Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Snow Child. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Faina, the mysterious girl who appeared in the Alaskan wilderness after Jack and Mabel built a snow child, grows up, marries their neighbour's son Garrett and has a baby. Soon after giving birth, she melts away into the snow, leaving her baby to be raised by Garrett, Mabel and Jack.
Quick facts
– Book: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
– First published: 2012
– Type: A literary magical realist novel
– Tone of the ending: Bittersweet
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
In 1920, Jack and Mabel, a childless couple grieving a stillborn baby, move to Alaska to farm. One snowy night, they build a girl out of snow. The next day, it's gone, and a wild girl appears in the woods with a red fox. Mabel believes she is a fairy tale come to life.
What Happens at the End of The Snow Child
Over the years, Faina visits the couple only in the cold months, vanishing into the mountains when the snow melts. Mabel finds an old Russian fairy tale about a snow maiden who melts when she grows too warm or falls in love, and she fears for Faina. Faina reveals she is a real girl whose father died in the woods, though her ties to snow remain mysterious. As a young woman, she falls in love with Garrett, the son of the neighbouring Benson family, and they marry. Faina becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son in the spring. Weak and feverish, she grows strange and withdrawn, and one day she simply vanishes. Garrett searches and finds only her coat and mittens in the snow. Garrett, Mabel and Jack raise the baby together, and the family finds a kind of peace on the farm.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Faina marries Garrett.
- She has a baby.
- She disappears.
- The baby stays.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Faina | Disappears |
| Mabel | Raises the baby |
| Jack | Raises the baby |
| Garrett Benson | Faina's husband |
What the Ending Means
The ending blends fairy tale and reality, leaving Faina's nature open.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers debate whether Faina was a real orphan who died of illness after childbirth or a snow child from a fairy tale. Ivey deliberately leaves both readings open.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Grief. Mabel and Jack's grief.
Nature. The Alaskan wilderness.
Magic. Fairy tales.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Snow Child as bittersweet. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Eowyn Ivey to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are bittersweet will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Eowyn Ivey closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Snow Child with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about grief, and do you agree with Eowyn Ivey's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as bittersweet, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces grief and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Eowyn Ivey leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Snow Child often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Snow Child earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
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Books to Read After The Snow Child
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Related: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey: Summary and Key Takeaways · The Snow Child Book Club Discussion Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Snow Child?
Faina, the mysterious girl who appeared in the Alaskan wilderness after Jack and Mabel built a snow child, grows up, marries their neighbour's son Garrett and has a baby. Soon after giving birth, she melts away into the snow, leaving her baby to be raised by Garrett, Mabel and Jack.
Is the ending of The Snow Child happy or sad?
Most readers call it bittersweet.
What does the ending of The Snow Child mean?
The ending blends fairy tale and reality, leaving Faina's nature open.
Who wrote The Snow Child and when was it published?
The Snow Child was written by Eowyn Ivey and first published in 2012.
Is The Snow Child worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy literary magical realist novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Eowyn Ivey prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Snow Child before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.