This story of girl-meets-polar bear is a modern retelling of the Norwegian folk tale EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON, which itself is very similar to the timeless classic BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Capping out at 494 pages (including the epilogues), this somewhat lengthy novel more than makes up for the space it’ll take up on your bookshelf. EAST is targeted toward young adults, and the main character—troubled teenager Rose—is extraordinarily written, highly relatable, and a positive role model as a brave, headstrong young woman. What really makes this novel unique is how often the point of view changes; Pattou constantly shifts between Rose, her loving father, her protective brother, and other essential characters to expertly reveal each character’s personalities and thoughts—all with plenty of warning to keep readers from becoming confused. Best of all, EAST isn’t one of those stereotypical damsel-in-distress novels, but more of a prince-in-peril type story. Fans of strong female protagonists and fantasy romance will find themselves snug under the covers for hours on end reading this literary masterpiece.

Although the story is fiction, it is set in the frigid tundra of Scandinavia. The protagonist, Rose, is born facing North, a direction her superstitious mother fears will cause the girl to grow up with a brash personality and a strong desire to leave home. Her mother hides the truth, but Rose grows up just as she should: headstrong and adventurous. When one of her six siblings becomes deathly ill and the family sinks into destitution, Rose is visited by a great white bear, a magical, articulate beast who offers to heal her sister and grace her family with good fortune if she agrees to leave with him. She is brought to a magnificent, uninhabited castle, where she is nightly visited by a mysterious man. Rose discovers the truth behind the stranger’s identity, but as her adventure unfolds, the truths she reveals about herself are more than she ever could have imagined.