A novel inspired in part by The Snow Queen inhabits two wintry worlds: one realistic, the other enchanted. Being brown-skinned and adopted wouldn’t be such a problem for Hazel if it didn’t underscore the bigger way she’s different: her personality and interests aren’t in synch with most other kids. The bright spot since she had to change schools following her dad’s departure has been her continuing friendship with Jack, who manages to be loyal to Hazel—the two share a vivid imagination and love of adventure—while maintaining other friendships. Still, a potential new friendship for Hazel leaves her feeling guilty about Jack, whose life is shadowed by his seriously depressed mother. But Jack’s dismissive behavior after Hazel hits him with a snowball is so extraordinary that Hazel is sure there’s something seriously wrong. And she’s right: a small piece of glass embedded in the snowball cut Jack’s eye. It came from the Snow Queen’s mirror and it’s turning Jack’s heart to ice. He becomes an easy target when the Snow Queen lures him away, and Hazel enters the woods where Jack was last seen, crossing a veil into a dark, fairy-tale world to find him. Hazel encounters archetypal characters from the world of folklore as she seeks out the Snow Queen’s lair, but whom can she trust? There are surprises at every turn in Anne Ursu’s deft, immensely satisfying blend of contemporary realistic fiction and fantasy that affirms the powerful bond of friendship. (Ages 9–12)

The winner of numerous awards and recipient of four starred reviews, Anne Ursu's Breadcrumbs is a stunning and heartbreaking story of growing up, wrapped in a modern-day fairy tale.

Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go in after him. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," Breadcrumbs is a stunningly original fairy tale of modern-day America, a dazzling ode to the power of fantasy, and a heartbreaking meditation on how growing up is as much a choice as it is something that happens to us.

In Breadcrumbs, Anne Ursu tells, in her one-of-a-kind voice, a story that brings together fifty years of children's literature in a tale as modern as it is timeless. Hazel's journey to come to terms with her evolving friendship with Jack will deeply resonate with young readers.

Supports the Common Core State Standards

What will Hazel find in the woods—and what will she have to become to bring her best friend home?

• A Modern Snow Queen Retelling: Hazel isn’t a princess and Jack isn’t a prince. They’re just best friends, until a sliver of enchanted mirror gets in Jack’s eye and a woman made of ice spirits him away.
• A Story of Friendship and Loss: A heartbreaking and hopeful look at what happens when you start to grow up and grow apart from the one person you thought would always be there.
• An Epic Magical Quest: To save Jack, Hazel must journey into a mysterious forest filled with menacing wolves, untrustworthy guides, and secrets she isn’t prepared for.
• A World of Fractured Fairy Tales: A literary fantasy for young readers that weaves together classic stories and legends into a tale that feels both timeless and brand new.