Andrei and the Snow Walker

Sylvia Pantaleo is an associate professor of education, specializing in
children’s literature, at the University of Victoria. She is the
coauthor of Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary
Classroom.

At the turn of the century, 12-year-old Andrei Bayda and his family
leave their Ukrainian homeland and travel to a homestead near Batoche,
Saskatchewan. The plot revolves around the family’s prairie life and a
sacred Scythian cup that Andrei’s Dido (grandfather) has brought to
Canada. Essentially, the book details events in the family’s life, and
subplots include an unwanted suitor for Andrei’s sister, Marusia,
Andrei’s desire to own a horse, friendships with individuals who are
of Cree and Métis heritage, and Andrei’s encounters with the
mysterious Snow Walker.

Warwaruk’s portrayal of prairie life seems accurate, and readers
learn about the heritage of the characters. However, on several
occasions, the excessive description of the Ukrainian and Cree cultures
overwhelms the narrative and detracts from reader engagement. Further,
the characterization is flat, the plot is slow, and the believability of
some events is questionable. Not recommended.