Customer Reviews
Eric's Review of Snow Treasure,
2008-11-24
This story is about a boy named Peter who lives in Norway at the start of World War II. When Norway is invaded by the Germans, Peter helps sneak gold past the Nazis on a sled. His Uncle Victor came up with the idea, and every person in Peter's school helped. They did this operation because they were afraid the Germans would steal the gold and use it to buy guns to kill the Norwegians. They had children take the gold to disguise it as sledding, so the Nazis wouldn't suspect. At first, it was 4 bars of gold per person, and then it was 5, so they could move the gold faster. The children sat or rode on the gold while they were sledding.
Every night Uncle Victor loaded gold onto his ship, which was camouflaged by snow and trees. When all the gold was moved, he would sail it across the ocean to America for safekeeping. The operation is dangerous because if the Germans found out the children were helping to sneak gold past them, they could be shot. There is also a Polish young man who was forced to join the Nazis but does not want to be one of them. He discovers what the children are doing. At the end of the story, there is a surprise ending.
I liked this book because it was an interesting story. It was exciting, but some parts of the story got sort of boring. It was a serious story, and I like humorous books better. Adventure stories are my second favorite, though, and this book was a good adventure story.
Snow Treasure,
2008-10-07
by Emily J. Taylor (Utah)
The book seems simple and unimpressive enough--and frankly it doesn't try to be anything else. Maybe that is what makes it work so well! It's frank and honest with itself as it tells its story.This is possibly just a footnote of WWII. But it certainly makes for a pretty exciting kids' story, especially when one considers that this was a thoroughly brave event done by kids.Basically, we have a European village that is trying to transport its gold. So the village children, being the innocent and ignorable little brats they are, sneak the treasure on their sleds right in front of soldiers. Yes, simple, but I found myself getting choked up by just how brave this little action was. The characters are cute, and there is just the right amount of drama to add in the terror. Just a simple little book, but really very neat.
Children make heroic patriots,
2008-06-10
by Chatelaine (Connecticut, USA)
In 1940 the Nazis came to Norway. The patriots of the country did not want their country's gold to fall into Nazi hands and support the war from the wrong side, but knew of no way to get it to safety. This is the story of the brave children who appeared to constantly be playing in the snow, but were transporting the gold on their sleds past the Nazis. At night men would locate the gold where the children had hidden it, and remove it to a ship. It was taken safely away to America beyond the Nazis' reach.
This story would be ideal for a family read aloud book.
Snow Treasure Review by Frankie Alvarez,
2008-01-28
I found Snow Treasure at the Library and was unsure if this was a book I would like. I seemed like it would be interesting. Once I started reading it, I instantly liked it. The book takes place in Norway in the winter of 1940. The Nazi soldiers had arrived in Norway and wanted to take over the country. The Norwegians were afraid that they would take their gold. They knew that the best way to protect it was to get it to the USA. But how were they going to do it without the Nazi soldiers knowing? The men of the town had an idea to use the children to take the gold bricks on their sleds to the harbor. Peter Lundstrom, a 12 year old boy, his sister, friends and other children from Riswyk school took the gold bricks from a cave where the bricks were hidden to the harbor. When they got there they hid them by building snowmen over them. At night, Peter's uncle would dig the bricks out and take them to his ship so no one could see what they were doing. Would the Nazi soldiers ever suspect the children? What would happen if they got caught? This was a very dangerous mission. There were a few close calls and even a possible Nazi spy watching them. On the last trip with the gold, Peter got arrested. Luckily he got rescued and sails off with his Uncle, the crew, and the gold to America. This book showed how brave the children were and how much the Norwegians wanted to keep their freedom. This book is supposed to be based on a real life event. I would encourage others to read this awesome story.
It's still in print!,
2007-12-27
by Kristine Andre (Kelseyville, CA)
I read this book as a child over and over again in the 1960's. I read it so often, the spine fell apart and I lost the first 20 pages. I didn't think this small book would still be in print--but it is! My grandparents were from Norway, I have visited there several times and recall conversations with relatives about hardships during the Nazi occupation. The book reflects the national pride the Norwegians feel for their country and the risks they were willing to take to do what was right - not easy, but right. I still have the book--now I can read the first 20 pages! This book is one of the most memorable books I read as a child--and I read alot!! The story has stayed with me.