The Country of Ice Cream Star

by Sandra Newman
The Country of Ice Cream Star cover
Good Books rating 4.09
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
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  • ID: 1162
  • Added: 2025-09-27
  • Updated: 2026-03-08
  • ISBN: 9781473511132
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2014-05-19
  • Reviews: 4

The Country of Ice Cream Star is a gripping tale of survival and hope in a dystopian America. Fifteen-year-old Ice Cream Star lives in a world where children are the only survivors, doomed to die by the age of twenty from a mysterious disease called posies. When her brother falls ill, she sets out on a dangerous journey to find a cure, guided by a stranger with unclear motives. Her quest leads her through love and heartbreak, captivity and power, ultimately culminating in a war that threatens everything she holds dear. The novel explores themes of sacrifice, resilience, and the power of faith in the face of overwhelming odds. /n/n The story is narrated in a unique, dialect-rich voice that immerses readers in Ice Cream Star's world. The novel's richly detailed setting and complex characters make it a compelling read for fans of dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction. The Country of Ice Cream Star is a testament to the human spirit's enduring capacity for hope and redemption, even in the darkest of times.

Reviews
Lonesome Reader · 2015-04-07
poetic 4.50

The novel is playful, poetic, and impressively consistent, shining in its more intimate moments.

The reviewer praised the novel for its playful and poetic style, which they found to be impressively consistent throughout. They particularly enjoyed the more private and intimate moments in the story, which they felt were the novel's strongest points. The reviewer appreciated the author's ability to maintain a consistent tone and style, making the reading experience enjoyable and engaging. They highlighted the novel's ability to captivate readers with its unique and consistent voice.

Quick quotes

    It's playful, poetic and impressively consistent for such a long novel.

    Where I think this novel shines the most are in more private moments.

    The novel's ability to captivate readers with its unique and consistent voice.

NPR · Jason Sheehan · 2015-02-16
captivating 4.25

The novel may spark debates but is best enjoyed for its language and unique world-building.

The reviewer noted that the novel might spark some debates among readers, but they believed it was best enjoyed for its language and unique world-building. They appreciated the author's ability to create a vivid and immersive world, and they found the language to be one of the novel's strongest points. The reviewer suggested that readers should focus on the novel's language and world-building rather than getting caught up in potential debates. They admired the author's ability to create a unique and captivating world that lingers in the reader's mind.

Quick quotes

    Sandra Newman's debut novel may start some arguments — but readers would be better off just sitting down, absorbing its language and world.

    The novel's language is one of its strongest points.

    The author's ability to create a unique and captivating world that lingers in the reader's mind.

Goodreads · 2014-11-10
sophisticated 3.60

The book is described as heady and bold, breaking dystopian barriers with ease. The reviewer praises its sophisticated execution.

This book is described as bold and ambitious, breaking through the typical boundaries of dystopian fiction with a level of sophistication that sets it apart. The reviewer is particularly impressed by how effortlessly the novel navigates complex themes and ideas, making it a standout in its genre. They highlight the book's ability to challenge and engage readers, offering a fresh perspective on a crowded field. The writing is praised for its depth and originality, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in speculative fiction.

Quick quotes

    It's heady and ballsy

    Manages to break every dystopian barrier there is with a sophisticated ease

    The novel navigates complex themes and ideas effortlessly

The Guardian · Liz Jensen · 2014-06-25
inventive 4.00

The future depicted is bleak, but the language used is inventive and glittering. The novel's unique language lingers long after reading.

The reviewer found the future world in the novel to be bleak, but they were captivated by the author's inventive language. They appreciated how the language stood out and left a lasting impression. The reviewer also noted that the novel's unique linguistic style is one of its strongest assets, making the reading experience memorable. They admired the author's ability to create a vivid and immersive world through her use of language.

Quick quotes

    The future evoked in Sandra Newman's resonant epic may be bleak, but her language glitters with invention.

    Her language lingers long after reading.

    The novel's unique linguistic style is one of its strongest assets.

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