Customer Reviews

Snow Treasure

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

So I'm at a fancy Manhattan party hosted by Columbia University. It's at a swank bar and I'm surrounded by Columbia graduate film students who are mooching like it's nobody's business. Bear with me, this actually has to do with the book, "Snow Treasure". I'm just a humble children's librarian who happens to be married to one of these students so I'm biding my time and drinking my free drink when I am introduced to yet another filmmaker. Usually when I tell such people what my job is they are inclined to nod politely and then scan the room frantically for someone more interesting. Not this gal. On hearing about my job she practically grabs me by my lapels (I say "practically" since I am not in the habit of wearing lapels) and asks excitedly, "Have you read Snow Treasure?!?". I try to pry her fingers from my clothing while admitting that as well-read as I like to boast that I am, I actually don't know this book. She then launches into an emphatic explanation of how much she enjoyed this story when she was a child and how she would like to film it herself someday. And since she goes to school with my husband, it seems only polite that I should read this supposedly marvelous little work. I do, enjoy the book thoroughly, and here we are today. Whether you like it or hate it, it's hard not to admit that "Snow Treasure" is one of those books that stays with you for years and years at a time.

Peter is just your average Norwegian kid. He enjoys sledding in the snow, the occasional snowball fight, and hanging out with his friends and neighbors. Then the Nazis come. It's 1940 and Norway has been invaded by a particularly nasty enemy. This wouldn't be such a problem if Norway were a poor nation. Unfortunately they have gold bullion in their banks worth roughly $9,000,000. It would be great if the bank could get the unprocessed gold to a cargo ship waiting by the sea, but any form of transportation used would probably get searched by the invading army. But what if the carriers were the most innocent available? What if the children were put to use? Before Peter and his friends know it they're running a dangerous mission right under the noses of the Nazis. But will the Nazis ever figure out what exactly is going on? And, almost more importantly, will the snow last?

Husband wants to know what I'm reading. I tell him it's that old classic piece of historical fiction, "Snow Treasure". Husband wants to know when it takes place. I tell him 1940. Husband asks when it was written. I tell him 1942, which shocks both of us equally. As World War II was going on, author Marie McSwigan must have heard this story/rumor, put on her writing glasses, and plugged out an exciting tale of children v. Nazis. Of course, recent printings of the book are mighty careful to include this little caveat in the front: "For many years the story was believed true. But over 60 years later, there is no proof that it ever really happened". So how did Ms. McSwigan hear of it? A quick perusal of the ever handy "Something About the Author" series (available in your local library) and we learn that McSwigan was a journalist back in the day. A Pittsburgh journalist at that. Perhaps (and this is entirely speculation at this point) she heard the rumor of the gold's rescue and made the obvious conclusion that true or not it would make a darned good book for children.

It's odd reading the book secure in the knowledge that when it was published it was a toss up whether or not the Germans were going to win the war in the end. Certainly there isn't any mention of the Jews or their fate. There are, however, several references to concentration camps and the cruelty of the Nazis in general. The book is a teensy bit dated here and there, of course. Peter Lundstrom is twelve-years-old and is told by his father (leaving to fight in the war) to take care of the family since now he's the "man". Then again, McSwigan belies this at the end when Peter's uncle points out that his mother is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Moreover, the girls in this book do everything the boys do and never show any weakness. Even in the face of a nasty Nazi kicking down their snowmen. It's not exactly Gloria Steinem territory, but it's still pretty good for the times. The writing is also upbeat and cuts to the chase right at the beginning. By page 14 you already know what the kids are going to do and it's fast-paced writing from there on in. It might not stand up to intense scrutiny today but it's definitely one of the more interesting books for children processed in 1942.

In regards to the film student who wanted to make a movie out of "Snow Treasure" it'll break her heart, I'm sure, to learn that a film was already made of it in 1969. Sigh. In any case, with its slim size and its gripping plot this is one story that pops off of the page and has been in continual publication since the forties. A good book even today.

I first read this book in 1968. I was completely absorbed by the story. As a nine year old boy, reading books was not my first priority, but the adventure of the story grabbed my attention and I had to be dragged kicking and screaming away from the book for dinner and bedtime. In later years I reread SNOW TREASURE and found it to be extremely well written, with solid character development. The nicest surprise for parents is that this is a true story from the years leading up to WW-II. I strongly recommend this one for your kids, even those who don't like to read.

I grew up next door to Marie McSwigan in Pittsburgh, PA. She made the world come alive as she read to me and several neighbor friends. Much later we learned that we were hearing the first writing of her new book. She asked how we liked it and why. I think she used someof our comments. I have all of her books and read them now to my grandchildren. Many of the episodes are from incidents that happened in our neighborhood. It is truly wonderful to see Snow Treasure still in print. If you ever find other books by Marie McSwigan, I encourage to to buy them and read them.

I've read the reviews out here. What many people aren't aware of is that this is a true story. We recently learned that my great uncle was one of the people involved in moving the gold out of Norway. I'm not sure if Peter's snowballing a German officer is true or not (my uncle wasn't sure), but moving the gold via sled definitely was. After the gold was on board the ship, it was another perilous journey to bring the gold to America, one that he won't tell even us the full story of. Some of the things he knows he has to take to the grave with him for the security and future of Norway, much as we would love to hear them.

As you read the book, keep in mind what he and many others of the Norwegian Underground sacrificed to keep not only Norway's economy safe from the Nazis, but their way of life.

I think that Snow Treasure is an incredible story because Peter Lundstrom and his friend Michael Berg have to slip past Nazi Guards with nine million dollars in gold hidden on their sleds (with them on top of the gold). The Nazi troops parachuted to Peter's mini-village and kept the village captive. Nobody thought that the boys could beat the Nazi's until Peter's Uncle Victor came up with a plan on how to fool the enemy. I think that was a dangerous plan. I didn't think that I would ever do what they did! That's incredible!

Wendi
3rd Grader
Michigan

When I saw this book, I thought that it would be just a normal book with non_exciting parts and exciting parts. I read the first chapter and didn't put it down for the rest of the evening. I wouldn't have put it down if my dad almost yelled at me to PUT IT AWAY.
This book is about a boy and his friends who have their life in their hands. They have to hide a bunch of money and keep it secret from the Nazis. I would recomend tthis book to anyone who loves action and to learn a little bit about the Nazis.

I read this book when I was 10 - I'm now 41. I've been looking for 31 years to find this book again and I'm ordering one dozen copies as soon as I'm done writing this review.

This story has stayed with me since the day I read it. The courage and commitment of the children to help their country. The risks they took to move the gold under the very noses of Nazi officers. Boys and girls alike did their part to protect Norway's gold and their own futures.

I can't wait to wrap up these Christmas presents for every child I know. This was one of the best books I've ever read and I can't wait to read it again.

31 years - I don't think that's too long a time for success.

For twelve-year-old Peter Lundstrom and his friends, life in northern Norway meant snow, lots of it, and wonderful days of sledding for miles down the mountain sled tracks. But the winter of 1940 brought more than snow--it brought Nazi soldiers searching for the gold hidden in the mountain town. Determined to keep the gold out of the hands of their enemies, the townspeople come up with a desperate plan that only the children can carry out. Will Peter and his friends have the courage to slip the gold past the Nazi sentries to safety? What will happen if they're caught?

Based on true events, Snow Treasure is an unforgettable and gripping story of courage and heroism--definitely a worthwhile addition to any child's library.

The Snow Treasure book is about how Nazi troops parachuted to a tiny village. This tiny village had a lot of gold so they used all the kids there to take the gold from a cave to Snake River and bury it in the snow then build a snowman on top of the gold. There was a ship on the Snake River. Then the people who are on the ship they take the gold and put it on the ship. At the end Peter the character in Snow Treasure went to the United States with his uncle to take the gold there.

Peter was the head captain of the team he showed how to get the gold and take it to the snake to bury it in the snow so the people take it to the boat. There were teams going each day to bury the gold by the two falling trees. They used camouflage to cover the boat so the Germans don't see the boat. Germans wanted to get the gold but they couldn't because they couldn't find it. The kids each day passed the Germans with nine million dollars on their sleds.

I recommend these book because it is good to learn how other cities hid there gold so when there was war the other people didn't get the gold. Also it is fun to learn how other kids slid at winter.

Snow Treasure is a thrilling book of courage and bravery. Marie McSwigan depicts a town, Riswyk, in danger of being over-run by Nazi soliders. But the real problem is that the town has all of Norway's gold, 9 million dollars worth in gold bullion that is in danger of being found by Nazi sentries. It's up to Peter and the other children of Riswyk to save it so that Peter's uncle Victor can take it to America for safe keeping. Will the gold make it or will all be lost!? Find out in this wonderful story of wartime bravery that really did happen during World War II! Snow Treasure (The rescue of hidden gold) Written by Marie McSwigan