Martha has ran away, got on a flight to Norway, taken a ferry in the dark to the island where her Grandma lives. She needs answers from her Grandma, her Mormor – why, since her accident that left her blind in one eye, can she read people’s feelings from touching their clothes? Why is her mother burning the letters from her Grandma? And what actually happened on the day of her accident?
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in Norway before, and maybe that’s my fault for not looking for something different, but it’s so nice to see a YA novel that isn’t set in London or the US. It’s so interesting to read about different cultures and traditions, and have the stories be set somewhere intriguing. At times spooky, and a little bit creepy, at times very touching to see a connection between grandmother and grandchild, it was an all round emotional book.
There were some bits I was a bit… hesitant to relate to. Stig, the good looking Norwegian boy living in Mormor’s house who breaks the news about her Mormor’s death to her is a) breaking and entering, b) a complete stranger to her, and c) she’s getting some funny readings off his clothes. And yet she still falls ‘in love’ with him in about two days. And while there is nothing wrong with seeing a boy and thinking oh I quite like him, I wish YA would be a bit more realistic with girls with obvious confidence issues who suddenly plant one on older, good looking, STRANGE boys. It’s just a narrative I’m not that fond of.
Also, since her accident, Martha is blind in one eye. She frequently describes herself in deprecating and unflattering ways, because her eye is milky, and obviously affected now. Her opinion seems to change slightly once she knows Stig is into her. BUT… I don’t know, I feel it would have been good if she’d come to peace with it on her own? Not some idea that because Stig liked her, then it must not be that bad? Idk, think that could have been handled a bit better.
Overall, a very atmospheric book, with a lot of interesting history of Martha’s ancestors, and a much needed segue into winter reading for me! Perfectly spooky, but unfortunately not out until January – still perfect for cold, dark nights, safe inside with a hot drink!
4 out of 5 star
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in Norway before, and maybe that’s my fault for not looking for something different, but it’s so nice to see a YA novel that isn’t set in London or the US. It’s so interesting to read about different cultures and traditions, and have the stories be set somewhere intriguing. At times spooky, and a little bit creepy, at times very touching to see a connection between grandmother and grandchild, it was an all round emotional book.
There were some bits I was a bit… hesitant to relate to. Stig, the good looking Norwegian boy living in Mormor’s house who breaks the news about her Mormor’s death to her is a) breaking and entering, b) a complete stranger to her, and c) she’s getting some funny readings off his clothes. And yet she still falls ‘in love’ with him in about two days. And while there is nothing wrong with seeing a boy and thinking oh I quite like him, I wish YA would be a bit more realistic with girls with obvious confidence issues who suddenly plant one on older, good looking, STRANGE boys. It’s just a narrative I’m not that fond of.
Also, since her accident, Martha is blind in one eye. She frequently describes herself in deprecating and unflattering ways, because her eye is milky, and obviously affected now. Her opinion seems to change slightly once she knows Stig is into her. BUT… I don’t know, I feel it would have been good if she’d come to peace with it on her own? Not some idea that because Stig liked her, then it must not be that bad? Idk, think that could have been handled a bit better.
Overall, a very atmospheric book, with a lot of interesting history of Martha’s ancestors, and a much needed segue into winter reading for me! Perfectly spooky, but unfortunately not out until January – still perfect for cold, dark nights, safe inside with a hot drink!
4 out of 5 star