would really enjoy this book and its unique structure.