Mattie in the Snow

Set in rural Sweden near Christmas time, the story centres on young Mattie, who has a very vivid imagination. This gets her into a lot of trouble but, thanks to Tom, one of the tailors with whom her father works, she eventually sorts things out. 'We know so little about people's real lives,' Tom tells Mattie when she visits the workshop - a theme which is explored throughout this perceptive book. The depth of characterisation is unusual in a book for young readers; it's one I strongly recommend.