Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Nine-year-old Astrid is the only child living in Glimmerdal, Norway, which boasts a forest and a river, as well as a few small farms, houses, and shops. It's not a quiet place, though, not with Astrid, the little thunderbolt of Glimmerdal, skiing or sledding down hills and across roads with reckless abandon while singing loudly to keep up her courage. When cranky old Gunnvald, her godfather and best friend, creates a heartrending problem, she tries to set things right. This fierce, lovable girl bravely takes action, even when she's trembling inside. More than once, she confronts adults who are about to make irrevocable mistakes out of greed, stubbornness, or emotional distress. While Johanna Spyri's book Heidi has a small role in the story, the main character here has much more in common with the irrepressible, unconventional heroine of Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking. Drama and humor are interwoven throughout the well-paced narrative, which transports readers to a distinctive locale and introduces vividly drawn, memorable characters. Small drawings at chapter headings and a double-page map add visual appeal. Norwegian writer Parr, whose Adventures with Waffles (2013) has been translated into many languages, offers another original chapter book with a strong sense of place and international appeal.--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
At nine years old, free-range Astrid Glimmerdal has the whole wide world (or at least her tiny Norwegian town) "in front of her skis." As the only child around, the small songstress ("It is important to sing when you're skiing") has to get creative about finding friends-her best friend is her 74-year-old godfather, Gunnvald-but she's managed to turn Mr. Hagen, the owner of Hagen's Wellness Retreat who's more fond of quiet than of children, into her nemesis. As she speeds toward her 10th birthday, Astrid discovers that her beloved Gunnvald has a secret, a daughter she doesn't know about, that may change her view of the world forever. Imbued with a Scandinavian sensibility, this novel by Parr (Adventures with Waffles) presents fun alongside concepts such as death, physical distance between friends, and estrangement in an age-appropriate format, and both encourages readers to question new ideas and offers a fertile foundation for imagination. Fans of Pippi Longstocking and the Moomins will delight in Parr's indomitable Astrid. Ages 7-10. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
In the tiny Norwegian village of Glimmerdal, ten-year-old Astridwhose unflagging energy and boisterousness have earned her the nickname the little thunderbolt of Glimmerdalis the sole child inhabitant. She is the bane of grouchy Mr. Hagens life (owner of a wellness retreat that advertises peace and quiet) and the light of elderly curmudgeon Gunnvalds (Astrids best friend). Life continues apace, with Astrid hurtling down mountains on various skis and sleds and generally wreaking havoc, until disruption arrives in the form of: a mysterious letter that throws Gunnvald into a funk; two young brothers, visitors to the wellness retreat; a freak accident in which Gunnvald breaks his leg; and the arrival of Gunnvalds hitherto-unknown (to Astrid) grown daughter. Humor and pathos resultlots of bothall grounded by the specificity of the setting and the clarity and depth of the characterization. The action scenes are riveting, but its the relationships that deepen the story and make it memorable. Although theres no missing the homages to Heidi (Gunnvald resembles Spyris novels grandfather; Gunnvalds daughter is named Heidi; and Astrid reads Heidi throughout) and Pippi Longstocking (with Astrids flaming red hair, self-confidence, and almost-an-orphan independence, not to mention her shared first name with Pippis author), Parr (Adventures with Waffles, rev. 5/15) has crafted a fresh and original tale, all her own. martha v. parravano January/February 2019 p 99(c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
