Not children, but not yet Adults: Review of Elena Klepikova and Kseniya Rogozhnikova’s “Between Snow and Rain”

What can literature give a modern teenager who has Tik-Tok, YouTube and manga? At first glance, nothing. The school curriculum consists entirely of works from 150-300 years ago, and it is no surprise that the problems raised in them are absolutely irrelevant. But there are worthy exceptions to this rule. Moreover, they lie right under the noses of Kazakhstani teenagers. Between Snow and Rain is one of the freshest novelties of the book market. The book has not been published in print yet, but soon will be!

For the authors’ tandem Elena Klepikova and Ksenia Rogozhnikova, Between Snow and Rain is the fifth joint work. However, all the previous books were designed mainly for children, up to the  middle school age. And the new story goes under the label 16+. Therefore, Between Snow and Rain can be called the authors’ debut in the genre of young adult.

Between Snow and Rain is a book, first of all, about growing up and everything that accompanies it. Mistakes, a change of priorities, disappointments and difficulties – all this awaits the main characters. They learn to distinguish sincere feelings from fake ones, to make a choice. The story raises important social topics – disability, unhealthy relationships, first sexual experience. 

However, this is not a sugary novel that revolves around romance. 

The central figure – freshman Dasha – is of a subtle nature. She is attracted to everything beautiful: literature, nature, reflections on high values. You can continue this chain of beautiful people to include the handsomest guy at the institute. But, as it often happens, there are invariable vices behind the rustling wrapper. However, the authors do not divide the heroes into just good and bad, but act much more cunningly. Someone with their light hand is lucky enough to become a complex, full-fledged character with his/her own aftertaste. And someone remains a cardboard box, which will immediately get lost in a pile of pages right after closing the book. Although even conditional antagonists like the handsome preening Igor are able to quote Zabolotsky by heart. 

The book in its structure resembles a movie about a movie. The main characters attend a literary club and write a story. And knowing that the authors of the book are also two women with different views, it is difficult not to draw parallels. Two worlds – fantastic and real – so smoothly merge into each other that it is not always clear which one we are talking about. Myths of ancient civilizations become the subject of acute disputes among young writers, and the characters of Dasha and her friend Rona’s story are the young women’s guides in a world of difficulties and problems. 

“And the magic began. Dasha could not call what was happening any other way. Pages were being covered with lines, ideas and concepts flew in the air, new worlds and spaces appeared and disappeared.  “And what if we do this way?” – Rona wondered, and Dasha held her breath listening to her friend’s thoughts. “Yes, but…” replied Dasha, and Rona understood her perfectly. “Then we’ll go in from the other side,” and Dasha quietly squeaked with delight when her friend easily expressed  all her feelings and intuitive insights in words, which, as it seemed to Dasha, could not be verbally embodied.”

“Between Snow and Rain” is a sincere, but at the same time cautious book. It shows that true friendship will overcome any difficulties. That love often prevents you from seeing the truth. That there are no hindrances for the true creator, and art is divided into good and bad. The story is a must-read for everyone who is trying to find themselves in a big world and is engaged in creativity.

“Dasha put a period and plopped down on the bed. 

“They don’t remember themselves because they are in the power of this little bastard” – she repeated the Raven’s words. This phrase disturbed, awakened something in her memory, but what?  She remembered Rinat’s blue eyes, his strong hands: “Revenge is like letting the devil in. You will have no control over yourself.”

“This is it! How could I not understand this before? – she moaned, – all I can do, all that depends on me is to behave with dignity now! Igor, Zuma and the company are in the past, it’s in my power to leave them in the past.” 

She grabbed the phone and typed a message. 

“Ronka, I’m sorry about today. I understood why to forgive. I understood it from the text, can you imagine? A new chapter is in your mail!”

Ksenia Zemskova (Rogozhnikova) is a poet, children’s writer. She graduated from the Higher Literary courses at the Gorky Literary Institute, was published in Russian, Kazakh and Ukrainian literary magazines. Participant of the young writers forums in Russia. Leads a seminar of prose and children’s literature at the Open Literary School of Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Elena Klepikova is a novelist, children’s writer, and essayist. Author of eight and co-author of six books. Laureate of the literary awards “Golden Feather of Russia”, “Korneychuk Prize” (Ukraine), “Daroboz”, as well as laureate and prize-winner of literary prizes and competitions held in Russia, Kazakhstan, Germany. Has publications in literary journals and collections of Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Germany. Stories and fairy tales were translated into Kazakh, English, and German. Leads a seminar of prose and children’s literature at the Open Literary School of Almaty, Kazakhstan.