A City in Winter facts for kids
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| Author | Mark Helprin |
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| Illustrator | Chris Van Allsburg |
| Language | English |
| Series | Swan Lake series |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Viking Juvenile |
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Publication date
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1996 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 144 |
| Preceded by | Memoir From Antproof Case |
A City in Winter is a novel written by American author Mark Helprin. It was first published in 1996. This book is considered a children's novel. It tells the exciting story of a 10-year-old queen who must fight to get her throne back. The book mixes adventure with a bit of humor about big, confusing rules.
Contents
About the Story
This book is part of a trilogy, or series of three books. The other books are Swan Lake and The Veil of Snows. All three books are filled with winter scenes and a magical, fairy tale feeling.
The Queen's Journey
A City in Winter continues the story from Swan Lake. In the first book, a young country girl learns a story from her kind tutor. It's about a prince and his love, Odette, who lose their kingdom to evil forces. By the end of Swan Lake, the girl realizes she is their daughter. This means she is the true heir to the throne.
When A City in Winter begins, the young heir is now an adult queen. She has taken back her throne. The story is told as she remembers her past. She tells her own child about returning to the city when she was ten years old. She explains how she managed to get her kingdom back.
Facing the Usurper
The main part of the story happens when the young heroine secretly enters the huge city. This city is controlled by the "usurper," who is someone who has taken power illegally. The girl takes a job in the palace as a "yam curler." This helps her stay hidden.
The usurper is never given a real name. He is described as having a scarred face and wearing dark robes. He also wears a mask that makes him look scary.
Finding Allies
In the capital city, the girl discovers many loyal people. These are former soldiers and citizens who are secretly against the usurper. They have all promised to fight back. They are waiting for a special leader to return, a return that will be signaled by a dim sun and a "burning angel."
As the girl tries to remove the usurper, she makes friends with some of these people. They seem to obey the usurper, but they are secretly rebellious. One friend is Notorincus, a baker. Another is Astrahn, a former general and a smart planner. These friends bravely face dangers with humor and kindness to protect the girl. They don't even know she is their queen! For example, Notorincus's battle cry is: "I’ll never bake another waffle-torte for a single imperial soldier as long as I live!"
The Final Sacrifice
The young girl does eventually get the palace back. But her victory comes with a big sacrifice. Near the end of the book, her old tutor arrives to help her. He knows the people won't accept her as queen without the "burning angel" appearing.
So, the tutor does something incredibly brave. He covers himself with kerosene and lights a match. As the city watches, he jumps from a tall tower. "They say that as he fell, he flew, tumbling and wheeling in the air in slow motion, his arms outspread with all his strength, the fire trailing like the tail of a comet.” It is only after this final act that the 10-year-old girl can open the palace doors. She finds the whole city bowing before her, finally accepting her as their queen.
Awards
A City in Winter won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novella in 1997.
