Ice

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Why had her father left, and why did she never hear from him? Even if her mother had divorced him, why had he forgotten her, too? For three years Chrissa has been angry. Too angry to speak to her mother, Chrissa only wants to figure out why Nick, her father, has gone out of both their lives. She had never been the child he wanted; every memory of him said he thought she had no spunk, was an unattractive nothing. Yet she need him. Needed him to care. "We're not going to go on like this", her mother said. "I'm sending you to live with Gram for a year." Chrissa couldn't believe it. Spend a year in the country, instead of in New York City? What would she do there? How would she survive? Yet her grandmother was Nick's mother. Might the country hold the secret of where Nick had gone?

There is more to do at Gram's than Chrissa imagined, especially when the search for her father takes an unexpected turn as her grandmother becomes the dupe of an unscrupulous duo. Her father is needed, Chrissa thinks, to save Gram. Yet in the end it is Chrissa herself who successfully confronts not one crisis, but two. And when she does discover what has happened to her father, it is after the ice that held her heart has already melted. She no longer needs his approval. She is her own person.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Coming Of Age, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Novels, Contemporary

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor was born in Anderson, Indiana, US on January 4, 1933.

Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.

Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."

By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.

Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.

Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

In grade 6 back in 2001/2002 school year, I was so obsessed with this book that it went on to be the basis of my usernames for the next 5 years. I also stole it from the school library and to this day it is the only thing that I’ve ever stolen. Anyways, I still have it somewhere in 2022. I will not be giving it back, and I’ll probably re-read as an adult to see if it holds up.

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

Milestone--My 100th book this year oh yea oh yea...
Well this was okay but not a favorite; the premise and mystery aspect was interesting and I think I can tease a booktalk out of it and get kids interested in finding out what is happening..So I had no idea what I was picking up when I saw the title was simply Ice but I was intrigued and like to read around the library to see what’s out there and what kids can check out and this author seems to be pretty popular..this story though is totally not about Ice in a literal sense at all..remove all preconceived notions as this is the figurative freezing of emotions in a preteen girl’s heart. Yup it’s emotional and all about feelings with Chrissa who is a sullen, moody and rude girl who resents her mother for keeping the mystery of her missing father from her. Chrissa’s behavior gets to be just too much so her mother sends her to live with her father’s mother—away for a whole school year with just her grandmother’s house and miles of quiet country life around her. Used to the city Chrissa is sad at first until she realizes that if anyone knows where her father is: did he really abandon her, is he dead? And as Chrissa keeps searching and remembering her father and how he treated her and her mother—is he really worth looking for?
Chrissa’s teen journey of exploration is accentuated with side plots of a scheming preacher and nephew, a babysitting job that turns scary and adventurous during of all things an ice storm, a budding relationship with Thad, the hunting neighbor boy and just the gradual “thawing” of Chrissa towards her mom and her grandmother. So she actually does find out the truth however as you read you realize it doesn’t matter and while you think the book is about finding the father its about her finding out who she is—yeah very afterschool special book with a purpose kind of thing and I must admit if not for the mystery aspect it really would drag on and on and even with the dramatic icy night it was still hard to keep my attention..hope my young readers can connect to Chrissa and lashing out transferring negativity and learn..I think I want my 5th graders to try this one.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. A little boring. Highlights the importance of truth telling and communication.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het verhaal gaat over Chris, een meisje van 13. Chris zit ontzettend in de knoop met zichzelf, haar gevoelens zijn verstild, als ijs , sinds haar vader niet meer thuis kwam. Ze trekt in bij haar oma. Wat volgt is geen verhaal vol actie, maar een verhaal vol metaforen en een meisje dat worstelt met haar gevoelens. Ze probeert er het beste van te maken bij haar oma thuis en is steeds meer op haar plek, maar waar is haar vader nou?
'IJs' is een gevoelig verhaal voor echte drama- liefhebbers. Je kruipt in de huid van een verwarde 13-jarige en dat heeft de auteur heel knap gedaan. Het verhaal blijft boeiend en ook best geloofwaardig. Uiteindelijk zit er zelfs een wijze les is het verhaal

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chrissa's father has left, leaving her and her mother with a strained relationship. Chrissie goes to live with her grandmother, where she uncovers all kinds of truths.

At first, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this story because Chrissie starts out quite unlikable. However, she becomes more understandable as the story progresses and we discover her motivations. Being removed from her former life and being exposed to new and interesting experiences provides Chrissie an opportunity to process her complex emotions and mature into a strong and admirable character.

[Rijan · Rating 1 out of 5]

i think that "this book may give some knowledge"

[Wirt]

Finally found this book
Loved it
I have to read it againn

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chrissa's emotions have turned to ice since her father disappeared from her life three years ago. At 13 she is having trouble getting along with her mother, so her mom sends her to her Gram's house to live for summer and the following school year. Chrissa is desperate to find her father and solve the mystery that surrounds him. As she digs for the answers a number of other things happen in her life to help her find out where she fits in in this universe. Nature plays a big roll, too. This is such a well-written book (I'm a Phyllis Reynolds Naylor fan) - it keeps you wanting to turn the next page; I couldn't put the book down. And, I'm glad I didn't - it was such a good read. I think teens ages 13+ would really enjoy this book. Excellent perspective can be gained by kids who read this.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can life be any more challenging for thirteen-year-old Chrissa Jennings? Her parents' divorce has left her hurt, angry, and lonely. Her father appears to have abandoned her; her mother gives no explanation for the absence of Nick Jennings whom Chrissa has not seen in three years.

Chrissa has an icy relationship with her mother and refuses to talk to her; consequently, mother sends Chrissa to live with her paternal grandmother. County life with Gram is different from life in New York City. Gram's home is drab but does have a yard, a pond and an inviting, peaceful woods. At Gram's, Chrissa meets the strange Sister Harmony and Harmony's sinister nephew. Chrissa starts a furtive search for her father.

Ice has several subplots and an exciting conclusion!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chrissa's father is gone, and she has no idea where he is. She hasen't seen him in three years, and her mother refuses to talk about it. Chrissa withdraws into herself, and her mother sends her from her home in New York City, to her grandmother's home outside of Rochester, NY. There Chrissa finds out about her father, and she finds what it feels like to be needed and loved. Within this she reconnects with both her parents and makes friends outside her immediate family.

[Maddii · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read ICE a long time ago but remember it well, it was interesting with twists and turns that make it more and more interesting, I will say that though, this book in my opinion should have had more about her and her MLI. There was no clarity on if she and him actually became a thing or not and for me that was incredibly frustrating but her story was inspiring and I really enjoyed her doing what she had to.

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book I believe a year or two ago. I was really interested in reading it again because of the lesson behind it. It's an easy and fast contemporary that teachers readers that we have to decide eventually how we feel about ourselves- despite what those we admire may think of us.

[Sam]

I like beacuse it is about a girl how father just left 2 yrs ago and then sent to her grams. And about what her father and help save grams money from evil women and her nephew.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember actually pulling this book from the shelf at Lehi Elemantary. Very good book.

[Kristiina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is the best YA book I think I've ever read. I couldn't put it down. I could really relate to the connection to nature.

[Megan]

AN AMAZING BOOK!!!!

[lilly]

This book so far is really good. Although it is very sad

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot get into Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's novels like I can with her Alice books.

[Ivie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this boook!!!!

[TheLibraryOfSarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a girl who's been mad for 3 years, and when she's sent to live with her grandmother, the ice melts away.

[Trish Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

All time favorite book; this is the book that made me fall in love with reading.

[Shi'Asia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a paper stating I read this book. but I honestly don't remember it. I might just have to re-read this one since the reviews are so great.

[Lynette Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in middle school and only remember parts of it. I remember liking it quite a bit and being very intrigued.

[Tatumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Expected something a bit more exciting from the summary on the back, but a good book nonetheless. More of a coming-of-age drama than a thriller.

[Beatrice Guillaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have recently read a book called Ice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. She is most known for writing young adult fiction, which is what this book is. This book is fiction and has some adventure at the end. It does not however have any mythical creatures in it, it is definitely not fantasy. It is a realistic fiction. This story could happen in modern day times and would not seem absurd. This book was from the school library and the title and blurb was covered with tissue, so was the picture at the front. It was a mystery book.I did therefore, not chose it. I am very pleased I got this book because I really enjoyed it.
This book is about a girl of 13 years. She lives with her mother in New York city. The last time she saw her father was a couple of years ago. Since her father left her and her mother without telling he why, she is at the same time sad and mad. She does not make much conversation at all with her mother. Because of this, the mother decides to send her off to live with her paternal grandmother, in the country, for one year. The person this story revolves around is Chrissa Jennings and her grandmother, (a bit less important in the story), Ma Jennings. When she is sent away, she sets herself a goal and is determined to find out what happened to her father, and why he left. At first, Ma Jennings and Chrissa are enemies. At the end, they put their heads together to find a solution. She builds herself a good life there with friends, from all ages.
I really liked this book and believe it was one of the best books I have read all year. This proves that not seeing the title of the book is sometimes better than seeing it. The main plot, especially at the end is exciting and believable. The characters seemed very real and could even be walking down one of New York’s streets this very instant. There was not much humour in this book but there was one scary bit for the character, but when you hear it, it does not really make you think of fright. I really liked the end part when the character chooses between herself and two kids that aren’t even hers. She chooses both. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is within the recommended reading age. I would say that this book would suit people from the ages of 11-15 but anyone older could also read this book and still really enjoy it. I would give this book a 10 out of 10.

[Anskjc]

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