When We Were Vikings, by Andrew David MacDonald
Gallery Scout Press - Available January 28, 2020
Fiction - Literary
Print
336 Pages
Fiction - Literary
336 Pages
* I received a review copy of this book courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.
A brilliant and charming tale of a modern day viking.
Zelda is a viking enthusiast. She has read everything she can about them, and tries to lives according to the viking code. She is fiercely loyal to her tribe, and she is a warrior of sorts.
Zelda was born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. When her mother died, and living with their abusive uncle did not work out, it was up to her brother Gert to take care of her. For a while everything was good. But when Gert starts associating with the wrong kind of people, and trying to make money by questionable means, Zelda embarks on a quest to protect the tribe, and save them both.
This story was a touching and refreshing look at the struggles of a neurodiverse person in today's world. MacDonald has written a character that although afflicted with FASD, is not defined by it. She is whole and multi-faceted, easily likable, and despite what cognitive challenges she does have, she also has a certain insight into the world around her.
The marketing blurb indicates that this book is a good choice for people who enjoyed The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, by Mark Haddon. While I more often than not find these comparisons to be a distant reach at best, I think this time it is an appropriate comparison. The Characters Zelda and Christopher both have a sort of cut-and-dry, no-nonsense charm to them, they both work hard to be fit into a world that doesn't really understand them, and they are both immensely likable.
When We Were Vikings is a thoughtful and poignant tale of what it means to be a true warrior, and tells us that we can all be legendary if we try.
Zelda was born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. When her mother died, and living with their abusive uncle did not work out, it was up to her brother Gert to take care of her. For a while everything was good. But when Gert starts associating with the wrong kind of people, and trying to make money by questionable means, Zelda embarks on a quest to protect the tribe, and save them both.
This story was a touching and refreshing look at the struggles of a neurodiverse person in today's world. MacDonald has written a character that although afflicted with FASD, is not defined by it. She is whole and multi-faceted, easily likable, and despite what cognitive challenges she does have, she also has a certain insight into the world around her.
The marketing blurb indicates that this book is a good choice for people who enjoyed The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, by Mark Haddon. While I more often than not find these comparisons to be a distant reach at best, I think this time it is an appropriate comparison. The Characters Zelda and Christopher both have a sort of cut-and-dry, no-nonsense charm to them, they both work hard to be fit into a world that doesn't really understand them, and they are both immensely likable.
When We Were Vikings is a thoughtful and poignant tale of what it means to be a true warrior, and tells us that we can all be legendary if we try.
Happy Reading,
Christine
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