Publishers Weekly
10/01/2018
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.)
From the Publisher
The stylish turns of phrase and swift-paced storytelling, a credit to the translator as well as the author, make the escapades highly suitable for reading aloud in chapters as well as reading alone. Either way, Astrid is a bold, resilient, and emotive heroine whose challenges are just believable enough to bring them within audience reach and whose life will be completely irresistible to young readers.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
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.
—Booklist (starred review)
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.
—Publishers Weekly
Parr's original Norwegian text, published in 2009, has been compared to Heidi and Pippi Longstocking, and Puzey's translation effortlessly conveys that sense for American readers. The warm tone and endearing characters do most of the heavy lifting here...An excellent translation of a contemporary European classic.
—Kirkus Reviews Online
JANUARY 2019 - AudioFile
Can you really expect Astrid, the little thunderbolt of Glimmerdal, to stop singing while she skis? Not according to her! In this lively audiobook, narrator Devon Sorvari portrays spirited Astrid as the heart and soul of her Norwegian village. Even when trouble appears in the form of grumpy Mr. Hagen, who runs an adults-only health retreat, and the mysterious giant woman called Heidi, Astrid remains cheerful and undaunted as she tries to put things right. Sorvari’s enthusiastic narration makes this production sing both metaphorically and literally during Astrid’s spur-of-the-moment skiing tunes. Each character in this tightly knit community is given a unique voice. Sorvari delivers a memorable story that will have listeners smiling and humming along, even without the skis. N.M. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
