Maria Parr

"Astrid Glimmerdal loves to spend her days racing down the mountainside on her sledge and skis - the faster the better! She just wishes there were other children to share in her adventures. Instead, she has to put up with a grumpy 74 year old for a best friend (although secretly, she knows she wouldn't have it any other way). Astrid's world is about to be turned upside down, however, first by the arrival of a strange family, and then a mystery woman. Her best friend, Gunnvald, has been keeping a secret from her - one that will test their friendship to its limits. Everything is changing in Astrid's world and she's not happy about it. Luckily, she has a plan...A feisty and irrepressible heroine, Astrid is sure to charm readers in this modern classic in the making." --Publisher description.

Astrid the Unstoppable

Kim Tyo-Dickerson

Astrid is known as the Little Thunderbolt, racing through the Norwegian countryside of Glimmerdal on homemade sleds built by her best friend, 74 year-old Gunnvald. With a lion's mane of red curls and a feisty attitude, 9 year-old Astrid has grown up in the comforts of her family's sheep farm and spends her days outdoors climbing the mountains, skiing and sledding, eating reindeer meatballs, and bouncing between houses making her rounds visiting and checking up on the local inhabitants. Astrid's mom is a marine scientist who is away on research expeditions most of the time, so Astrid is on her own with her father and Gunnvald and the various neighbors that have helped raise her. The one thing missing from Astrid's idyllic life are children her own age to play with.

Down the mountain, the very unpleasant Mr. Hagen runs a wellness retreat in the glen after buying up a family campground where Astrid could find children to play with every summer. Mr. Hagen dislikes children and the "racket" they make so much that he has banned children from coming to his retreat. Where once happy families camped and entertained Astrid with children's laughter coming up the mountain, all is silent! Astrid is so annoyed, and has no problem expressing this to Mr. Hagen whenever she can, but then the almost miraculous appearance of a mom and her two boys at Mr. Hagen's retreat allows her to hope more adventures are in store.

And while Astrid gets to know her new friends and looks forward to her nice, round tenth birthday, a major accident brings long ago decisions and painful memories to the surface for her best friend Gunnvald. Astrid just wants everything to stay the same, but suddenly she has to grapple with a visitor staying in Gunnvald's houses, bearing secrets that no one thought to tell her about, and threatening to make irrevocable changes to Astrid's world. Lambing season is approaching and there is so much work to do and Mr. Hagen is eyeing Gunnvald's farm to expand his retreat and clamp further down on Astrid's mountain. Can Astrid find a way to help Gunnvald deal with his past and thwart Mr. Hagen's plans to buy Gunnvald's farm?

This Norwegian story has been beautifully translated by Guy Puzey, and anyone who has lived in Norway or dreams of Norway will find themselves transported to Glimmerdal and Astrid's mountains through the richly described Norwegian landscape, flora and fauna, activities and habits of all the characters. Children are compared to bilberries, the multiple houses that comprise Norwegian homesteads are used to depict the changing of the seasons. This is a classically written, warmly developed children's story that nevertheless does not shy away from the bloody mess of lambing or the fact that Norwegians hunt deer for their delicious meatballs. If seagulls are being annoying, they get shot. The amazing thing is all of these realistic scenes are interwoven so lovingly and with such humor into the adventures Astrid has, you find yourself sinking further into the snowy woods and rushing rivers surrounding Astrid's farm. For me and my family, as we prepare to leave Norway for our next chapter, this book is a precious reminder of all the simple joys of Norwegian life and their love of the wilderness. Highly recommended for children of all ages.

Stefie 

WAY BETTER THAN EXPECTED. 

I must admit that I wasn't sure to read this book. But desperate for getting out of reading slump, I tried reading a lot of books and this book is a blessing from heaven. HA!
I heard about this book for quite a while now, but was hesitate to read it as it's a good feeling kind of book. It is a light and sweet book, which sometimes can be boring.
BUT MY OH MY this book. It is a good feeling book, it is a heartwarming and moving and sweet and funny and adorable and just oh so lovely. I never thought I need this kind of book. 
The author manage to make a good feeling & sweet book not boring. But rather fun and very close. Intimate. I'd say. It makes you want to get up, pack my bags and move to Glimmerdal (if it's existed) in the middle of covid even and skiing with Astrid and her crew. I refuse to believe that Glimmerdal and Astrid and everyone in it are merely part of fiction. Gosh, I'm telling you. I adore Glimmerdal and its people including Mr. Hagen. 

Also, the fact that this book is translated to English from Norwegian, and still deliver the best story ever. Seriously, hats off! 

Anyway, my point is. If you want a good feeling, heartwarming, sweet and fun and moving story about friendship that is a bit unusual but will touch your heart deeply, about a cool family, about skiing and sliding in the snow, or if you interested about Norway and its culture, and wanted to know a bit about it, or if you want to enjoy an adventure in an idyllic farm in the mountain by the fjord, this book is for you :)

Now, I need to get my own copy because I borrowed mine from the library.

I hope you pick this book up! Happy reading! <3

TW: Death of animals, animal violence.

Astrid the Unstoppable

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