The publisher says...

A beautiful and timely coming-of-age story about finding out who you are in the face of crisis and change. Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Fiona Wood and Emily Rodda. 

A runaway, a baby and a whole lot of questions... 

Lissa is home on her own after school one afternoon when a stranger turns up on the doorstep carrying a baby. Reed is on the run - surely people are looking for him? He's trying to find out who he really is and thinks Lissa's mum might have some answers. But how could he be connected to Lissa's family - and why has he been left in charge of a baby? A baby who is sick, and getting sicker... Reed's appearance stirs up untold histories in Lissa's family, and suddenly she is having to make sense of her past in a way she would never have imagined. Meanwhile, her brother is dealing with a devastating secret of his own. 

The author says...

The title comes from one day during winter when I was at my son’s place near Daylesford, in Central Victoria. His house is in a clearing surrounded by forest. I was standing on his deck and it was raining hard, loud on the tin roof. It was a very cold day, and as I stood there, the temperature dropped that couple of degrees, and all of a sudden everything was quiet, there was no more loud rain on the roof, and the rain itself slowed down, became soft and gentle - because it had turned to snow. And it was like this magical moment in time, when all that was harsh and loud transformed into something graceful. There’s a scene in the book when this happens, and it corresponds with a sad but poignant, gentle discovery for one of the characters. When we were doing the cover for the book, I sent Allison Colpoys (the designer and illustrator of the cover) many photos of the clearing and area, and I love the way she has captured the moment in the story when the rain turns to snow. 

The CBCA judges say...

This book is a wonderful example of a compelling and page-turning mystery that could be enjoyed by readers in the whole age range, from 13-18 years. Set in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, the reader is given a real sense of the iciness of winter. Lissa is a relatable girl dealing with loneliness and toxic relationships on several fronts from her family and her friends. The added mystery of Reed, and why he has turned up with a baby, makes for a highly compelling story. Godwin handles the added element of cyber bullying with care, while not sounding as though she is lecturing the reader on the dangers of social media. This is an excellent addition to the lower end of the Older Readers category, perfect for early teens/tweens who are ready for more than many middle grade books have to offer but are not quite ready for some of the themes present in older YA books. The voice of Lissa is wholly authentic – a rare example of a young character who does not sound older than her age; while the pop culture/social media references and dialogue serve to enhance the relatability rather than detract from it. While Godwin covers many big themes, there are moments of genuine humour and hope that lead to a satisfying conclusion. This book is a joy to read.

The Reading Time reviewers say...

Teaching Notes for this book...