Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Puffin Books (2006), Edition: Reprint, 196 pages
Description
Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. For 12-year-old Peter Lundstrom, the Norwegian winter of 1940 begins like any other. When he isn't in school, he spends the cold days outside, going sledding in the deep snow of his mountain village. But all around him, the adults are talking about the war that is raging through much of Europe. One day Uncle Victor warns that German soldiers will invade soon. He believes they will try to steal the bank's gold bullion. But he has a daring plan to protect the treasure. The only trouble is-it relies on Peter and his friends. Will the village children be able to fool the suspicious Nazis? Marie McSwigan's exciting Snow Treasure is based on the tale a Norwegian ship captain told as he unloaded a cargo of gold in Baltimore. Though the children and the village were never identified, the story is thought to be true by many. Narrator John McDonough's stirring performance captures the tension and adventure as Peter and his friends risk their lives to help their country.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Jinjifore
This is one of my favorite books from childhood, and as I grew older and learned more about the history that surrounded the events in the book, I appreciated it even more. It's a wonderful story, well-told, and gives an all-important glimpse into our not-so-distant history.
LibraryThing member benuathanasia
A wonderful story about an obscure part of WWII history.
LibraryThing member srssrs
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan is a great historical fiction piece to add to any school library. The first interesting thing about this book is that it begins with a "Did this story really happen?" right away it gets kids interested and thinking! Another interesting aspect of this story is that
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the chapters don't have titles. When I used this with a reading class I had them write titles for the chapters as we completed them. This got them a bit more involved with the story. Alas, anything that is historical fiction does require some background knowledge and pre-teaching, so the students are more familiar with plot action and the real events that are woven into the story. Another item about Snow Treasure that I liked is that there are lots of male and female characters, so any child can begin to connect with a character. Snow Treasure is not a fast paced plot, but it is engaging. Show Less
LibraryThing member TechnologyAlien
This is an inspiring story of children helping an entire country during World War II.
LibraryThing member kerriwilliams
Great story about children setting thier minds to do something and doing it. The story is a little slow in spots but makes up for it and the end with a surprise twist that the reader is not expecting.
The illustrations are black and white pictures and help readers to get an idea of what is being
The theme wold be no matter your size or your age you can do great things.
The illustrations are black and white pictures and help readers to get an idea of what is being
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described, this is helpful for readers who may not have a lot of experince in snow or colder climates.The theme wold be no matter your size or your age you can do great things.
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LibraryThing member cattriona
I read this book in my childhood, and was delighted to find that not only was it still available, it is still in print. The tale is a fun, adventurous read for children, but reading it as an adult, I realized what great risks the children were taking. Debate rages on as to whether these events ever
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took place, but it is a good story to introduce or remind children of other countries' involvement in WW II without being too scary. Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member gfly
A suspenseful story about Norwegian children who become heroes against Nazi infantry during WW II
LibraryThing member ParadisePorch
The forward to Snow Treasure says:
On June 28,1940, nearly a year after World War II broke out in Europe, the Norwegian freighter BOMMA reached Baltimore with a cargo of gold bullion worth $9,000,000…..The gold, it was reported, had been slipped past Nazi sentries by Norwegian boys and
For many years the story was believed true. But over 60 years later, there is no proof that it ever really happened. We do not know. But we do know that the story captures tjhe courage of many children who, caught up in the war, have helped their country in a time of great danger.
Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Norway in April 1940. This story tells of a group of 25 schoolchildren, ranging in age from 8 to 12, who purportedly moved several tons of gold from a hiding spot which had been carved from the forest and the snow, directly past a Nazi encampment to a designated spot where they buried the gold and built snowmen as markers. This went on for weeks and was supposedly never detected even though the children were mere feet from Nazi soldiers daily.
It’s very difficult for me to believe that this story is true. No doubt the freighter captain used it to deflect attention from the actual resistance fighters who loaded the ship. If it was true, after the war the children would certainly have told people and there would be much oral history to support it.
Tidbit: The freighter Bomma has been renamed in the story as the Cleng Peerson, a little bit of irony since Peerson was a pioneer who led the first group of Norwegians to emigrate to the United States.
I couldn’t warm to Snow Treasure, “a story of courage and adventure”, although I’m aware that it’s considered a minor classic. Part of that is the writing style which seemed dated and a little clunky. In addition, I think it undermines the awareness of the true danger that ones in Nazi occupied countries faced.
Also, I was slightly rankled by the way that the elderly servant Per Garson spoke. His speech had the cadence of a Norwegian speaking English – an effect that was unnecessary and out of place, since he would have been speaking Norwegian like everyone else, and not a second language.
Written in 1942 and published just months after the U.S. entered WWII, it’s a fine piece of war propaganda that encourages all good little boys & girls to support their country during wartime. It no doubt felt to many a child who collected tinfoil & weeded a victory garden like a warm pat on the back for being part of the war effort.
But I’m still only lukewarm.
On June 28,1940, nearly a year after World War II broke out in Europe, the Norwegian freighter BOMMA reached Baltimore with a cargo of gold bullion worth $9,000,000…..The gold, it was reported, had been slipped past Nazi sentries by Norwegian boys and
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girls!…So that no harm might come to the brave children, the captain would not tell the location of the fiord (where the freighter hid and to which the children brought their sleds).For many years the story was believed true. But over 60 years later, there is no proof that it ever really happened. We do not know. But we do know that the story captures tjhe courage of many children who, caught up in the war, have helped their country in a time of great danger.
Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Norway in April 1940. This story tells of a group of 25 schoolchildren, ranging in age from 8 to 12, who purportedly moved several tons of gold from a hiding spot which had been carved from the forest and the snow, directly past a Nazi encampment to a designated spot where they buried the gold and built snowmen as markers. This went on for weeks and was supposedly never detected even though the children were mere feet from Nazi soldiers daily.
It’s very difficult for me to believe that this story is true. No doubt the freighter captain used it to deflect attention from the actual resistance fighters who loaded the ship. If it was true, after the war the children would certainly have told people and there would be much oral history to support it.
Tidbit: The freighter Bomma has been renamed in the story as the Cleng Peerson, a little bit of irony since Peerson was a pioneer who led the first group of Norwegians to emigrate to the United States.
I couldn’t warm to Snow Treasure, “a story of courage and adventure”, although I’m aware that it’s considered a minor classic. Part of that is the writing style which seemed dated and a little clunky. In addition, I think it undermines the awareness of the true danger that ones in Nazi occupied countries faced.
Also, I was slightly rankled by the way that the elderly servant Per Garson spoke. His speech had the cadence of a Norwegian speaking English – an effect that was unnecessary and out of place, since he would have been speaking Norwegian like everyone else, and not a second language.
Written in 1942 and published just months after the U.S. entered WWII, it’s a fine piece of war propaganda that encourages all good little boys & girls to support their country during wartime. It no doubt felt to many a child who collected tinfoil & weeded a victory garden like a warm pat on the back for being part of the war effort.
But I’m still only lukewarm.
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LibraryThing member Cottonwood.School
A daring adventure based on a true story about a group of Norwegian children who smuggled nine million dollars in gold past Nazi sentries during World War II.
LibraryThing member AprilBrown
A childhood favorite re-visited.
Is the story as good as I remember? – No
What ages would I recommend it too? – Five and up.
Length? – Most of a day’s read.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters.
Setting? – Norway during World War 2.
Written approximately? – 1942.
Does the story leave
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questions in the readers mind? – Did this really happen? What happened after Peter left?Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? Possibly.
Short storyline: Before the Nazi's landed in Norway, Peter is a typical 12 year old, and sure of himself. He has a plan to save the village's gold (said to be the gold for the whole country). He offers to assist, and then is shut out of all decision making while the adults make plans he must follow without asking questions, while putting himself, and his closest friends in life threatening danger to save the gold.
Notes for the reader: Untrue to character. The Peter at the beginning of the book would not bow to allowing the adults to make all the plans, and just follow unquestioningly. He would be part of the decision making process. Sledding through the regiment would never have been allowed beyond the first day. Third, heir refusal to speak would have had them arrested by the Nazis and tortured. They'd know something was wrong. Especially when the adults refused to speak to them.
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LibraryThing member FriendsLibraryFL
Marie McSwigan's book is based on the story a Norwegian ship captain told as he unloaded a cargo of gold in wartime is an exciting, suspenseful tale of Norwegian children and their contributions to protecting their town's gold during the German occupation in 1940. Convinced that the Germans will
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try to steal their town's considerable wealth of gold bouillon from the banks, the townsmen decide that it must be removed. Since a group of adults can't remove the gold without the Germans finding out, the townsmen develop a daring plan involving the children. In teams, the children will carry the bouillon on their sleds down to the river where one of the townsmen will load them onto his ship to take to the United States. Various problems arise as the children begin to carry out this plan, but they are resolved. Show Less
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
One of my favorite kids' books. Read it aloud when we homeschooled.
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
One of my favorite kids' books. Read it aloud when we homeschooled.
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
One of my favorite kids' books. Read it aloud when we homeschooled.
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
One of my favorite kids' books. Read it aloud when we homeschooled.
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
One of my favorite kids' books. Read it aloud when we homeschooled.
LibraryThing member krau0098
My 11yr old son had read this and really enjoyed it. He gave it to me to read. This book holds up well and was very well written. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would; it was an interesting look at a part of WWII you don’t hear much about.
This book details supposed events that took
The book is short, but the story is well written and engaging. I enjoyed it a lot and read it in maybe 30 min or so.
Overall this was a well done book set in the WWII era about children who helped with the war effort in Norway. I would recommend to children who are interested in history. While this isn’t a non-fiction book, it is based on speculated events that happened during that era.
This book details supposed events that took
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place in Norway in the winter of 1940. Norway was trying to secretly transport its wealth to the USA for safekeeping, while Nazi guards were patrolling the area. The Norwegian resistance supposedly enlisted children to help with this. This book is based on speculated events, not actual recorded events.The book is short, but the story is well written and engaging. I enjoyed it a lot and read it in maybe 30 min or so.
Overall this was a well done book set in the WWII era about children who helped with the war effort in Norway. I would recommend to children who are interested in history. While this isn’t a non-fiction book, it is based on speculated events that happened during that era.
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LibraryThing member Robinsonstef
It is 1940 when the Nazis invade Norway. Peter Lundstrom is only twelve, but he's about to become part of the grownup world. His father is a banker and is working with other leaders in the town to try and outwit the Nazis by smuggling the country’s gold bullion to a safe place. Luckily, Peter’s
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan is a wonderful book about brave kids who take on adult responsibilities during dangerous times. Peter and his friends are easy to relate to and seem like typical kids you would find anywhere. The book says that it is based on true events that are believed to have taken place in Norway during WWII. I am not sure how much of the story is true, but I was definitely on the edge of my seat hoping that the kids would get the job done! This is an excellent book to bring history to life for kids in fourth through eighth grade. Older readers will enjoy it as well! Be prepared to have history unfold for you as you read about the kids of Norway and their experience. I learned a lot about what life was like in Norway during the war and I definitely hope to visit one day. This book is a reminder about the hard life people had during WWII. A great addition to any home, school, or classroom library.
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Uncle Victor is a sea captain who plans to sail the gold to America. The plan depends on Peter and the other children taking the gold from the top of the mountains to the fjord below. Sledding the gold away seems like it will be easy at first, but the German soldiers are not to be underestimated. Many trips will need to be made to get all of the bullion down to the boat. The fact that one of the soldiers speaks Norwegian makes everything even harder. There is plenty of snow, and the children do have many opportunities for sledding, but the soldiers are on their trail and each day their task becomes more challenging. When it looks like they will be caught, Peter must think fast and hope for the best. Will the children be able to get all the gold out of Norway? What will happen if Peter’s diversion doesn’t work? Is keeping the gold out of the hands of the Nazis worth the risk? You will be intrigued from the start and will keep turning the pages to see if everyone makes it out alive!Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan is a wonderful book about brave kids who take on adult responsibilities during dangerous times. Peter and his friends are easy to relate to and seem like typical kids you would find anywhere. The book says that it is based on true events that are believed to have taken place in Norway during WWII. I am not sure how much of the story is true, but I was definitely on the edge of my seat hoping that the kids would get the job done! This is an excellent book to bring history to life for kids in fourth through eighth grade. Older readers will enjoy it as well! Be prepared to have history unfold for you as you read about the kids of Norway and their experience. I learned a lot about what life was like in Norway during the war and I definitely hope to visit one day. This book is a reminder about the hard life people had during WWII. A great addition to any home, school, or classroom library.
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Subjects
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1942
Physical description
196 p.; 7.74 x 0.56 inches
ISBN
0142402249 / 9780142402245