The Winterkeeper — Anna Schmidt

THE WINTERKEEPER is a coming of age story, a love story and a wonderful story for Book Club discussions.

This intergenerational mainstream novel (inspired by a news piece about a man who has been Yellowstone's 'Winter Keeper' for decades) has crossover potential to the YA market and would appeal to readers of THE ORPHAN TRAIN [Christina Baker Kline, William Morrow, 2013] or Irma Joubert's THE GIRL FROM THE TRAIN. [Thomas Nelson, 2015] The combined elements of the Depression era, the small town setting, a cast of strong secondary characters and the seemingly disparate but ultimately connected events driving each of the main characters make for a story that will keep readers turning the pages.

In addition to the novels mentioned above, like the classic TRUE GRIT [Charles Portis, Simon and Schuster, 1968]-- resourceful young girl on a mission who needs older loner man's help-- THE WINTER KEEPER differs with the addition of the older man's spouse--and the challenges they must face that impact not only their marriage, but also Millie.

Readers who enjoy THE BOOK THIEF [Markus Zusak, Alfred A. Knopf, 2007] will also find parallels in the story of a young girl basically on her own in chaotic and traumatic times who connects with a stranger with his own problems. In THE WINTER KEEPER, the war raging is the Great Depression and the enemy is a desperate businessman who needs the protagonist's inheritance.

There are also parallels to National Book Award Finalist Paulette Jiles' NEWS OF THE WORLD [William Morrow, 2016]--loner older man reluctantly rescuing young orphan girl. In THE WINTER KEEPER the three main characters face their own unique and ultimately life-threatening obstacles.