[3][4][5] The Snow Child, derived from the Russian folk tale, is set in Alaska in the 1920s and follows Jack and Mabel, a childless older couple struggling as homesteaders in the Alaskan wilderness.

Mabel believes it's a Russian fairy tale from her childhood come true, but Jack is doubtful and wants to hunt down the child in the woods.

Ivey's novel was the basis for an opera by British composer Eric Wetherell with the text adapted by his wife Elizabeth Major.

[6] The novel was also adapted into a musical play which premiered at Arena Stage's Kreeger Theater in Washington, D.C., on April 13, 2018.

The premiere production, which was co-produced by Juneau, Alaska's Perseverance Theatre, was directed by Arena Stage artistic director Molly Smith and starred Matt Bogart and Christiane Noll as Jack and Mabel, respectively.

Additional cast included Alex Alferov as Garrett, Dan Manning as George, Fina Strazza as Faina, and Natalie Toro as Esther.