A daring adventure based on a true story about a group of norwegian children who smuggled nine million dollars in gold past nazi sentries during world war ii. When i read the book, it said it was based on a true story. But more than 40 years later, there is no proof it. Jun 14, 2010 do you want to read a story of adventure, excitement and tons of historical background. Eleven year old boy peter is confronted with the task of transporting millions of kroner worth of gold onto his uncles ship the cleng peerson to be transported to america so that the sardonic nazis dont steal it. Snow treasure is an actionpacked, historical fiction literature book set in norway during world war ii, and it is based on a true story. Peter and his friends are easy to relate to and seem like typical kids you would find anywhere. Do you want to read a story of adventure, excitement and tons of historical background. Will the village children be able to fool the suspicious nazis. Jan 21, 2009 my book report based on a true story from world war ii.
Well if so, snow treasure by marie mcswigan is the perfect historical fiction piece for you. Snow treasure by marie mcswigan, mary reardon, paperback. In 1997, when snow treasure was reissued by scholastic paperbacks, it carried a note that said for many years the story was believed to be true. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Based on a true story, this heroic tale, set in norway during world war ii, follows a group of courageous schoolchildren who outwit the invading nazis by sledding. About marie mcswigan marie mcswigan was an awardwinning author of childrens books who lived in pennsylvania. A gang of norwegian children do what norwegian children like best ski. The late marie mcswigan wrote many novels for young readers, including all aboard for freedom. When he isnt in school, he spends the cold days outside, going sledding in the deep snow of his mountain village. They are actually rescuing norwegian gold from the nazi invaders. The story is about four normal kids who live in norway. They had to slip past nazi guards with nine million dollars in gold hidden on their sleds. The book is often described as being based on a true story.
This true story of children smuggling gold out of norway under the noses of their nazi occupiers left such an impression on me. Based on a true story, and originally published in 1942. Plot summary to keep their countrys gold from the nazis, shortly after hitlers forces had taken over poland, the adults of riswyk, norway, hid it in a cave they made from snow and ice. Based on a true story, this world war ii novel would be considered historical fiction now. Marie mcswigans snow treasure is listed on my profile as one of my favorite. But all around him, the adults are talking about the war that is raging through much.
How many miles did the actual children not the story sled the treasure. Peter lundstrom leads the children of riswyk, with the help of his sister, lovisa, and friends helga and michael, to transport. In 1940, when the nazi invasion of norway reaches their village in the far north, twelveyearold peter and his friends use their sleds to transport nine million dollars worth of gold bullion past the german soldiers to the secret harbor where peters uncle keeps his ship ready to take the gold for safekeeping in the united states. Mcswigan stated in an authors note that she had tried to be as accurate as possible in describing. Buy a cheap copy of snow treasure book by marie mcswigan. Based on a true story, this book is about the adventures of a group of children living in norway during world war ii. Snow treasure is an exciting story of bravery and courage during the oppression of the holocaust. Ny times explore classroom activities, puzzles, teacher resources and enrichment pdfs for this book. This amazing book, continuously in print since 1942, tells how brave. Story tells of goldshipping during wwii baltimore sun. Find books like treasures of the snow from the worlds largest community of readers. Nobody thought the nazis could be defeateduntil uncle victor told peter how the children could fool the enemy. Though the children and the village were never identified, the story is thought to be true.
Many of maries later books of juvenile fiction took characters and situations from friends and family, and from their experiences. Peter lundstrom is the main protagonist of the story. A story of courage and wits and grim determination. The story of marie mcswigans snow treasure is pure fiction, but based a little on some fact. A daring adventure based on a true story about a group of norwegian children who smuggled nine million dollars in gold past. The author, marie mcswigan writes, this story is based on an actual happening. Published in 1942, it has been in print ever since. It meant risking their countrys treasure and their lives.
As most of you know, historical fiction is a genre that takes place during an event that really happens, however the storyline behind it is fictional. For twelveyearold peter lundstrom, the norwegian winter of 1940 begins like any other. Peter lundstrom leads the children of riswyk, with the help of his sister, lovisa, and friends helga and michael, to transport gold bullion bricks past nazi soldiers and. It is based on a true story about norwegian children sneaking gold to an allied ship during world war ii. Even the bad guy, played by james franciscus, is not much of a villain. Good, adventurous book based on a true story during the second world war.
My sons class was reading snow treasure and i heard that the teacher was searching for a copy of the film. The book snow treasure by marie mcswigan is a historicalfiction book about a boy named peter that had to save his country of norway because the germans were invading them. In what year does snow treasure does snow treasure take place. The links are affiliate links so i will receive a small percentage of any purchase you make after clicking through from this blog. She died of leukemia in 1962 and is buried in pittsburgh. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Set in nazioccupied norway during world war ii, it recounts the story of several norwegian children who use sleds to smuggle their countrys gold bullion past german guards to a waiting ship, the cleng peerson. Her first book was a biography of the primitive painter john kane, who became popular after his death on account of mcswigans book. Snow treasure by marie mcswigan is historical fiction based on the real life accounts of the children of norway who helped to smuggle out the nations gold reserves under the noses of the occupying german military during world war ii.
The brave children of norway are tasked with riding sleds filled with gold bullion literally under the noses of the occupying germany troops in order to get the money to america and keep it from falling into enemy hands. Peter, his friend michael, and other kids in their school have to hide all of norways gold so that his uncle victor can store it in a safe place from the germans. It was intended as a propaganda book, and in that respect it has been very successful. Asked in animated and childrens movies, snow white is snow white and the seven dwarfs a. This reading, writing, and vocabulary common core aligned ela unit actively engages students in this captivating, suspenseful adventure book. This true story of children smuggling gold out of norway under the noses of. Snow treasure is a childrens novel by marie mcswigan. It could have been a true story, but there is no proof. Goodreads members who liked treasures of the snow also liked. Snow treasure by marie mcswigan if you want to teach social studies through language arts, heres a great historical fiction book to begin discussing world history. The book says that the signs that the germans posted said that the townspeople had to.
In the bleak winter during wwii, nazi troops parachuted into peter lundstroms tiny norwegian village and held it captive. Tell students that they will read a book called snow treasure, a story about how the bravery of a group of children helps in the fight against a terrible enemy. Snow treasure by marie mcswigan learning through literature. Ruby holler all about sam snow treasure the seven wonders of sassafras springs battle of the books sample questions iii study guide by leclairt includes 41 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more.
It rained so much, the water levels rose, which allowed uncle victor to keep his boat afloat. Nobody thought the nazis could be defeated until uncle victor told peter how the children could fool the enemy. Snow treasure and pimpernel gold lesas book critiques. Marie mcswigans exciting snow treasure is based on the tale a norwegian ship captain told as he unloaded a cargo of gold in baltimore. Snow treasure by marie mcswigan and john mcdonough. Originally published by cssm in 1950, it has been reprinted over a dozen times by various publishers, including braille versions published by the royal national institute for the blind in 1959 and by the queensland braille writing association in 1996. In fact, snow treasure was chosen for its alameda county based on a true story, this world war ii novel would be considered historical fiction now, but when it was published, it was about an incident that occurred just two years before. It is 1940 in norway, a neutral, peaceloving country that is invaded by nazi germany.
Battle of the books sample questions iii flashcards quizlet. With paul austad, tina austad, wilfred breistrand, james franciscus. Snow treasure is a memorably titled story fictionalizing history and featuring very brave norwegian children trusted and counted on by adults. Unfortunately, where heroes of telemark succeeds with ski sequences, snow treasure fails. She was an award winning writer of more than 10 childrens books. The true story of norwegian children who smuggled nine million dollars in gold past nazi sentries during world war ii.
My book report based on a true story from world war ii. Though the children and the village were never identified, the story is thought to be true by many. Snow treasure snow treasure audiobook, by marie mcswigan. Snow treasure or, even better, buy from an independent book seller. When i was in 5th grade, we read snow treasure as a class reading. The children were key in a risky mission to get the gold of their scandinavian homeland safe to america to prevent it from being used for war and killing by their wartime enemy occupiers. We are not sure but we have a little proof but we are not sure. Snow treasure by marie mcswigan is a wonderful book about brave kids who take on adult responsibilities during dangerous times. Teachers, explore your students attitudes and feelings about racism and courage with this lesson.
A wasit true ornot story of how children in nazioccupied norway helped smuggle gold bullion out of the country, it was a pretty interesting book. In fact, snow treasure was chosen for its alameda county librar based on a true story, this world war ii novel would be considered historical fiction now, but when it was published, it was about an incident that occurred just two years before. Brave norwegian children transport gold on their winter sleds right underneath the noses of the germans. The book says that it is based on true events that are believed to have taken place in norway during wwii. When the nazis invade norway, a band of norwegian children from a small village are given the dangerous task of sneaking their countrys gold from a hidden cave a task that involves sledding the heavy gold bars down a mountain and right. Snow treasure printables, classroom activities, teacher. It meant risking their countrys treasureand their lives. Based on a true story, snow treasure is a tale of heroism set in norway during world war ii. This study guide consists of approximately 33 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of snow treasure. What was the value in us dollars of the gold bullion on the bomma.
This classic story of how a group of children outwitted the nazis and sent the treasure to america has captivated generations of readers. He is almost years old, tall, and has a leadership. It was the recipient of the young readers choice award in 1945. Nov 14, 2014 the original on snow treasure is 1942. The heroes and heroines of snow treasure are the children of the village. Explain that the book shows what people, even children, can accomplish in a time of need. Did norwegian children use their sleds to smuggle gold right under the noses of nazi guards.
Treasures of the snow is a childrens story book by patricia st. Introduce snow treasure by marie mcswigan by discussing the definition of an enemy and talking about the historical context of the book with these guiding activities. Her most famous novel was snow treasure which was also made into a successful movie. Asked in animated and childrens movies, snow white is snow white. To ask other readers questions about snow treasure, please sign up. Summary in the bleak winter of 1940, nazi troops parachuted into peter lindstroms tiny norwegian village and held it captive. To keep their countrys gold out of nazi hands, the children sledded thirteen tons of gold bricks down the mountain to a waiting ship.