Plot Summary

Light on Snow

Anita Shreve
Guide cover placeholder

Light on Snow

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004

Book Brief

Anita Shreve

Light on Snow

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004
Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New Hampshire • 2000s

Theme
Publication Year

2004

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

Lexile Level

750L

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Light on Snow by Anita Shreve, twelve-year-old Nicky Dillon and her father, Robert, lead an emotionally frozen life in a small New Hampshire town after the deaths of Nicky's mother and sister. Their world is abruptly altered when they rescue a newborn abandoned in the snow. Themes of grief, family, moral guilt, and the quest for connection are explored as they navigate the aftermath of the event. The novel features death, grief, and a near-infanticide.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Emotional

Bittersweet

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.0

34,717 ratings

58%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Anita Shreve's Light on Snow impresses with its evocative prose and deeply resonant themes of loss and healing. Readers commend the richly developed characters and atmospheric setting. However, some criticize the narrative's pacing, finding it slow at times. Yet, overall, the novel's emotional depth and introspective nature leave a lasting impact.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Light on Snow?

Fans of introspective, emotional narratives like Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper and Sue Miller's The Senator's Wife will appreciate the reflective and poignant storytelling in Anita Shreve's Light on Snow. The reader enjoys exploring themes of loss, healing, family dynamics, and the complexities of human connections.

4.0

34,717 ratings

58%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

Light on Snow was the second novel by Anita Shreve to feature a first-person narrative from a young protagonist, exploring themes through the perspective of a 12-year-old girl.

Anita Shreve's inspiration for writing Light on Snow came from her personal experiences of living in an isolated rural New Hampshire setting, which is vividly depicted in the novel.

Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!

The book was praised for its evocative depiction of wintry landscapes and intricate exploration of family dynamics, a hallmark of Shreve's literary style.

Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!

Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New Hampshire • 2000s

Theme
Publication Year

2004

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

Lexile Level

750L

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!