Cover Image: Astrid the Unstoppable

Astrid the Unstoppable

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Member Reviews

Astrid the Unstoppable follows 9-year-old Astrid and all the chaos she gets up to in her tiny little town. Astrid's best friend is an old man who is also her godfather Gunnvald. They are the best together, and while he encourages the chaos, she is also helping him stay busy and involved in things and not be so grumpy.

Overall this book is a sweet middle-grade read that I absolutely loved. While Astrid is literally chaos in human form, her intentions are pure and she is just having fun and doesn't mean to cause all the chaos she does it just happens naturally. This story had some heartbreaking parts especially when it came to Gunnvald's past and why he is so grumpy it seems at times. While I wasn't expecting to actually meet the person who made him seem so grumpy, that did end up being a big part of the story and honestly helped show how important family can be both in the one you make with friends and the one that is biologically family. For me this book was a lot of fun to read and it's always fascinating to read books that are from other countries originally. Who knew the story of billy goats gruff could be told in so many different ways as well. This book is very creative and shows how powerful love can be in all its different forms.


(Read a finished copy from the library.)

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Astrid the Unstoppable is translated into English and was originally written in Norwegian. While the story of Astrid is enjoyable and has a strong message, there are a few topics that are not appropriate for younger readers. I would recommend this more for middle grade. Overall I think it would be an interesting book for an adult to read to a child and open up discussion.

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A lovely book! My kids enjoyed this one especially my 9 year old daughter! It is so great to have more stories and portrayals of girls with the unstoppable desire to go beyond the limits. I would highly recommend this to children 9 and above or as a read aloud.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy through Netgalley asking only for my honest opinion in return.

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What a stunning book. This will get you right in the feels every time. So inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time. This is an absolute must to add to your collection.

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Astrid the Unstoppable is a fun middle grade book that is reminiscent of older children's stories. Often when stories are translated from other languages it is noticeable, but one hardly notices that it is not originally written in English. A definite read for 3-6 graders.

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Did I like Astrid the Unstoppable? Yes! Would I recommend it to children, the target audience? Maybe not. Astrid the Unstoppable is heartfelt, witty, and overall an important read, but there's also mentions of drugs and animal death. Preteens should read this book, but anyone younger than that might not appreciate it as much or find it slightly inappropriate.

Astrid the Unstoppable is a book originally written in Norwegian and almost ten years later translated into English. The translation was spot-on - it felt like the book was written in English in the first place. Some things may have been lost in translation, such as when Astrid sings "Old McDonald" while going down a ski slope (do they even have that song in Norway?), but I'm no expert on Scandinavian culture, so who knows.

The main character, Astrid, is nine years old for most of the book... and actually acts her age. A lot of middle-grade books seem to have child protagonists that either act too old or too young, but Astrid is a realistic child character. Astrid is smart for her age, but also makes mistakes like any other kid. She is a good contrast for the more immature children in the book, including the new kid Ola and his brother, who are also equally likable.

The message of Astrid the Unstoppable was super sweet - family is the most important thing in the world! Astrid's best friend, a seventy-something old man, finds his grown-up daughter after thirty years. Astrid helps mend the broken bonds between father and daughter, which makes for a very cute ending that I won't spoil, but I will say that it involves an unforgettable tenth birthday for Astrid and a few presents she'll never forget.

I really liked this book because of the message and characters. Read Astrid the Unstoppable if you're mature enough for it, and you'll hopefully enjoy it as much as I did.

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A clever, if decidedly foreign feeling, adventure for fans of Pippi Longstocking and the work of Polly Horvath.

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I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book courtesy of Candlewick Press via NetGalley.

Release Date: November 13, 2018

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Genre: Children’s Fiction, Middle Grade

Rating: 4 / 5

Storyline:

Nicknamed “the little thunderbolt”, Astrid spends her days skiing, sledding, singing loudly and spending time with her elderly best friend, Gunnvald. Astrid is the only child in her beautiful home of Glimmerdal, where a Vacation Retreat Camp nearby has a “no children allowed” policy. The little thunderbolt spends her days laughing loudly and loving fiercely, so when the arrival of a new family plus a strikingly tall woman come to town, Astrid is struck down by the changes happening around her. Frustrated more than once by “being too young to change anything”, Astrid’s fierceness and loyalty is put to the test in this heartwarming novel about a truly unstoppable little thunderbolt.

The Good:

You can’t help but love Astrid. You’ll love her for her fierceness, her friendship, her loving soul and her mischievous plans to let nothing break her happiness. She is a well-crafted character whose adventures seems believable and so true to who she is as a young person. Astrid is mature in some ways, but then her child heart and soul will show through every now again. This is a heartwarming tale of love, friendship, loss, redemption, and family. You’ll smile your way throughout this book, and possibly shed a few tears.

Astrid cries more than once about her inability to do something about a “grown up” problem because of her age. I have never related to a character so much in this way as I did with Astrid. I often felt frustrated as a child by my age restricting me from making in a change in some areas of our world. Sometimes, age is truly a limiting factor and to see a young character cry in this frustration as well, without magically finding a way to overcome it, broke my heart because of the familiar ache I knew Astrid was feeling. My younger self would have felt so validated to read a character like Astrid.

The Bad:

Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about this book. The only challenges were a few terms that didn’t translate very well in this book. One example was “snus”, which is a Swedish type of dry tobacco that is often referenced in the book. A young child or middle grade reader of the book in the US would have no idea what this word meant, and it was a reoccurring word when it came to the older characters. So, I can see that detracting a touch from the connections of the book or the translations evoking the same meanings.

The Bottom Line:

A fun, heartwarming book filled with love, loss, friendship and family about a little thunderbolt who let nothing stand in her way.

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Adorable middle grade book- my three elementary school girls loved reading this with me. They laughed at the antics- would definitely recommend to other kids!

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An adorable book that made me think of the 'Eloise' stories. Just substitute Astrid for Eloise and the mountains for the NY hotel. Thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review! #AstridTheUnstoppable #NetGalley

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Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr is the story of Astrid. Astrid is the only child living in her village of Glimmerdal, and as a result her best friend is an elderly man named Gunnvald. Astrid has very strong emotions as well as a tendency to be a bit of a daredevil which frequently gets her into trouble. Astrid has always wanted the excitement of newcomers in town, especially kids, but when some strangers do show up, she suddenly becomes wary of the changes they might bring. When she discovers that Gunnvald has been keeping a secret from her, she’s not sure she will ever look at anything the same way again.

The descriptions of the characters and setting are vivid, and the author gives a clear picture of Glimmerdal and its inhabitants that makes the reader feel like a part of this fictional universe. Astrid’s relationship to Gunnvald is unique and special and their friendship, though unlikely, makes perfect sense within the context of this novel.

I received an ARC from Candlewick Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I give this book 4.5/5 stars.

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When a review for Astrid the Unstoppable mentioned Anne of Green Gables and Pippi Longstocking in the same sentence, you'd better believe I snapped this up like a kid at Christmas. My final judgement: Astrid is far more Pippi than Anne. For the first half of the book, one wild romp leads to the next, and the emotional story takes a supporting role. But when that B Story hits...boy, does it hit. Maria Parr tackles some hefty emotional topics without losing the fun and whimsy of the first half.
I had to laugh at my own American-ness at reading this book in translation... Our overprotectiveness as parents has become so ingrained that it's automatic. But Astrid skis alone and goes reindeer hunting with her teenage aunts, and sleds from the top of mountain straight onto a ferry. I guess I'll have to trust in my children's own ingrained American-ness that they'll think twice before trying to imitate her. :)

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“Astrid the Unstoppable” has made it to my list of favorite children’s books.

Astrid, the thunderbolt of Glimmerdal, is the only child in her village. She likes the people in her village: her nosy neighbor, able seaman Jon, the young man who is in love with one of her aunts, but best of all is her godfather who just so happens to be her best friend. The two of them are as different as night and day. Astrid is a spunky nine-year-old girl and her godfather, Gunnvald, is an enormous and grouchy old man. Their relationship is heartwarmingly beautiful. Astrid gets into her fair share of scraps, and quite frankly so does Gunnvald. When Astrid finds out that Gunnvald has been keeping a gigantic secret from her, she’s not sure she can forgive him. Their friendship is tested, and Astrid is determined to help mend her grumpy best friend’s heart.

This book was fantastic! It deserves a solid place among the children’s classics. I was reminded of “Anne of Green Gables,” “Pippi Longstocking,” “The Summer Book,” and the “Betsy-Tacy” books, yet “Astrid the Unstoppable” was unique. It was charming, magical, funny. It was at its heart about the power of friendship, the magic of music, and the aliveness of the natural world.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free galley in exchange for an honest review.

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The cover alone would make me pick up the book, but man is this a prose embodiment of 'hygge.' Filled with beautiful descriptions and even more poignant emotions, Must read.

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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In this new middle grade novel by Norwegian author Maria Parr (Adventures with Waffles, 2015) Astrid is the only child living in her village of Glimmerdal, and as a result her best friend is an elderly man named Gunnvald. Astrid, who is known in her community as "the little thunderbolt" has very strong emotions as well as a tendency to be a bit of a daredevil which frequently gets her into trouble. Astrid has always wanted the excitement of newcomers in town, especially kids, but when some strangers do show up, she suddenly becomes wary of the changes they might bring. When she discovers that Gunnvald has been keeping a secret from her, she's not sure she will ever look at anything the same way again.

When I saw this book compared to Pippi Longstocking, I was a bit wary because, as I've said, I find Pippi grating and exhausting. I need not have worried, however, because Astrid, though plucky and self-confident, is a much more believable child character than Pippi. Outlandish as her behavior can be, Astrid is very much of the real world and not someone who feels like she belongs in a tall tale. Astrid's emotional turmoil, in particular, is thoroughly believable, and it is easy to empathize with her situation as events unfold.

The writing in this book is also top-notch. Descriptions of the characters and setting are vivid,and the author gives a clear picture of Glimmerdal and its inhabitants that makes the reader feel like a part of this fictional universe. Astrid's relationship to Gunnvald is unique and special and their friendship, though unlikely, makes perfect sense within the context of this novel. I enjoyed Adventures with Waffles, but this book is even better. Also, as an added bonus, it's a middle grade novel you can hand to an eight-, nine-, or ten-year-old without reservations. There aren't a lot of those around, so this is a rare gem for that reason as well. (Thank you, Candlewick Press, for the digital review copy via NetGalley!)

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What would you get if you combined Pippi Longstocking with Dennis the Menance? Astrid the Unstoppable, of course! I fell in love with Astrid immediately. Her voice captured me, and her fearlessness, honesty, and big heart kept me captive.

It's so refreshing seeing things through a child's eyes, and Astrid sees and notices a lot. Not only do we have some fun adventures with Astrid, we also experience some more serious things, like missing a parent, divorce, death, missing a parent, and family secrets, but it's all done in such an age appropriate way.

I do not read a lot of books set in Norway, and I really enjoyed getting to see a little slice of Norwegian life. Skiing, sledding, lambing, and some interesting foods were just a few of the things we got to see in this book.

The heart of this book, for me, was the characters. Each and every person played such an important role in Astrid's life and I was glad to get to know them. Ola, Gunnveld, Heidi, dad, mom, and the aunties were all so lovely. Some were larger than life, while others were more low-key, but each was unique, interesting, and important to Astrid.

The ending this book was probably my favorite part. It was extremely heartwarming and left me with a smile on my face.

Overall: A delightful family tale starring a little spitfire, who won my heart.

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This book was very cute middle grade book. Fans of Pippi Longstocking and Anne of Green Gables will find Astrid a kindred spirit and will adore her. It was a really heartwarming friendship between Astrid (the only child in her town) and her elderly neighbor, Gunnvald as they entertain themselves.
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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This book was seriously so great. My kids loved it, and it was a wonderful story about confidence and growing up.

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I want to forget this book and read it all over again for the first time. Never has a middle-grade book made me feel so much. My heart flip-flopped with every chapter and I often caught myself holding my breath as I turned the pages. Each revelation was more dramatic than the last.

Having an “Astrid” of my own, each outburst and tantrum were both endearing and familiar. The relationships were unique and heartwarming. I didn’t know I could love fictional characters this much. Each chapter evoked tears and laughter.

Astrid is a modern day Heidi, full of charm and tenacity. She made me laugh out loud, champion for her causes, and love her more each page. She tackles problems with a ferocity that I admire and envy.
The author paints a picture of breathtaking scenery, beautiful vistas, and imposing, snow capped mountains. You can vividly imagine the roar of the river and feel the snow crunch beneath your feet. Warm spring air fills your nostrils as you breathe in the heady scent of new grass and spruce.

Everything about this story was magnificent. It is not a story that can be rushed, but must be thoroughly digested, thought about, reflected upon. It’s written age appropriately with themes that an adult can enjoy and appreciate. I would love to see this made into a film or a written series. I want more of the little thunderbolt of Glimmerdal.

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Astrid is the little thunderbolt of Glimmerdal. She is the only child and her best friend is an elderly neighbor, Gunnvald. Astrid's life on the mountain seems idyllic. She lives with her father; her mother is away in Greenland studying the icebergs. She spends her days with Gunnvald inventing the most amazing sled or just listening to him play his fiddle. She has the run of the mountains and valleys of her home. That all changes when Gunnvald becomes injured and his estranged daughter comes to Glimmerdal. Suddenly things aren't how Astrid thought they would be.

I was completely charmed by this book and by Astrid. The comparisons to Heidi are definitely there, but Astrid is definitely not Heidi. She is her own little hellion on skis. The freedom Astrid enjoys and her love of the outdoors and nature were a nice change from modern kids who spend a lot of time on devices and indoors. But really this is a book about relationships and Astrid's are enviable. Her family and neighbors are all people who genuinely care about each other. It was just such a refreshingly fun story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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