Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
Karen Foxlee
📚 Genre
Children's Fiction - Fantasy / Retelling
🏢 Publisher
Knopf Books for Young Readers
📅 Publication Year
2014
🔢 ISBN
978-0385742856
About This Book
A modern, ice-bound retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen'. Ophelia, a practical girl who does not believe in magic, is trapped in a freezing, snow-covered northern city with her grieving father and sister. She wanders into a strange museum where she discovers a marvelous, fragile boy locked in a glass box, who tasks her with a quest to defeat the Snow Queen.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
258
Edition
First Edition, Hardcover
Series
Standalone novel
Target Audience
Middle Grade (Ages 8-12)
Collector Information
Condition
Good. The visible dust jacket shows some edge wear, minor creasing, and slight rubbing along the top and bottom edges, but the cover art remains vibrant and intact.
Estimated Value
$5-$15
Rarity
Common. Widely printed and easily found through online used bookstores and libraries.
Historical Significance
Acclaimed middle-grade fantasy novel celebrated for its atmospheric prose, emotional depth, and feminist spin on classic fairy tale tropes.
Collector Notes
For optimal preservation, keep the book out of direct sunlight to prevent fading of the dark blue jacket. Ensure it is stored upright in a climate-controlled environment to avoid humidity damage. As a widely available modern hardcover, it holds sentimental and reading value rather than significant monetary appreciation.
Similar Books
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, Coraline by Neil Gaiman, Winterhouse by Ben Guterson
Notable Features
First edition hardcover with illustrated cover art depicting Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy beneath a towering, glowing winter building.