"Classic storytelling at its best, delightful and moving. I loved it." M. G. Leonard, author of Beetle Boy Maria Parr's second novel is a hilarious and heart-warming story about family and friendship that will delight fans of Pippi Longstocking. 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.

 

This book has been graded for interest at 9-12 years.

There are 320 pages in this book. This book was published 2017 by Walker Books Ltd .

Maria Parr is a talented young Norwegian writer who has won the Brage Prize, the Critics' Award, the Zilveren Griffel and the Prix Sorcieres. She has a Master's degree in Nordic languages and literature and is a high school teacher. She lives in Norway. Guy Puzey grew up in the Highlands of Scotland, just a short swim away from Norway. He began translating Norwegian literature in 2006, having studied the language at the University of Edinburgh. In 2011 he went on to complete a doctorate on Italian and Norwegian language policy. He works at the University as a course organizer and researcher, and has taught a number of courses including Scandinavian linguistic history, children's literature and literary translation. Katie Harnett graduated from an Illustration BA at the University of the West of England, followed by an MA in Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. She received the Bologna Children's Book Fair ARS IN FABULA Grant Award in 2015.