Title: Seacrow Island
Author: Astrid Lindgren
Major Themes: Family, Friendship, Holidays, Sweden
Synopsis: The Melkersons have no idea what adventures are in store for them when they take a summer holiday on an island in the Stockholm archipelago.
Some books strike you from the first time you see them—Seacrow Island was one of those for me. I don’t read a lot of middle-grade fiction these days, but when I was browsing our local library recently and spotted this book, and realized it was written by Astrid Lindgren (who has been one of my favorite authors since an aunt gave me Pippi Longstocking as a child!), I knew I wanted to read it. It took me a few weeks before I was able to pick it up, but when I did—oh, what a joy. This is one of the most hilarious books I’ve read this year, but it’s so much more than that. For me, it was a whimsical walk back into my childhood, when life was simple and the world was a series of delights waiting to be uncovered.
Publisher’s description:
The day the Melkerson family arrive on Seacrow Island, it’s a bit of a shock to their system
It’s so quiet there—none of the shops and bustle they’re used to. And the cottage they’ve rented for the summer is a little bit…well…basic.
But what Seacrow Island does have is woods to wander in, fish to catch, boats to sail in, and all kinds of animals. And before long they find it has even more important things too—adventure, fun, exploration, friends…Perhaps it’s going to be leaving that’s the really hard thing?
My thoughts:
There was so much to love in Seacrow Island. On the surface, it’s a simple story of a family taking a summer holiday to a distant sea island. But once I dove into the story, I discovered deep themes of family and community working together, love and hope overcoming difficulty, and a genuine delight in the world God has given us. Poetic, yet filled with enough adventure to keep even the more squirmy children engaged, this book was a delight to read. Oh, and I mentioned the humor—there’s a good amount of that, too.
It’s hard to know how to describe this story. The writing was engaging, the plot gripping, and the setting delightful. When some of the children were lost out on the sea in a fog, I felt the clammy air; when Pelle finally got a long-dreamed-of pet, I cheered with him; when one of Daddy’s wonderful ideas didn’t turn out quite like he anticipated, I joined the children in praising him. There are many nuances to the story, but it all comes together to make an unforgettable read. I’m hoping to get Mom to read it aloud to my siblings soon, because I don’t doubt they would enjoy it just as much as I did. It’s one of those classic stories that I (somehow) never heard of before now, but one I doubt I’ll ever forget. If you appreciate stories about family, adventure, friendship, and home, this would be a great pick.
WARNING: (No chapter numbers, just titles.) A Day in June: Go to blazes, a mention of millions of years. Carpenter’s Cottage: Humans had no home until they discovered fire. Row, Row…: Go to blazes (twice). And Then Came…: Goodness, thank goodness. Live for the Day: Goodness knows, for goodness’ sake, damned. The Odd Thing…: Goodness, thank goodness. Two Enchanted Princes: My goodness, to blazes (six times). Does Malin Really…: To blazes (twice), a kiss. Sorrow and Joy: A rabbit dies, and an animal is almost shot. Operation Moses: To blazes (twice), a few kisses. Tjorven Earns…: Those little devils, to blazes, blast.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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